News from Corvette Mike

Video courtesy of GM Specialty Vehicles

A handful of C8 owners expecting to pick up their new Vette are about to receive some bad news.

Videos shared early on Wednesday by Corieblue Fickes to Facebook show what looks to be a truckload of newly built C8-generation Chevrolet Corvettes going up in flames in a parking lot roughly 30 minutes north of Nashville, Tennessee—about an hour and a half south of the car’s Bowling Green, Kentucky assembly plant.

C8 E-Ray Hybrid Spied Near The Nurburgring

The Corvette spied has a body that’s nearly identical to the new Z06. The only minor difference is that it has a pair of exhaust pipes squared off at each corner instead of in the center on the new Z06.

We cannot be sure it is […]

Video courtesy of GM Specialty Vehicles

Here is a peak behind the scenes at the Bowling Green production plant in Kentucky USA, where the Right-Hand-Drive C8 is now being proudly built. It’s exciting for the Corvette to be offered as a worldwide product and expand their customer base.

2022 C8 Changes

The 2022 Corvette is now rolling off the assembly line. So, we thought it would be nice to point out the changes this new model year brings.

New exterior colors for 2022 are: Caffeine Metallic, Hypersonic Gray Metallic, and Amplify Orange Tintcoat.

Deleted exterior colors are: Zeus Bronze Metallic, Shadow Gray Metallic, and Sebring Orange Tintcoat.

Gone is also […]

Image courtesy of The National Corvette Museum

GM has released manufacture numbers showing the number of 2021’s built and the option breakdown.

There was a total of 26,216 C8’s built for the 2021 model year. Of this, the most popular color was Torch Red with a total of 5,171 ordered. Arctic White came in second with 3,769 produced, followed by Red Mist at 3,476. Zeus Bronze came in as the least popular with 509 orders in this color, but Accelerate Yellow was not far above at just 839 units ordered.

You can see the full production numbers on the National Corvette Museum’s site by clicking here.

Read more

Image courtesy of The Corvette Museum

The thought of a Mid-Engined Corvette may seem common place now that the C8 is entering its 3rd year of production, but it is fun to look back to the days when Chevrolet was just toying with the idea.

It all started in 1960 when Zora Arkus-Duntov realized a new transaxle that was under consideration at General Motors would enable the Corvette to take advantage of the inherent advantages of locating the engine near the middle of the car. Unfortunately, GM canceled this transaxle’s production before gaining acceptance, but Duntov could not be discouraged from the idea of a mid-engine Corvette and went on to produce a few prototypes.

Duntov left GM in 1975. […]

Image courtesy of speedwaymedia.com

The #4 Corvette driven by Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy has been in the shadow of the #3 Corvette driven by Jordan Taylor and Antonio Garcia most of this racing season, but they were finally able to not only finish before their teammates, but also win the race this last weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy collected their first full-points victory of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, winning the GT Le Mans (GTLM) portion of the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This also gave Milner his 18th career win and Tandy’s 16th career win.

“It feels like we have a monkey off our back a little bit […]

Image courtesy of Corvette Blogger

This week marks the last of the 2021 C8 production with a total of 26,212 produced. This is an increase of around 6,000 more than Chevrolet was able to produce of the 2020’s (20,368 2020s were built).

About 42 percent of 2021 Corvette Stingray orders were ordered as Convertibles. The convertible is gaining popularity, as customers seem to like the convertible hard top. If the ordering pattern stays the same, it looks like the 2022 C8 will be around 45% convertibles.

Production of the 2022 Corvette began on September 6th, but even with Chevy being able to increase production, there remains a big backlog of customers who have ordered cars and are waiting up to a year […]

Vol 8-52 • September 2, 2021

WE’RE BUYING DREAM CARS!

Friends, as you all know, we don’t fuss with auctions or shuffle cars from other dealers. Our cars come from you. So, if you are thinning out your collection let us know!

Click here to send me an email about your car.

State Wants to Destroy Corvette Over Bad VIN

Attorney Explains The Legal Case

Mr. Martinez bought a classic 1959, but when he went to register it in Kansas, the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) found issues with the car’s VIN number. KHP Superintendent Col. Herman Jones stated “When the […]

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Click and enjoy!

Win a Red Mist 2021 Corvette Convertible
and Racing Prize Package!

