The Forty-Three-Year Wait is Over
What took 43 years to reappear but can disappear in just 18 seconds? The power-operated soft-top on the C6 Corvette convertible;
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The power took 43 years to reappear on a Corvette. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
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yep, prior to model year 2005 a powered top last kept rain off Corvette hides in 1962. Fortunately today's version is much more effective and efficient than the canvas lid of yesteryear. Available in Canada in two shades of gray, basic black or beige, the modern top seals tightly to hold rain and wind at bay while providing satisfactory vision through its glass rear window. Best of all, after manually unlatching the leading edge of the roof from the windshield frame, servo motors take over and drop the top in less time than it took me to type this sentence - or thereabouts.
With its fabric and glass shelter safely stowed beneath a beautifully contoured
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| With its fabric and glass shelter safely stowed beneath a beautifully contoured hard shell tonneau, this iconic example of American muscle enters a new era. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
hard shell tonneau, this iconic example of American muscle enters a new era: one dominated by sun, wind, six gears and four hundred horsepower. At first drive, I immediately sensed this week's tester to be considerably tighter and united in mission than the last Corvette I tried out, which happened to be a coupe featuring the Z51 performance package. Such has often been the criticism of Vettes: clunky and poorly assembled. What exactly Chevrolet has done to all but eliminate such defects I am not precisely sure; but I am certain that the red thunder serving me this week is a much-improved roadster over any previous Corvette that has found its way into my driveway during 30-plus years.
Road deterioration was well absorbed by my tester's stock, 4-wheel independent suspension setup without inducing excessive
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| Road deterioration was well absorbed by my tester's stock, 4-wheel independent suspension setup. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
jarring into the cockpit or provoking annoying rattles and shudders. I suspect chassis reinforcement needed to compensate for the loss of a hardtop or targa-style roof serves to beef-up the Vette's structural rigidity and improve its overall sense of solidity. But in fairness, the stiffer spring calibrations of the Z51 handling package underpinning my previous Corvette tester significantly contributed to its harsh, twitchy ride. Optional in the suspending category is GM's slick, Magnetic Selective Ride Control. It may be the best means of securing a foot in both suspension worlds without committing to either; sounds like something best resolved by a psychologist.
Much has already been written about the technical aspects of the C6 since
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| Sports cars matching the Corvette's performance thresholds have generally emerged from manufacturers situated abroad and almost always at far greater expense. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
its 2005 introduction, so I want to focus a bit on the fun and nostalgia the vehicle delivers, leaving the techno-minutiae to a minimum. The Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most recognizable sports cars around the world. Introduced in 1953, it's now in its 6th generation: hence the "C6" nomenclature. In addition to its familiarity worldwide, the Corvette has for the most part enjoyed a reputation for world-class performance at bargain basement prices - relatively speaking. Sports cars matching the Corvette's performance thresholds have generally emerged from manufacturers situated abroad and almost always at far greater expense. These rarified exotics may have pranced with greater finesse, but dollar for dollar the cloddish Corvette has almost always held its own on the track and off.
