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Chevrolet Corvette

QUESTION: I read your review of the Corvette Hardtop. Thank you for writing it and putting it on the website.

I have been trying to research Corvettes on the net, specifically with respect to reliability. My question is: If I buy a Corvette today, will it still be a good car in five years, or will stuff be cracking, rattling, and falling off?

Any information you might have, or any websites or newsgroups you could point me to, would be greatly appreciated.


ANSWER: I've owned several of the C1 and C3 vettes (including racing an IMSA vette in late 70s that started with a small block and wound up with a 500+ cu in aluminum monster motor), worked on a lot of C2s and was part of a 24-hour high-speed run with C4s in 1985 (>150 mph average for 24 hours).

I thought the C4 was a magnificent step forward but am blown away by the C5. They have only carried over nuts and bolts from previous vettes, and seem to have gone out of their way to fight for quality and good engineering rather than use what's on hand. No one that I know who has a C5 has had any reason for complaint.

I am including a copy of this note to Jim Shefter who wrote a magnificent book 'All Corvettes are Red' detailing the development of the C5. Contact him and he can probably sell you a copy.

Bottom line, I would love to have a '98 convertible, preferably one with the subtle purple and yellow pace car scheme and graphics.


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