The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) is a charitable organization in Watkins Glen, NY. that collects, shares, and preserves the history of motorsports. To help support that mission, they are offering an opportunity to win a new 2LT 2021 Corvette Stingray Z51 Convertible in beautiful Red Mist Metallic. The winner of the Corvette will also receive a racing prize package with a complimentary overnight stay when you take […]

Picture from Mike Vietro
Above Car pictured with 640 Miles sold at Mecum for $605,000

Available 1-Owner, 3,900 Miles, 2006 Ford GT Heritage for $525,000.

After a year hiatus the auctions during Monterey Car Week were as strong as ever. With results from only 4 of the 5 auctions, the total sales are already at $343 Million Dollars. This number should go up as pending sales get finalized and the official numbers are released.

The total of $343 million across three days of sales is an increase of 37% over 2019. The high sales numbers were even more impressive, considering that 25% fewer cars were offered than in 2019. A higher-than-normal sell-through rate of 80%, compared to 59% in […]

CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: How to Watch and Listen
No. 63 Corvette C8.R streaming on-board,
MotorTrend U.S. coverage highlights team’s Le Mans return

LE MANS, France (Aug. 19, 2021) – Corvette Racing’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this time with the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, is a landmark moment in program history. It also will be made available to viewers and listeners in the United States and around the world on multiple platforms.

MotorTrend Network will full coverage of Le Mans on Saturday and Sunday through its MotorTrend app for viewers inside the U.S. Content from free practice and the Hyperpole session Thursday, plus various on-board cameras, also will stream on the MotorTrend channel.

One of those will be the No. 63 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R of Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg. For those viewers without MotorTrend, Chevrolet’s YouTube channel will stream the on-board camera for the […]

An Unmatched Tradition of Automotive Excellence

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021 BEST OF SHOW WINNER!

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier Named Best of Show at the 70th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance  

2021 Charitable Donations Surpass $1.75 Million

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier
Shown by The Keller Collection at The Pyramids

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August 15, 2021) — Long recognized as a superlative showcase of automotive history, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance made history of its own at the culmination of its 70th celebration: […]

An Unmatched Tradition of Automotive Excellence

YOUR GUIDE TO PEBBLE BEACH AUTOMOTIVE WEEK

Watch the Livestream of the 70th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance!

Tune in LIVE this Sunday, August 15 at 1:15 pm PT to watch the full Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event, including coverage of the highly anticipated awards show, the show field competition, behind-the-scenes action, and more.

This livestream is presented by WeatherTech, hosted by The Torque Show, and in partnership with Hagerty Media.  

WATCH THE LIVESTREAM

The Hagerty Group, LLC.

the Pebble Beach Automotive Week has started

It is that time again, for the mega car event called the Monterey Car Week & Concours D’elegance. It runs from August 5th thru the 15th this year.

The event dates back over half a century, where only 200 of the best collector cars in the world roll onto the legendary 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links to be shown and compete. Only a handful of these will receive official recognition for style, technical merit and historical accuracy.

But, the Concours is only the final event in a packed week celebrating the classic automobile! All over Monterey County, classic cars take to streets, golf courses, parks […]

Going to Monterey Car Week?

Look for AutoMobilia Resource magazine at:

Pop-Up Automobilia – Tues and Wed, Aug 10-11
Embassy Suites, Seaside, California
See our vendor stand (pics above) with Italian Design and Magneto.

Concours on the Avenue – Tues, Aug 10
Downtown Carmel, California
AutoMobilia Resource magazines will be handed out.

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion – Fri-Sun, Aug 13-15
Laguna Seca Track, Laguna Seca, California
AutoMobilia Resource magazines will be available at several key areas.

[…]

An Unmatched Tradition of Automotive Excellence

YOUR GUIDE TO PEBBLE BEACH AUTOMOTIVE WEEK

Welcome Back to Pebble Beach Automotive Week!

Get ready to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and experience the world’s premier celebration of the automobile.  

CALENDAR OF EVENTS PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE

This Sunday we celebrate 70 years of automotive excellence. We’ll be showcasing many past Best of Show cars and road race winners, along with features ranging from Early Electrics to Porsche 917 and the Lamborghini Countach. Can’t make it? Tune in […]

FOX 11 Los Angeles News

We have all heard of, and some love to watch, as people drive high performance cars to elude the police. Well in this case, the C7 automatically figured out that it was being stolen and called OnStar all by itself to report this issue. OnStar then called the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to let them know about the stolen Corvette, but the CHP already knew about it, and were on the tail of this C7 Corvette, chasing it through the San Fernando Valley. The CHP asked if they could shut down the car, and about 3 minutes later, the Corvette rolled to a stop.

