December
31, 2002
There's a rumor floating around the GM will
show a 1000hp Cadillac V16 at the
North American
International Auto Show in Detroit next month. Let's see now... With
Lutz's announcement that the reincarnation of the GTO (see December 10th
Hot News) will have the the LS1 and LS6 from the Corvette, and Cadillac
already having a 700+hp V12 and now this announcement, and with Mr. Hill
telling us at the Birthday Bash last year that the Corvette would remain
GM's "performance icon", It looks like we may be in line for one heck of a
Vette in the near future......ummm.
December
30, 2002
One of the most renowned Corvette racers in history will make its debut at
the 8th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance March 7-9, 2003.
Click Here for More Info!
One of only five ever built, Corvette Grand Sport #004
has spent 10 months undergoing a comprehensive restoration. The result is
a remarkably detailed and authentic renewal of an American racing
icon.just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Corvette.
December
24, 2002
The C5 Registry
has posted a press release, and update on our friend, NHRA driver,
engineer and legendary tuner John Lingenfelter who was critically injured
during a NHRA Summit Sport Compact drag racing event at Pomona, California
on October 27, 2002. The thoughts and prayers of the C5 Registry are with
John and his family.
CLICK HERE for full LPE Press Release and
Update.
December
23, 2002
WASHINGTON <AP>--The federal government has upgraded an
investigation into the Chevrolet Corvette after receiving hundreds of
complaints that the steering column can lock up and cause the driver to
lose control. General Motors did not comment on the investigation except
to say the company is cooperating with federal officials. An
investigation can lead to a recall, but many are dropped
Twenty-five crashes and 10 injuries have been reported in the probe,
which covers 131,981 cars from the 1997-2001 model years.
There have been 344 complaints that the steering column locks up while
the car is traveling at speeds between 5 mph and 65 mph. General Motors
Corp. also fielded 24,127 warranty claims about the condition. If this
does turn into a recall, you can check it at:
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/Index.cfm , the website for
the government agency leading the investigation, the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration.
December
21, 2002
We've all heard a lot about
the new CORVETTE C6
and the C5 Registry figures if all
the automotive magazines and most of the automotive websites can speculate
about the new C6.. So can we!
If you are member, you can preview some "Maybe" Photos in the
Members Only area.
December
20, 2002
Successful
Corvette C5-R driver to lead Corvette’s 50th Anniversary Program. The 2003
Corvette Racing Lineup will accommodate increased off-track
responsibilities
DETROIT – Andy Pilgrim, who
was previously teamed with Kelly Collins in the No. 4 Chevrolet
Corvette C5-R, has been selected to be the Corvette Racing 50th
Anniversary Program Representative.
In this new role, Pilgrim will interact
with the considerable Corvette dealer base, the Corvette Museum, Corvette
clubs and special GM organized functions, which will celebrate the 50th
anniversary on a national level. In addition, Pilgrim will continue to
drive in endurance race with Corvette Racing, the two-time defending
24-Hour of Le Mans and American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GTS Champion.
"Andy has a direct and extremely strong
connection with our dealer and customer base,” said Gary Claudio, GM
Racing, manager Motorsports Marketing. “There are several key events that
Andy will play a critical role in, which will conflict with a few dates on
the race schedule. Andy will adjust his driving schedule slightly to
fulfill a larger role in the overall celebration of the Corvette."
British driver Oliver Gavin will join
Collins in the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette for all of the races in 2003.
Pilgrim will join the No. 4 team for the seven endurance events in 2003.
Gavin had teamed with GTS Champion Ron Fellows and runner-up Johnny
O'Connell in the No. 3 Corvette C5-R last year during the endurance races.
The final adjustment in the Corvette Racing lineup in 2003 will move
Frenchman Franck Freon from the No. 4 car to the No. 3 car joining Fellows
and O'Connell during the endurance races.
Pilgrim and Collins provided two wins in
the ALMS in 2002 and finished second in GTS in Le Mans with Freon. Pilgrim
and Collins tied for third in the GTS Driver Championship in 2002.
