So far GM has been mum on the C7 Corvette Stingray’s Nurburgring time but we just know that setting a fast lap would be on the table. Remember that 7:19.63 Corvette ZR1 time that was set by Mero in 2011? While they were …
It’s good to have friends or acquaintances at place where car stuff happens, even at ‘stealerships’.
I was on my way home from work when may phone rang, normally I don’t answer when I’m driving and almost never when the number isn’t in my contacts. But I answered it (hands free people…hands free!!!) and the voice on the other end wasn’t immediately familiar.
“Tim, this is Scott, from —– Chevy.” I then remembered having a couple conversations with him about Vettes, one of them dealing with the chrome on the Grand Sport.
He continued by reminding me of our Corvette conversations and then said…”I have a the new Corvette in and….” I interrupted and in a high pitched tone said… “Can I see it!?!?!?!” (sounded like a little kid, I’m sure.) He said…”We getting it ready for the buyer to pick up….” I interrupted again….”I’m two blocks away. I can be there in five!!!” He responded “Yes, I can get you back there to see it.”
I give my C6 a little more air/fuel mixture and got there in 4 minutes.
The dealership was having one of those 24 hours sale and there was a live band, one of the local Corvette clubs had a row of 50’s – now Vette generations (minus the C7), a couple of 1920’s Chevy’s and a T.V. news crew.
I parked in front and weaved my way though the cars and people and headed inside. I was stopped by a salesman and asked for Scott.
(Reading this back to myself..you’d think I was picking up my very own C7!!!)
Salesman led me inside and there was Scott in one of the salesman cubes. He’s says “You want to see it?” I said “Lets go.” Trying to be a bit cooler than I was on the phone.
We chatted on our way to the rear of the facility and I mentioned my numerous trips back to Kentucky and visiting the assembly plant. I’ve seen the a C5 being built and a couple C6’s. We got to the back of the building and headed outside to the prep-area. No C7 in sight.
While Scott took a call I wandered around the bays and then back outside. Then as I turn to my right, I heard the wonderful sound of American Muscle in low gear (given the C7 is 7 speeds I guessed it was in 3rd gear) and I saw a most magnificent machine moving toward me and then it hung a left (all in slow motion ) and gave me a broadside view and parked in one of the prep bays. There it was, my first in person encounter with the new C7 and the first C7 to be delivered in my area.
Once I got my legs moving (again in slow motion) I headed to the bay, Scott had just joined me. I had about 60 second of “alone time” before the crew was there and someone started shouting…”We have 5 minutes…lets move…we have only 5 minutes.” It was like being in the pits at a NASCAR race or (I reflected later ) like a maternity ward when a baby is being delivered.
I managed to get my phone out and in the rushed atmosphere I managed get a good look at the interior and some outside shots, while dodging the “pit crew”. It was a thrill!!!
It truly is an impressive vehicle.
The interior is reminiscent of the C6 but clearing a step above.
Share your first encounter with AFCRMR, leave note below.
General Motors has reportedly filed a patent for an all-new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission the company hopes to develop in the coming years. With similar seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions being increasingly used in supercars, including the …
If you live in the greater Detroit area or in one of General Motors’ favorite testing zones, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the C7 era is already upon us – Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupes are thick on the ground in every color of the rainbow …
Supercars are very common on the wide, state-of-the-art highways of Dubai. But a new record-breaking Lamborghini, made out of gold and gems, is sure to turn heads.
After you read this you might think, Corvette drivers are … well….Richard Craniums… but I think this is an issue with any car person with a car they love. My wife is like that with new cars – Nissan and two Lexus brand cars over the years. I’ve been less so, I think with my ’70 Mustang (now going to a large collector) and my two Corvettes (C4 and C6) – well maybe not.
But generally I don’t make people take their shoes off before getting in my car. No smoking of course and eating and drinking are fine. Spills will get you tossed out at the next stop however.
Got “Not in my car!!!” moment? Share it here.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
I love the unwritten rule that #Corvette drivers wave to each other on the road. Can’t wait to have my one one day. #ThanksMom
Corvette convertible drivers among the safest, study shows. We all know Chevy Corvette drivers are passionate about their cars. One clear indication of this is how safe they are when it comes to their driving – well, some may …
There are countless renderings of what the 2015 Ford Mustang could look like circulating the web revving up for what could be the biggest car debut ever.
In October, the Hennessey HPE700 Corvette is expected to debut packing a claimed 700 hp, with help from an Eaton TVS R2300 supercharger. It adds 8 psi of boost through custom CNC-ported factory cylinder heads, working with proprietary intake and fueling systems. Hennessey says it will also recalibrate the ECU. Like the factory C7, a seven-speed manual or six-speed automatic can be specified.
Hennessey Performance has been on a roll as of late with their Venom GT breaking speed records seemingly every month. Now, in anticipation of the release of the 2014 Corvette C7, Hennessey has announced their upgrade packages for the new Stingray.