Even though many people enjoy watching these chases as they span multiple counties, streets, and freeways, they […]

An Unmatched Tradition of Automotive Excellence

YOUR GUIDE TO PEBBLE BEACH AUTOMOTIVE WEEK

In the days leading up to Concours Sunday, wet your automotive palate by visiting Concours Village. Open to the public at no cost, visit and explore all the manufacturer displays and their unique visions, go for a ride with one of the official Ride and Drives, and don’t miss out on your chance to purchase a piece of the Concours to take home.  

 
DISCOVER CONCOURS VILLAGE

Get Ready to Start Your Engines…We are ready to welcome you back to Pebble Beach Automotive Week!

Image courtesy of GM

Coming this fall, GM will reveal the “all-new” 2023 C8 Corvette Z06. Other than this brief announcement we are left guessing at any more details.

But there is more, there is a possibility and speculation of an all-electric C8 out there. The hint to this is that GM has said it will introduce 30 new EVs by 2025. It has only revealed a handful so far, and there are a lot of spy shots of at least a hybrid C8 in the wings also.

Chevrolet released a short video teasing the new 2023 Z06 and the fall date for the full reveal. It features the roar of the engine from the driver’s viewpoint. Watch and listen to […]

Image courtesy of Corvette Forum

We have heard that this was coming, but now according to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the California Smog Check website, “Beginning July 19, 2021, vehicles with software not provided by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or approved through a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO) will fail Smog Check. Before your vehicle will pass a Smog Check, you must have the vehicle’s software restored to the OEM or EO approved software version. Once the software is restored, have your vehicle reinspected by a licensed Smog Check station. Note that vehicles initially directed to a STAR or Referee station must return to the same station type to complete the inspection process.”

The California Air […]

We Know About The 2023 C8 Z06

Image courtesy of Corvette Blogger

More and more rumors keep coming out about the C8 Z06, so I would like to do a roundup on what we know at this time. GM has not done any type of announcement to date, so nothing is in stone yet.

Power: a 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V-8 providing power to the rear wheels. The motor is derived from the same motor that powers the Corvette Racing C8.R, and winning on the racetrack. The motor will have the LT6 moniker and features dual overhead camshafts and flat-plane crankshaft allowing a red-line of around 9000 rpm! It is expected to produce 617hp. All this power will be mated […]

WE’RE BUYING DREAM CARS!

Friends, as you all know, we don’t fuss with the auctions or shuffle cars from other dealers. Our cars come from you. So, if you are thinning out your collection, let us know. 

Click here to send me an email about your car.

Corvette Executive Chief Engineer, Tadge Juechter, Says GM will not allow aftermarket tuners access to the C8 onboard computers

Image courtesy of Emelia Hartford

Corvette has always been a car aftermarket tuners love to extract more horsepower out of, but the C8 is making this much harder. When the C8 specs were announced stating that it would have the General Motors’ Global B architecture as the backbone electronic […]

An Unmatched Tradition of Automotive Excellence

EARLY ELECTRICS CLASS AT THE 70TH PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS HOSTS A RIKER REUNION

A Name Sparked a Grandson’s Search for Family History and Cars

Also Showcased are Thomas Alva Edison’s Rauch & Lang, a Baker Electric that Served Four Presidential Administrations, a Well-Traveled Bailey, a Milburn and Two Columbias.

Even as a boy, Richard Riker knew that his name had meaning. Back in the late […]

WE’RE BUYING DREAM CARS!

Friends, as you all know, we don’t fuss with the auctions or shuffle cars from other dealers. Our cars come from you. So, if you are thinning out your collection, let us know. 

Click here to send me an email about your car.

C8 Z06 May Be Delayed Again

Image courtesy of gmauthority.com

As popular as the current C8 has been, there are a lot of people on the side lines with deposits waiting for the Z06 variant. Unfortunately, these customers will have to wait another year, as GM Authority is reporting the hotter Z06 has been delayed. According to their sources, the car was originally set to arrive in the second half of […]

Image courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

I don’t know if you have been to any of the auctions lately, or watched them on TV, but the collector market is very strong right now.

Just this last weekend, Barrett-Jackson held its annual Las Vegas Auction and hit another record with $48 Million in Sales. Among the notable collector cars sold during the three-day auction were a 2015 McLaren P1 which sold for $1,567,500, and a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster that brought in $1,045,000.