The Corvette C5-R is a production-based
race car and is part of GM's commitment to improving the breed by
integrating racing developments into production vehicles. GM Racing
engineers work closely with production engineers to insure that the street
version of the Chevrolet retains the crown of "America's Performance
Icon," in 2003 and beyond.
December
11, 2002
Members, as you know, we've been told the
CORVETTE C6 and the Cadillac
XLR will share the same frame, suspension, etc... pretty much
everything but the body and engine. If that's true, here's a guide to the
chassis of the C6:
[CLICK HERE For MORE On
MOHN]
December
10, 2002
And we thought CORVETTE was to
remain GM's Performance Icon!
In a keynote speech at Kettering University,
(formerly the General Motors Institute) in Flint Michigan about a week ago
GM Vice-Chairman Robert Lutz announced that the 2004 GTO will have a
360+LS1 in 2004 and a 405 HP plus LS6, among other product notes.
December
4, 2002
CORVETTE Price Increase!
Yep... You read it right. For the second time
since the 2003 model year was introduced there's a price increase.
..
Effective November
22, 2002
1YY07 Coupe $43,335.00 was $ 43,325.00
UP $ 100.00
1YY37 Z06 $51,135.00 was $ 50,975.00 UP
$ 160.00
1YY67 Convertible $50,235.00 was $
50,075.00 $ 160.00
All destination charges for all models went up to $
760.00
was $ 670.00 UP $ 90.00
Click Here for more....
December
3, 2002
DETROIT - The General Motors Board of Directors today announced it has
elected Rick Wagoner chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), effective
May 1, 2003, following the retirement of current GM Chairman Jack Smith,
after 42 years of distinguished service. Smith will also leave the GM
board at that time. Click Here for More
Details
November 28, 2002
"Silver,
White or Blue? . . . . Don’t delay! The end is near!"
For any members wishing for a
Silver, White or Blue C5, now is the time to ACT! These exterior paint
colors will end early for the 2003 model year.
According to our sources, "These exterior colors will be cut-off for
ordering approximately four weeks prior to the build-out week."
-
12U Quicksilver---February 24,2003
-
40U Speedway White---February 24,2003
-
21U Electron Blue---May 5,2003
Get ‘em while they’re spraying ‘em!!
November 27, 2002
"Going for the Gold"
Members – just in! To document this
very, very rare, "one-of-a-kind"
2003 Gold
C5 ~ the Job Number is
14949 and the VIN is
1G1YY22G035114811. For all your Corvette
historians, you will want to write this one down!
[Click Image for Larger View]
November 26, 2002
"SEMA!
SEMA! SEMA!"
No, it’s not a movie title! But spending a
few days there was just as suspenseful!
The "Big Guns" were showing off their latest! Ford was touting
their GT40 in a "shrine-like" display and Dodge had their ’03 Viper surrounded
by the latest in "go-fast" Trucks – the RT Truck with it’s 500+ Viper motor, and
breaking news of the "Holy Grail" of engines, the "HEMI" being added to the 1500
Ram Truck series. … So what was Corvette up to?
November 19,
2002
Could this be our new replacement for
the LS1-LS6?
DETROIT - General Motors Powertrain
(GMPT) Saginaw (Mich.) Metal Casting Operations (SMCO) has been awarded
the precision sand project to produce engine block castings for GM's next
generation of aluminum V-8 engines. The company plans to invest
approximately $80 million to renovate a portion of the facility to install
precision sand technology, retaining jobs for 191 employees who currently
work at the plant. The new engine will power future trucks, passenger cars
and sport utility vehicles. Research, development and the installation of
related equipment are scheduled to begin before the end of 2002, with the
new engines planned for the second half of 2006
November 15,
2002
It is incredibly unique that the
C5 Corvette has the
distinct honor of not only having one, but TWO, one-of-a-kind
factory-produced C5s! The Platinum Power 2000 C5, won by Billy &
Reva Phelps [C5R# Y3500] and now this Golden
2003! Both are destined to be collectibles for the 75th
anniversary of Corvette!
“Going
for the Gold!”
Breaking news from the
Corvette Plant! Bowling Green is going to build a one of kind Gold
Corvette! Their JP Power goal this year is to be the best plant in
North America – to win the JD Power Gold Award.
