Today Chevrolet announced two new special edition Corvettes to round out the production of the C6 Corvette. The two models that have been unveiled are the 60th Anniversary Edition and the fastest Corvette convertible produced, the 427 Convertible Collectors Edition.

“The 2013 model year will be historic for Corvette, marking its 60th Anniversary and the final year for the current ‘C6’ generation,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet. “We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate these milestones than bringing back one of the most-coveted combinations in the brand’s history – the Corvette convertible and a 427 cubic-inch engine.”

Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition

The Corvette 427 Convertible blends elements of the Z06 and ZR1 models to create the fastest and most-capable convertible in Corvette’s history.

Its heart is the 427-cubic-inch (7.0L) LS7 engine from the Corvette Z06. Rated at 505
horsepower (377 kW) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm), it is the most powerful engine ever installed in a production Corvette convertible – and, like the Z06, the 427 Convertible is only available with a six-speed manual transmission.

The LS7 was co-developed with the Corvette Le Mans-winning GT1 engine and features
lightweight titanium connecting rods and intake valves, as well as racing-inspired high-flow cylinder heads and a dry-sump oiling system. It is assembled by hand at GM’s Performance Build Center, where customers who purchase the 427 Convertible Collector Edition can purchase the Corvette Build Experience option and assemble the engine that will power their new car.

Supporting performance elements in the Corvette 427 Convertible include the driveline and rear axle system from the Corvette Z06, a rear-mounted battery and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control. The standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels are wrapped in ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tires. Lightweight machine-face Cup wheels – introduced on the 2012 Corvette Z06 with Z07 and Corvette ZR1 with PDE performance packages – come standard and include unique gray-painted pockets. Black Cup wheels or chrome ZR1-style wheels are also available.

The 427 Convertible also features several carbon-fiber components that help reduce weight, including:

• Carbon fiber raised hood (introduced on the 2011 Z06 Carbon Edition)
• Carbon fiber Z06-style fenders
• Carbon fiber floor panels
• The “CFZ” carbon fiber front splitter and rocker panels are optional on the 427 Convertible, and included with the 60th Anniversary package

The weight reduction brings the 427 Convertible’s curb weight to 3,355 pounds (1,522 kg). Combined with its 505-horsepower LS7 engine, it gives the 427 Convertible a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64 – or one horsepower for every 6.64 pounds of vehicle mass.

That’s better than:

• Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet – 6.90
• Audi R8 5.2 RSI Spyder – 7.58
• Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible – 7.82
• Ferrari California Convertible – 8.31

The combination of low mass and high output will make the 427 Convertible one of the fastest convertibles in the world, delivering estimated 0-60 performance of 3.8 seconds, quarter-mile performance of 11.8 seconds, lateral acceleration of 1.04 g and a top speed of more than 190mph.

The 427 Convertible is available in 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trim levels and will carry a unique vehicle identification number sequence, similar to the Corvette ZR1.

Corvette 60th Anniversary Package

All 2013 Corvette models, including the 427 Convertible, will be available with a 60th
Anniversary Package, featuring an Arctic White exterior with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior with suede accents. Convertible models will have a blue top.

Additional content includes a ZR1-style rear spoiler, special badging, gray-painted brake calipers and the “60th” logo on the wheel center caps, steering wheel and seat headrests. An optional graphics package adds full-length racing stripes in Pearl Silver Blue, including a tonal stripe stitched into the convertible top, extending the graphic theme over the roof.

For 2013, all Corvettes will feature 60th Anniversary badges on the fascias and the “waterfall” panel on convertible models, as well as 60th logos in the instrument panel gauge cluster and on the sill plates.

Chevrolet will be auctioning off the first Corvette 427 Convertible at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale collector car auction with proceeds going to AARP’s Drive to End Hunger initiative on January 21st.

Chevrolet said that both cars will be available late summer when the 2013 Corvettes start production.  We hope to have both models at the annual NCM Bash at the National Corvette Museum in April.

 

The month of June is a very important month in the history of the Corvette.  Many significant events took place from production starting here at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, the ground breaking of the National Corvette Museum in 1990, to the last C4 Corvette rolling off of the line, but none of it could be possible without the first production Corvette rolling off of the assembly line June 30^th, 1953.

Just six months prior the world caught a glimpse of this new American Sports Car called the Chevrolet Corvette at the Motorama show at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.  The Corvette “Dream Car” was created to compete with the sports cars from around the world like Jaguar and MG.  The response from the Motorama show was overwhelmingly positive and as I mentioned production on this stylish sports car began.

All 1953 Corvettes were built by hand and were very close to the Motorama show car.  There were some differences between the production car and the show car:

• The Motorama car has a small chrome piece on the side  where the production version had chrome from front to rear
• The “Dorsal Fin” pointed down while the production car pointed up
• Chevrolet was below the small chrome piece and the production car had Chevrolet above the chrome piece that went from front to rear
• The Motorama car had an outside keyhole on the doors while the production car had no keyhole on the doors

 

Body assembly of the 1953 Corvette took place in Chevrolet’s converted Customer Delivery Garage off of Van Slyke Rd and Atherton near Flint, MI.  The first 1953 Corvette took three 16 hour days to complete. The startup was extremely slow and exhausting, but production ramped up in July with three cars rolling off the line each day.  Almost one year from when the car was introduced to the world, production in Flint stopped on the 1953 Corvette and moved to St. Louis, MO where the 1954 Corvette started just four days later.

All 1953 Corvettes were Polo White with a red interior and a black top.  Very few models had moon style hubcaps and the later cars had the louvered type look.  All 1953 Corvettes had a two-speed automatic transmission and had two options, a signal seeking AM radio ($145.15) and a heater ($91.40).  Although these were listed as options, all 1953 Corvettes came equipped with both items.  The base price was $3498, including the federal excise tax and $248 for shipping.  The radio had a rather unique feature:  since fiberglass is electrically inert, the antenna was incorporated in the trunk lid.  This would not have been possible with a conventional steel body.  Only 300 total 1953 Corvettes were produced, making this an extremely sought after car in any collection.

The Flint, MI Corvette Assembly plant was torn down several years ago, and many of the bricks that were used on the plant have been saved by the National Corvette Museum.  You can purchase a brick for $100 and own a piece of Corvette history.