But it was not just the super high-end cars hitting new highs, as more than 700 vehicles were sold for a total of over $46 million. And then there were the 284 pieces of automobilia that brought in over $884,000, and […]

Since the C8 was first announced in 2019, rumors immediately started flowing about the future C8’s variants that would be coming down the road.

The first performance/Track Ready variant that was expected to hit the market was the Z06. All the rumors suggested it would be announced along with the 2022 market year C8, and with vehicles arriving in the second half of 2022, but we may have to wait a bit longer for it.

According to GM Authority, the Z06 has been delayed until the 2023 model year. The report does not say whether this delay will push back the other variants, but that seems likely, as Chevy is very unlikely to want to announce two different high performance model options during […]

Image courtesy of Corvette Mike

According to a letter to dealerships, Chevrolet has cut allocation and will not be accepting any more orders for the 2021 model year C8. The letter states “General Motors has had to make an adjustment in the number of Corvette Stingrays available for the 2021 model year.”

With all the production stoppages during the 2021 C8 build, GM had only two options, 1) stick with the original end date for the 2021 model year, or 2) push the start date for the 2022 out and keep building the 2021 model. Closing order books and limiting production of the C8 to only orders that are already booked with an accepted status.

Customers […]

Image courtesy of Corvette Blogger

For over two years now, Chevrolet has had problems producing one of the most in demand Corvettes. First it was design issues, then a union strike, and when they finally came to an agreement, Covid hit. And Covid is still causing issues with suppliers leading up to this recent stoppage.

GM initially announced a shutdown for the week of May 24th to May 31st over a parts supply issue that isn’t related to the worldwide microchip shortage, but the pause has now been extended through the week of May 31st, 2021. We are not sure what the shortage is, as GM is not willing to mention what parts are hindering the Corvette’s production.

These delays […]

Image courtesy of Corvette Blogger

The C8 Corvette has already taken on the best of the best super cars the world has to offer and done extremely well against them. According to GM, now it will take them on on their own turf.

Last year GM announced that the C8 would start shipping to Europe in the second half of 2021, and they recently reconfirmed that it will indeed arrive in European showrooms in October.

This will be the first time in Corvette history that both a left-hand drive and right-hand drive will be built by Chevrolet. The bad news is that every car shipped out of the US is one less for the US market.

Euro-spec […]

Record-Breaking ’88 Callaway Corvette ‘Project Sledgehammer’

Record-Breaking ’88 Callaway Corvette ‘Project Sledgehammer’ Is up for Auction.

Reeves Callaway‘s company partnered with General Motors in 1986 to produce a TwinTurbo version of the Corvette. GM assigned the project RPO B2K and Callaway cars were sold by Chevrolet dealers worldwide. 510 cars were hand built by Callaway Cars in Connecticut. It was important for the Corvette to establish top speed bragging rights when car magazines of the day used top speed shoot-outs as a way of awarding the title of Fastest in the Land.

Callaway embarked on Project Sledgehammer to win each of those events every year. Callaway engineers emphasized normal every-day drivability in a car that could attain 250 miles an […]

An Unmatched Tradition of Automotive Excellence

YOUR GUIDE TO PEBBLE BEACH AUTOMOTIVE WEEK

 

 
Get ready to start your engines! This August we welcome you back to Pebble Beach Automotive Week to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 15, 2021.

 
PURCHASE TICKETS

Start Planning Your Ultimate Visit!

AUTOMOTIVE WEEK EXPERIENCES

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Pebble Beach Automotive Week Events are a can’t-miss for every car enthusiast, and this year will be truly unforgettable!

LEARN MORE

Photo provided by IMS

For the 18th time in race history, Chevrolet Corvette will serve as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500. Chevrolet and Corvette have led the starting field more than any other manufacturer and model. The 2021 race marks the 32nd time for Chevrolet since it first paced back in 1948, and the 18th time since the first Corvette paced the race back in 1978.

This time, and not since 2008, it will be a convertible Corvette that will lead the 33-car field. “The Chevrolet team is privileged every time we’re invited to pace the Indianapolis 500,” said Steve Majoros, Vice President of Chevrolet Marketing. “We are confident the track-capable Corvette Stingray Convertible will catch every race fan’s […]

Lego has announced a new Corvette Speed Champions set that includes a Corvette Racing C8.R and a 1968 C3 Corvette. While neither Corvette is totally representative of the vehicle on which they are based, the C8.R is close enough, while the C3 needs a bit more imagination to figure out what it is. The hood emblem on the C3 helps to identify the model, while the design and stickers included with the C8.R, make it very easy to identify.

