Again our chairman could resist the temptation and decided to buy another Vette. This time he felt for a barn condition '54 Polo White/Red (currently black) 6 cylinder car with after market hardtop.
He also started a weblog on this car which contains more pictures and information about this nice find...
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Trim Levels
Base: LT
Mid-level: Z06
Up-level: SS
Introduction
The Corvette; such an iconic GM vehicle. It's the car that everyone loves, and has a place in the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world. It's Chevrolet's equivalent of the 911, and the two vastly different cars are often compared head to head as ideological opposites. The car that can compare with rivals costing far more; .that car is the Corvette. And that's the car we had the task of redesigning, quite possibly the hardest of all the RIA cars we have done before. Our hardest vehicle, in the hardest lineup. Efforts in this lineup have culminated with, and in our idea of what the next generation C7 Corvette should be.
In this RIA, our C7 Corvette's styling follows an more evolutionary, rather then revolutionary path. Overall the car is much more emotional and dramatic, with a more planted stance and low-slung look. Things like a swooping downward character line add drama and excitement to the car, while still retaining that unmistakable Corvette look.
We followed the mantra of "don't mess with success" in hammering out the details on the C7, especially in regards to price. The Corvette is an attainable supercar, and that's something that shouldn't be changed. The LT starts at $47,150 and bumps up the horsepower from current C6 levels to 450HP. And, as is the case now, is available in a few different packages, 1LT, 2LT and 3LT. Z06, which starts at $70,250, increases the HP level to 600HP from it's 7.0L LS7 V8. A new addition to the model line is the "Super Corvette", which we have called the Corvette SS. The Corvette SS, starting at $115,000, has a supercharged version of the engine, making 850HP. The SS also adds features like ceramic brakes, something GM has opted out of the current car because of the over $10k cost. The price has been brought down though, however and it's a feature that certainly should be present on the very best of Corvettes.
Lots of debate on where to take the Corvette, both in RIA and inside GM. Some have said to take the Corvette mid-engine. That's the worst course of action because it destroys the very essence of the Corvette in that it's an attainable supercar. In price as well as styling, future Corvettes should stick to the principles that made it what it is. A mid-engined vehicle has it's place at Cadillac, but not as a Corvette. Our proposed C7 Corvette arrives around the time of the production vehicle, in 2010 as a 2011 model.
Specifications Sheet
Vehicle Type: Large 2-Door 2-Passenger Sports Car
Size Comparison: Current Corvette
Competitors: In a Class of it's Own
Base Platform: GM Y-Body
Drive Wheels: RWD
Engines:
LT: 6.2L 450HP LS3 V8 - Starting at $47,150
Z06: 7.0L 600HP LS7 V8 - Starting at $70,250
SS: 6.2L 750HP Supercharged LS9 V8 - Starting at $115,000
Transmissions: 6 speed Automatic (Optional: LT/Z06/SS), 6 speed manual (Standard: LT/Z06/SS)
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Local Member and Secretary of our Dutch Chapter Erik Stroeve has added a 1969 Convertible to its collection. Erik fell for a Riverside Gold convertible with an optional hard top. The car has an L46 engine which produces 350 bhp. Overall the car is in a sound and original condition and many of the parts are matching.
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Today we congratulate Andre Boer for winning the first Top Flight ever won on Dutch soil!!! His 1967 Big Block Corvette (black/red, 435hp convertible) scored a Top flight. A very impressive achievement for such an stunning car.
Click here to see a photo impression of this event.
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Local member Eddy Jongejans has the hang of the Corvette virus. After purchasing a C3 in the states earlier this year, Eddy now also fell for a dark blue C1 from 1958. The car is in a sound condition and is equiped with the unique dark blue soft top.
We cannot wait to see this car in real life at one of the next events!
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Recently Project Gotham Racing 4 is released futuring a Split Window Coupe. A sneak preview can be found here:
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One of Andre's latest additions to his impressive collection is a magnificent 1967 big block coupe. In the May issue of AutoVision an article has been submitted about this car with some mind blowing pictures of the, previously Duntov awarded car (and for as far as we know only Duntov level car in the Netherlands or maybe even in Europe).
Another article featuring this car is included in the Sportcar Legends book of the same publisher.
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Local member and vice-chairman of our Dutch Chapter, Michael Westenberg, has finally decided for a C5 Corvette in stead of his long desired C4. Michael bought a 99 Torch Red coupe in California. The car is a one-owner vehichle with a fully documented history. The car is with the exception of the magnesium rims fully equiped with all other available options in 1999.