In their journey to be the best, they are
going to build a one of a kind Gold Corvette starting next week. The
Corvette will be an automatic coupe with a black interior.
Engineering has designed special unique detailing for the Corvette.
It is going to be a BEAUTY!
Their build schedule shows the Corvette
coming off the line first thing Monday, November 25th,
meaning that it will be assembled Thursday and Friday, November 21 & 22.
All Plant Workers on the line will have the opportunity to sign the
Corvette on the frame as it is built!
The Gold Corvette will be made available
to employees to drive on a nightly basis. In June, the National
Corvette Museum will raffle off the Gold Corvette during the 50th
Anniversary Celebration. Profits from the Corvette will go to the
NCM”s operation fund and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. --special thanks to
Jane Bowlin, editor of the Performance Press (Volume 24, Number 44), for
sharing this HOT news with the C5 Registry!
November 15,
2002
“Congratulations
to Ron Fellows and DEI ~ a Winning Combination!”
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
announced earlier in the week (according to the Toronto Sun, 11-12-2002)
that they have hired Ron Fellows to race at Sonoma and Watkins Glen in
2003. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will form a fourth team to accommodate Fellows
-- who has a total of five BGN and CTS victories driving for a team owned
by Joe Nemechek. Fellows will still race the No. 3 Corvette C5-R in the
ALMS, where he won the GTS championship this season. "DEI will have a
fourth team at both Sonoma and Watkins Glen for the 2003 season and Ron
Fellows will be our driver," DEI spokesman Steve Crisp said.
”Fellows will also play a major role in
upgrading DEI's road course racing program, acting as a coach for Dale
Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip and Steve Park. "Thrilled is the best word
to describe how I feel," Fellows said from Sebring, Fla., where he was
testing the 2003 Corvette. "Being with one of the best Winston Cup teams
in the business is a big shot in the arm for me." Sponsorship and details
on team personnel with the DEI effort are still being worked out. Fellows
will begin working soon with DEI chassis and motor builders to prepare the
team for 2003. Crisp said DEI has been pursuing Fellows since team founder
Dale Earnhardt worked with him leading up to the 24 Hours of Daytona
sports car race in 2001. “
November 14, 2002
“Got 50th
Anniversary Corvette?”
“Want 50th Anniversary Indy Pace
Car?”
Then, GM Restoration
Parts has the decals for you! Just released, Corvette 50th Anniversary
Indy 500 Pace Car Decal Package (Part # 6716
- priced at $495) - available for
shipment on or before 12-10-02. These can be ordered through your dealer,
or through
www.gm-restorationparts.com Once you are on that page, click on Box 1
“Click here to order/search by part number” and enter the part number
6716. This twenty-one-piece set comes
with instructions for installation but it is
highly recommended that you have it
professionally installed by a talented graphics installer in your area.
Additional notes are, for proper installation, the body side moldings may
be required to be removed and 50th Anniversary fender emblems
may require removal and reinstallation. Registry Members, you will want to
have this done right the first time, because the decals are NOT
sold individually. If one decal is “mis-installed”, you will have to buy a
whole new set to make it right. This will probably work out good for
E-Bay, as there will be a lot of unused pieces from your second or third
set that get sold there!
J
November 10, 2002
DETROIT - Popular Science magazine has named General Motors'
Magnetic Ride Control the winner of its prestigious "Best of What's New"
award in the Automotive Technology category for 2002.
The award recognizes products or technologies that represent a
significant step forward in the category. GM's Magnetic Ride Control, the
worlds fastest reacting suspension system, took vehicle handling to a new
level with the introduction of this leading-edge technology on the 2002
Cadillac STS. It is now also available on the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette.
November 1, 2002
DETROIT - General Motors Corp. today announced modifications to its
retail marketing program on 2002 and 2003 model year vehicles.
Effective November 1 and continuing through January 2, 2003, GM is
offering "Zero, Zero, Zero" -- no monthly payments for 90 days, no down
payment and 0.0% APR financing rates for qualified buyers on the purchase
of most new 2003 and the remaining new 2002 model Buick, Cadillac,
Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, and Saab cars and trucks. The
2002 and 2003 HUMMER models are not included in the program.
Click Here for
details!!