The set comes with 512 pieces and will allow the purchaser to build both cars. The reported MSRP is $48.

YOU CAN WIN THE IMRRC’S
2021 CORVETTE Z51 CONVERTIBLE

Read more

Architect’s rendering of planned Two-Story, 30,000-square-foot, addition to the National Corvette Museum

Opened in 1994, as an educational tribute to America’s sports car, the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky has outgrown its 115,000-square-foot building.

With more than 80 Corvettes from every era since 1953 on rotating display, one-of-a-kind concept vehicles rarely if ever before seen by the public, automotive memorabilia, informative films, educational exhibits, historical displays, a library and archives, Derek E. Moore, director of collections at the museum, says that “This expansion will give the museum the opportunity to tell more of Corvette’s stories than ever before. When the museum opened, we were only in the fourth generation of Corvette and since then we have seen another four generations of America’s […]

Corvette Mike did some mods on this 1999 for Jay

Jay Leno shares the backstory and talks about why he loves his 1999 Corvette in the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. For between $15k and $20k, you can pick up one the best performance bargains of the century!

Win Two Corvettes
Thundering Thursday Readers Get 50% Bonus ENTRIES

Enter to Win a 600-hp C8 Corvette and a 1961 Corvette Restomod

The 2021 Corvette Dream Giveaway is underway and it’s your chance to win a 2021 […]

2021 Exhibit Highlights Evolution from Early Production Prototype to Last Car Built

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF.  (April 15, 2021) — Ferruccio Lamborghini was never content to rest on success. With the 1966 debut of the P400 concept for his Miura, he set forth the very definition of a “supercar.” Yet just five years later, in 1971, he unveiled an even more radical concept—the low and crisply creased LP500, complete with soon-to-be-signature scissor doors.

The name for this car is an exclamation of wonder in the local Piedmontese dialect of Italy: “Countach!”

To mark the 50th anniversary of this jaw-dropping concept, the forthcoming 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, to be held on Sunday August 15 on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, will showcase some of the most important […]

Q1 2021 Premium Sports Cars Market Sales.(top 8 cars)

The C8 Corvette sales in the U.S. during Q1 2021 dominated the Premium Sports Cars Market. The Corvette outsold all other rivals combined (6,611 sold), including the Porsche 911 (2,782 sold), Porsche 718 (1,506 sold), Mercedes-AMG GT (1,212 sold), Mercedes-Benz SL (311 sold), Mercedes-Benz SLC (198 sold), Audi R8 (148 sold), Nissan GT-R (50 sold), Ford GT (33 sold), Acura NSX (17 sold), and BMW i8 (8 sold). These sales figures build on the similarly impressive figures in Q3 2020 as well as Q4 2020. During both quarters, the Corvette accounted for over 50 percent segment share.

Win Two Corvettes
Thundering Thursday Readers Get 50% Bonus ENTRIES

Max, Corvette Mike, & the Barrett-Jackson Car Auction – Car Collector Video – Max the Cranky Puppet.

Max proposes a partnership with Corvette Mike (the Leader of the Pack) and accidentally buys a $425K Corvette at the Barrett-Jackson Car Auction in Scottsdale, 2021.

Win A Corvette

Win a 60th Anniversary Cunningham C8 Corvette

This limited Edition C8 Corvette is a modern-day tribute to the Briggs Cunningham 1960 Corvette that became the first Corvette ever to win its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This special edition […]

General Motors is no longer accepting new orders from dealerships for the 2021 Corvette, the automaker announced this week.

With demand for the C8 Corvette through-the-roof and the automaker experiencing several production stoppages this year, Chevy has been forced to close the order books for the 2021 model year. It will open for new orders for the 2022 C8 in early July.

The 2021 C8 started production on December 11th, 2020, so the early closing of the orders and switching over to the new 2022 will make 2021 model another limited production year.

We still don’t know what all the changes will be for the 2022 C8, but if the rumor mill is accurate, there will be at least one new […]

This rare 1 of 20 1967 Corvette L88 comes from Corvette Mike’s collection and this one has the distinction of being the only one offered in Sunfire Yellow. It is the only 1967 L88 Coupe with its all original and highly documented motor, and Bloomington Gold Certification, NCRS Top Flight Award, a Triple Diamond Award winner, and then to top off all these coveted awards, it is the only 1967 L88 Coupe with a Duntov Mark Of Excellence Award!