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Motor Trend is the latest to suggest the new supercharged 650 hp Corvette will have a name that looks to the past: ZR1, the King of the Hill, will be resurrected for the Blue Devil/SS Corvette currently being developed in anticipation of next year's introduction.
I like the name and it works for me, but don't believe for a second that this is a done deal yet. Remember those previous monikers: Z07, Stingray, SS and now ZR1. There's a couple good names in that list and while my vote would most decidedly go to Stingray, I wouldn't be surprised if its none of them.
Motor Trend also reports that the Blue Devil/SS/ZR1 will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2008.
Source:
Motor Trend
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Popular Mechanics caught up with the Velocity Yellow Corvette Blue Devil/SS and points out some of the changes they have seen on this latest incarnation that are different from previous mules.
These biggest change appears to be a bulge in hood that is much more pronounced than on previous versions. It's always hard to tell with the black covering GM uses to hide, but on this yellow SS mule, the bulge is definitely larger than before.
It also looks like GM is testing a carbon fiber roof. While harder to spot on previous spy photos, these new photos again show a black roof, not painted or tinted as a production Corvette would have. Going to a carbon fiber roof would be yet another way that Corvette engineers are shaving pounds off the SS.
Other Changes include:
- A rear spoiler on the back is now extended across the back of rear. This is for added downforce at high speeds.
- Michelin tires are on the Corvette for the first time as GM has reportedly reopened the bidding between Michelin and Goodyear for the Blue Devil/SS contract.
- Mudflaps extend to the fenders to cover the width of these Michelin tires.
- The Wheel takes the traditional 5 spoke "star" in a split design and adds two more between each of the five points. Popular Mechanics surmises that these are actually a weight saving move that allows for lighter materials and more reinforcement.
Source:
PopularMechanics.com
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One of the orginal C6-R's is currently to be found in the Dutch Corvette Museum! This nr. 64 Le Mans race-car was used during the 2006 race and was able to beat the Austin Martins and win the GT1 class.
The car is can be viewed in the museum till the 12th of June 2007 because then it needs to leave for the Le Mans races of this year. Everyone is invited to view or photograph this car and have a look at the museum while you are there!
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For all Sting Ray drivers and fans of the 2nd Corvette generation a meeting will be held on June 10th by the Dutch Sting Ray registry.
Meeting point: Spectro B.V.
City: Oss
Street: Grevelingenmeer 2
Start: 14:00 hrs
The host of this event is one of our DC members Mr. Clemens Metternich
The Dutch Chapter supports the Sting Ray registry initiative and to provide access to a larger public an online version of the registry has been started by the Dutch Chapter. The site has been online since November 2005 and is accesible via WWW.C2REGISTRY.ORG
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Today we have proudly opened the Dutch Chapter online webstore (accessable via the link Web Store on the left side of this page). Using this section of our website our specially made Dutch Chapter articles are presented which can be ordered via e-mail Currently we have window decals, polo and fleece shirts in our shop. In the near future we expect more Dutch Chapter merchandising to be available...
Visit today our web store so during your next chapter visit you can amaze your fellow chapter members with these items!!!
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Our Dutch Chapter was announced in the media and all of this in the April edition of the Dutch classic car magazine "Classics & Technics". In the section CLUB INTRODUCTION on the pages 42 and 43 of this edition a short story is published about the how the club was founded in 2005 and what the NCRS stands for.
Via this kind of publications we hope to reach even more Corvette enthausiasts.
The article can also be viewed via this link.
We hereby thank the editors of "Classics & Technics" for this great opportunity!
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Last weekend the board of international NCRS has approved our chapter its one year probationary period. During this period our chapter will have all the rights and priviledges of an official chapter. Normally this will result in an official acceptance of the chapter.
This means that from now on we are allowed to organize Flight Judging events, apoint judging points at judging schools and handout won awards.
Hereby I want to thank everyone for their conrtibution resulting in reaching this milestone, in particular:
* our local board members (Andre de Boer, Erik Stroeve, Mike Westenberg, Ruud Zeller, Sander van Ballegooij, Twan Baars)
* the international board
* Mark Lincoln (our contact to the US organisation)
* Rene van Ballegooij
* Nico Saft
* Jack Humphrey
Rob Musquetier
Chairman of the Dutch Chapter of the NCRS
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Click here to see a photo impression of this event.
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Click here to see a photo impression of this event.