… Performance Parts, Pictures and More from HPE. Home · About · HennesseyPerformance.com; July 31, 2013. You are here: Home / Corvette / C7 / Hennessey’s HPE700 C7 Corvette Beats the Factory’s ZR1 to the Punch …
What is that noise? The sound of the electric motor? No it’s me yawning!!! I’m getting bored with electric cars that look like bubble. This BWM looks like a mini-cooper, cross over, mini van thing.
I love road racing. I’d much rather race on a road course. It’s not as intense as the short burst on a drag strip and or as predictable as an oval course. It challenges all of your driving skills, shifting, braking, acceleration and cornering.
Watching on T.V. I rather enjoy a good road race. I was lucky enough to live in Riverside, Ca. when Riverside Raceway was still running and I attended one of the last road races there. It was great.
But what about those classes? I’ve learned a bit more since racing SCCA, but still I’m not 100%. So let’s start with a the GT Class.
These are limited in body style to coupe, sedan and convertible. They have to be models that are sold in the real world market as a sports car, sport touring cars for performance version off luxury cars. Those are cars like:
Audi R8
My Fav the C6 Corvette
C6R
DB9
Forced induction is allowed, if the car came that way in production. SCCA has a provision to allow better competition for car to add forced induction so help meet the horse power range.
The horsepower range is 425 (15 over stock base model C6) to 525. Your car has to be rear real or all wheel drive. Weight a varied depending on wheel/tire size but average 2900 – 3800 lbs.
Sometime ago I purchased a MAC tool box from a family member. This one:
It’s vintage 1980’s all steel MAC Tools tool box – it’s Godzilla heavy – about 5.5 feet tall. A month or so a go I was moving tools around in it and got to a section I hadn’t cleaned yet. So I emptied the contents of that section and found an interesting object and I tucked it away thinking I’d do something with it later on.
I re-found it today and hence this brief article. Oh…what is it? Here ya go.
It is a DeSoto Adventurer key blanks
I can’t tell what year it is from.
It folds up like a pocket knife and pictures the likeness of an Adventurer.
Not a bad looker! But they got even better later on!!!
Was I lying? Better looking 2 years later!!
So I thought…hmmm what don’t I know about this car…a lot.
I do know that the 1956 Adventurer is a rare car – only 996 of these were produced and cost about $4k back in the day. It was powered by the 320 horse powered 341 Hemi (considered their high performance model…well…yeah!!).
Here’s some stuff I didn’t know about DeSoto’s Adventurer model:
– They were first produced in 1956 and sported the Hemi 341 with dual exhaust.
– They were often referred to as the “Golden Adventurer” that year and had power brakes, power front seat, electric windows, windshield washer and dual exterior rear view mirrors and dual radio antennas (rear mounted).
– In 1956 they only came in a hard top.
– They were produced from 1956 to 1961 which was not only the
Adventurer’s last year but DeSoto’s as well.
OH…Hold the Presses!!! Didn’t I see one in person not too long ago? Yes, I did. It was a convertible!! Now I recall. I was at….Barrett Jackson Auction with……
….
and we saw this……
CAR!!!
…go for BIG MONEY $$$$.!!!
Here’s the rear end…
Please don’t ask me ‘why’ this is the only pic I took….!!!
In fact the a car above was a 1957 and there were only 300 convertibles made that year. Heck there were only 1650 hard top made that year as well.
In fact, again, they were all low production models:
– 350 hard tops and 82 convertibles in 1958
– 590 hard tops and 87 convertibles in 1959
– more cars in 1960 and 1961 – but they added a 4 door. What!!?!?!?!?!?! Boo!! Hiss!! Yup you could still get the 2 door version, yeah, in hard top only!!! (No convertibles…Double Boo!!! Triple Hiss!!!)
– All the Adventurers came with the most powerful engine DeSoto offered every year – always over 300 horse power, but just barely in 1960 and 1961 when it topped out at 305. (Another article coming up with some engine specifics for this cool model.)
Thanks for reading. If you know what year these key blanks are from drop me a note. If you own an Adventurer, drop me a pic @ timsweet@cox.net.
Danbury Mint 1956 DeSoto Adventurer Diecast Car 1:24 Scale Black/Gold w/Box http://t.co/v0RYpqnz2O
Unique and beautiful machines seen on the streets of New York. Monday, July 15, 2013. 1958 DeSoto Adventurer, First Street and Eighth Avenue. Posted by Cartorialist at 06:56. No comments: Post a Comment. Older Post Home. Subscribe to: …
![IMG_20130926_152559_774[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.average-guys-car-restoration-mods-racing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/IMG_20130926_152559_7741.jpg?resize=800%2C450&ssl=1)
My wife is like that with new cars – Nissan and two Lexus brand cars over the years. I’ve been less so, I think with my ’70 Mustang (now going to a large collector) and my two Corvettes (C4 and C6) – well maybe not.