The  hammer price was $2.45 million, and with the buyer’s commission, the final price to bring home this rare “holy grail” Corvette was $2,695,000.

This Sunfire Yellow L88 becomes the fourth C2 L88 to sell in recent years for over two million dollars. It’s […]

The High-Wing option was only briefly offered during the 2020 model year, and is coming back to the C8 starting on April 8th, according to GM Authority. The dealer-installed accessory, which is available in no fewer than five finishes, will cost you $995 plus installation.

The option code 5ZZ “gives your vehicle a more aggressive look” or so says the online description. There is no mention of downforce, but we do know the high wing offers a little less drag than the Z51 Performance Package spoiler.

The High-Wing Spoiler is designed to fit Z51 models pre-drilled holes, and is sold with four M6 bolts, two M6 nuts, two temporary locating pins, a template, a solvent package, and installation instructions. The required tools list […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday | Volume 8-27 • March 11, 2021

COVID-19 played havoc on the C8 Corvette in many ways, and participation in the 2020 24 Hours of La Mans was one of them.

Corvette Racing, with the C8.R, has been unstoppable this year with the latest 1st and 2nd place win at the Daytona Rolex 24, in the GTLM class. This was the fourth time in its history, Corvette Racing stood on the top step of the podium in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The two Corvettes combined lead 716 of the 770 laps.

The 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans is currently scheduled for Aug. 21-22, and according to the official entry list published by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), and FIA World Endurance […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday | Volume 8-26 • March 4, 2021

When Chevrolet brought out the 2021 Corvette, they did it without a price increase, but as of March 1, the base price of all C8 models have increased by $1,000. That means the new base price for a Corvette is $60,995. It also means Chevy can no longer advertise the C8 as a sub-$60,000 sports car.

Autoblog reached out to GM and got this statement: “The MSRP of the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe and convertible at all trim levels will increase by $1,000 beginning March 1. We monitor and adjust pricing on all our products regularly, and we’re confident the Corvette remains a winning formula of performance and attainability.” Orders inputted, and marked as SOLD, […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday | Volume 8-25 • February 25, 2021

It has been about a year now since the first C8 Corvette got delivered to its lucky owner, and the demand is just as strong today as it was back then. In normal times, the waiting list would be down to weeks, not over a year, and dealer markups would be a thing of the past.

But these are not normal times. At first, it was the month-long strike at the factory that cased a delay in the launch of the C8. Then just as the factory started producing, Covid hit shutting the plant down for another 7 weeks. Since then, the production was stopped even more times because of supplier issues. Because of these issues, the 2020 […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday | Volume 8-24 • February 18, 2021

We know the C8 is a very fast car but is also the quickest car to leave the dealership lot and into the buyer’s garage. In January, the C8 mid-engine Corvette lasted just 10 days on the lot on average. Even though the C8 has been available for close to a year now, the demand is still extremely high, and the wait list is still almost a yearlong at most dealers.

A recently published study from ISeeCars.com found that the C8 lasted just an average of 10 days at dealerships before being delivered, and some of this time may be because of dealer prep. In addition, the average sales price for the car was $84,689, which is not […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday | Volume 8-23 • February 11, 2021

We all know that Chevrolet would not sit on their laurels, and the news coming out today proves this to be true. The rumors are talking turbochargers, flat-plane cranks, hybrid powertrains, and even a full EV version!

First to be announced will be the Z06, maybe a 2022 release! It will come with a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V-8, producing around 620hp and be able to rev all the way to 9,000 rpm.

The very next year (2023) look for the ZR-1 to be announced. This may get the 5.5-liter flat-plane V-8 with two turbochargers bolted on. With the Turbos pumping air into the 5.5L V8, it should be producing around 840hp!

By 2023 we will […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday | Volume 8-22 • February 4, 2021

The C8 has been plagued with production problems from the first day and just can’t seem to get a break.

Production of the 2021 Chevrolet C8 Corvette is, once again, shut down. This is now the fourth time General Motors has pressed pause on production of the C8. In a statement, Chevrolet said that “Due to a temporary parts supply issue, we can confirm that Bowling Green Assembly will not run production the week of February 1. Our supply chain, manufacturing and engineering teams are working closely with our supply base to mitigate any further impact on production, and we expect the plant to resume normal operations on Monday, February 8.”