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After 4 months of reconstructing and decorating by Theo, Rene' and Sander the clubhouse was last week completely ready for the opening. On Friday the last bits and pieces were arranged and the cars of Sander and Rob were parked on location.
By telephone Mike guided our British gues Chris in the direction of the Zaanstreek and after having spend several hours in Dutch traffic jams Chris finally arrived at 6 pm at the Zaansche Schans. After checking in in the Hotel the special car was dropped at the Clubhouse.
The next morning the board was already on location at 9 am to connect the computers and organize the last things. The first guests arrived around 10 am. The heroes of the day were Piet and Ruud because they drove with their C1 and C2 from the south and east side of the country especially to Wormer.
After a brief introduction round and a flashback on 2006 some special people were honored. Sander, Theo and Rene' were praised for their enormous efforts in building up the clubhouse. Then it was up to Chris and his unique story about his SO prototype Sting Ray which he drove from the UK all they way to Wormer on mainland Europe.
The story of Chris drew everybody's attention since he explained in detail how it was found in a barn and that it is today the most unique Sting Ray splitwindow present in the world - and that all in Europe.
After the story of Chris the clubhouse was officially opened. Lunch was served around 12:30 by the people of the Riverside cafe.
The afternoon was all about the techsession during which Rob presented all the details on the body removal and drop procedures. Also the procedures on how the car is rebuilded was explained in details on the shopfloor where the 59 Crown Saphire C1 of Rob was put on display with body and chassis seperated.
At the end of the day it was time for champagne and we cheered on the new location and the start of the new season.
Click here to see a photo impression of this event.
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Europe to get LeMans Victory Edition Corvette
Completing GM's trifecta this week of news about limited production Corvettes with ties to racing, I came across an international news story that GM may also be preparing to launch a special edition Corvette for the European Market. Celebrating the success of Corvette Racing at LeMans, a very limited series of 250 "Victory Edition" Corvettes will be produced. The Victory Edition Corvettes will be available in either Black or Velocity Yellow with Competition Grey wheels. Highlighting the interior are two-tone leather seats and Corvette flag emblems, a carbon fiber look interior trim and the unique numbered "Victory Edition" badge.
The Corvette Coupes will be powered by the LS2 6L V8 with the choice of a 6-speed manual or the 6-Speed paddle shift with automatic mode.
Every "Victory Edition" Corvette will get a numbered car identification interior badge. Buyers are invited to participate in a 1 day free Corvette Drivers Training event with professional instructors at selected race tracks across Europe. The VE Corvette will be available in Europe at the beginning of March 2007.
Last year there were 1,250 Corvettes sold in Europe, so based on recent trends, the "Victory Edition" Corvettes could possibly comprise 20-25% of total Corvettes sold. No official word yet on the wording on the badge, but we're hoping for something that says "Corvette Kicks Ass."
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Starting up a new Corvette club in Holland was not an easy task, but finding a suitable location for establishing our homebase was considered difficult. But surprisingly Nico Saft, one of our members, offered our board a unique opportunityin August 2006. Apparently Nico had some space left and he offered this to the Dutch Chapter, an offer which was received with open arms.
From that moment the reconstruction team of Rene' van Ballegooij did not sit still and they spend many free hours on creating a unique location! Next to a 2 column maintenance lift there is also a pollishing lift, corvette art and a real 60s atmosphere. Of course the location has many more unqique features.
What the real end result is everybody wants to know and therefore the clubhouse will officially open its doors on the 17th of February during the 2007 Technical Session.
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DETROIT, Mich. -- Corvette officials announced today that America's premier production sports car team intends to return to the American Le Mans Series in 2007 to defend its GT1 manufacturers, team and drivers championships. Corvette Racing also plans to race for its sixth GT1 class title in seven years at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
"The Corvette C6.R race program continues Chevrolet’s tradition of racing production-based vehicles to improve the breed," said GM Racing director Mark Kent. "The continuous exchange of information and the constant transfer of technology between the racing and production programs ensure that lessons learned on the track benefit every Corvette on the highway."
Corvette Racing will test in February in preparation for the season-opening round of the 12-race ALMS series, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, on March 17, 2007.
Since its debut in 1999, Corvette Racing has competed in 77 races, scoring 51 victories and 34 one-two finishes. The team has won the ALMS GT1 manufacturers championship for Chevrolet six consecutive years. Corvette Racing drivers Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta have combined to win the ALMS GT1 drivers championship five consecutive seasons. Other highlights include five GT1 class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and an overall victory in the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
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