This is not just a GM issue, […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday

Volume 8-21 • January 28, 2021

C8’s Are Not Just for Kids

You may have been reading how the new C8 Corvette has been attracting a much younger group of buyers, and this may be true, but the new Mid-Engined Corvette is not just for kids, as Chuck Cook will tell you.

Cook is not new to Corvettes, as he has owned 3 before buying his 4th for his 90th birthday; a shinny new Torch Red C8 Coupe. “This is my birthday present to myself,” Cook said to local Florida newspaper Daily Commercial. “I’ve owned Corvettes since 1981 when I bought my first one. This makes my fourth one in my lifetime. I can’t wait until the pandemic is over so I can get this to […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday

Volume 8-20 • January 21, 2021

Breaking News from Kissimmee Florida

Mecum just held its large Kissimmee auction, and the top seller was a triple Black L88, selling for $2,500,000! This is great news for Corvette community and collectors worldwide.

The 1967 L88 Corvette is the best of the best in terms of performance when it comes to the second generation. They featured a high-performance 427-cid big block engine mated to a heavy duty M22 ‘Rock Crusher’ 4-speed manual transmission and nearly every race ready option GM had to offer. Its ultra-high-performance engine pumped out over 500-horsepower, and the transmission was nearly unbreakable. Suspension components were as heavy-duty as was ever put in a GM car and there was no need for a […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday

Volume 8-19 • January 14, 2021

Guinness World Record for Chevrolet Memorabilia

We all love Corvettes, but there is one man that seems to have taken the collection of Corvette memorabilia to a new level. Charles, got his first Corvette collectable at the ripe old age of 2, a 1959 pedal car, but now just has a photo of it!

Charles currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Chevrolet memorabilia. He owns more than 2,000 miniature Corvettes, from over 100 manufacturers like Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Franklin Mint, etc., and without one duplicate, as well as Corvette-themed posters, soda cans, salt and pepper shakers, nail clippers, stuffed animals, and his favorite, a bobblehead of Betty Boop driving a Corvette. He also drives a 2005 blue […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday

Volume 8-18 • January 7, 2021

C8 Convertibles Wanted!

C8 Earns Motor Authority’s Best Car to Buy Award

The awards for the Mid-Engine C8 Corvette continue to grow. The most recent was from Motor Authority declaring the C8 Corvette “Best Car To Buy 2021”! They tested performance, luxury, and electric vehicles to find the car they thought was the best of the best to buy and drive.

Some of their editors thought the redesigned mid-engine Corvette was a shoo-in, but Editorial Director Marty Padgett challenged them to expand our definition of performance for the EV evolution underway. The Ford Mustang […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday

Volume 8-17 • December 30, 2020

Happy New Year’s From the Corvette Mike Team

Salute to Performance – L88 “The Best of the Best”

For those of you new to the Corvette collector hobby, the L88 was a special option package developed under the direction of Zora Arkus-Duntov, director of GM’s performance division.

First introduced in 1967, the L88 Corvette featured a highly modified version of Chevy’s 427-cubic-inch V-8 engine. Although this engine received a factory horsepower rating of 430, actual engine output was somewhere between 540 and 580 horsepower, giving the “stock” L88 enough power to run a quarter-mile in the high-11-second […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday

Volume 8-16 • December 24, 2020

Merry Christmas From the Corvette Mike Team

GM extends warranty coverage for C7 Z06

GM issued a document to dealers this week indicating it had implemented the new extended warranty coverage on 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 model year C7 Corvette Z06 models. The document says these vehicles “may have a condition where the vehicle may overheat and enter a reduced power mode when driven on a track at sustained high speeds in high ambient temperatures.”

The special coverage looks to address this issue and “covers the condition described above for a period of 7 years or 72,000 miles, which occurs first, from the date the vehicle was original placed in service, regardless of ownership.” The document also indicates that vehicle owners or lessees […]

Corvette Mike’s Thundering Thursday!

Vol 8:15 – December 17, 2020

As we have previously reported to you, Chevrolet will be releasing a new hybrid-electric variant of the C8 Corvette, titled the “E-Ray”. Unofficial reports suggest there will be an electric drive unit situated in the front cargo area of the car, and to power the electric motors, four 1.94 kWh batteries placed in the center of the C8.

It is estimated the peak power of the electric motors will be approximately 115hp and 111lb of torque and feed the front wheels. Performance is a focus and the electric motors will enable torque vectoring to the C8’s advance handling abilities. It is further reported that the E-Ray will not be able to drive on electric power only, but will complement the estimated to be 600 horsepower V8 sitting in the middle of the car.

This hybrid supercar is also expected to have a slightly wider body than […]

Join us for our 70th Celebration

  AN UNMATCHED TRADITION OF AUTOMOTIVE EXCELLENCE  
Treat Your Family and Friends to the 70th Celebration of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

We are gearing up for the 70th Celebration of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which is now scheduled for Sunday, August 15, 2021.    We can’t wait to celebrate great cars once again with great car people — like you!   

To mark our 70th Celebration, we will be featuring a wide array of our past Pebble Beach Concours Best of Show cars and reuniting all of the overall winners from the Pebble Beach Road Races. Additional features include: Pininfarina, Talbot-Lago Grand Sport, Porsche 917, Early Electric Cars, Iso Rivolta, Miller, and La Carrera Panamericana. And we even have another surprise or two in the works!  

If you have already purchased your tickets […]

2021 C8 Production Delayed

We have just learned that Corvette production date of the 2021 C8 has been pushed back yet again. The new date is December 14th.

The 2021 C8 will be ringing in new options, including colors Red Mist Metallic Tincoat and Silver Flare Metallic. Customization options will include the FE2-code Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension without having to get the Z51 package for $995, dual racing stripes for $995, and a Stinger two-tone stripe for $500. Improvements in Apple Carplay and Android Auto have been made as well, including additional memory and enhanced voice recognition.

The Awards Keep Stacking Up

Motor Authority has just listed the 2021 Stingray in the top finalists for their “Best Car […]

C8 Production by the Numbers

With all the problems 2020 dished out, Chevrolet did not let Corvette enthusiasts down with 2020 C8 production. Chevy was able to pump out a total of 20,368 C8’s, exceeding most people’s expectations.

What was a bit surprising to us is that Chevy was able to produce enough to even sell 1,791 to customers outside of the USA, including Canada, Mexico and even the Middle East.

Most buyers didn’t wish to skimp the luxury details as 3LT was the most favored trim purchased, selling an impressive 9,456 packages, followed by 2LT at 7,966 and 1LT selling 2,946. But the spending did not stop there with 76% of C8 buyers selecting the optional Z51 package and […]

Last week, we shared the award the 2021 C8 received from Car & Driver. We have all known that the Corvette has been the benchmark for bang-for-the-buck performance sports car, but on top of the relative low cost of entry, your investment does not drop in value like a rock.

This week America’s favorite sports car got even more recognition, as JD Power has just published their annual estimated depreciation values for used cars. The 2017 C7 Corvette clutched number one spot for the “lowest depreciation” in the Midsize Premium Sporty Car category. The C7 boldly outshined other competitors, including the Porsche 911 and the Nissan GT-R.

“Our transaction database shows which models have the lowest depreciation costs, hence providing consumers with […]

Once again, the Chevrolet Corvette has made Car and Driver’s 10 best cars & trucks for 2021. The C8 not only made the list, but it also topped it!

With a base price of $59,995, about the same price of half-ton pickups and tarted-up Jeep Wranglers, the “Corvette is performance value for all time”. But this is not all. They go on to praise the C8 Stingray’s 100-mile commuting ease and it’s affordability, bringing in an impressive rating of 10/10.

C&D noted that the interior, long a Corvette afterthought, is well wrought in any trim, with supportive seats and expensive-looking switchgear, and the noteworthy storage for up to two golf club sets that can be placed into the back trunk, […]

Thank you to all our Veterans and active service members

Supply Issues Cause C8 Corvette Production Halt

According to The Detroit News, Chevrolet is forced to, once again, pause production of the C8 Corvette for two days this Thursday and Friday due to a parts shortage from a supplier plant in Mexico.

Production is scheduled to resume on Monday, November 16th. It is estimated that this recent shutdown will prevent roughly 540 Corvettes from being built this week: further adding to the already plagued 2020 production. It has been reported that Chevrolet has built […]

1950–2020: An Unmatched Tradition of Automotive Excellence

Today We Remember How It All Began . . . Phil Hill’s Jaguar XK120 Retraces the Road to Its Historic First Victory

Seventy years back, on November 5, 1950, the first Pebble Beach Road Race took place — and the Pebble Beach Concours was born with it. To mark this historic event, we invited Derek Hill to retrace the old road race course driving the very same Jaguar XK120 that his father had driven to victory 70 years prior.

Mark Miller, who now owns that Jaguar, graciously loaned it to us. And thanks to our partnership […]