Roger's Corvette Center - - Corvette History & Trivia. For 1. 96. 8, a factory installed anti- theft alarm system was available as an option, but less than 4. Pontiac almost beat Chevrolet to the Coke bottle design body, with their 1. Banshee, a two seater convertible sports car that would have been hefty competition for the Corvette.
GM stopped it, and then Pontiac president John De. Lorean later became president of Chevrolet. T- top does not refer to the shape of the roof, but rather it is short for Targa Top.
The original design was a pure Targa but body flex demanded the center bar, discovered late in the design. Due to policy changes at Chevrolet, Corvette was treated like all other car lines for the first time, and quality dropped drastically. With bad publicity in most magazines, policy was re- thought and Chevrolet quickly restored independence and higher quality to Corvette production within a few months. Many believe that all 1. Corvettes. In 1. 96. As such, a 1. 96. Corvette with a stock hood and air cleaner.
What causes the battery in my '98 Corvette C5 to lose charge in a matter of 4-5 days.(Third battery)in two years, -.
2001 C5 Corvette Ultimate Guide. History, Production Stats & Facts, Engine Specs, VIN Numbers, Colors & Options, Performance & Much More, we cover it all. Wiring and Interior Installation: C3 Corvette Restoration Guide - Covers Engines: 262, 265, 267, 283, 302, 305, 327, 350, and 400-ci.
The exception to the above was the L- 8. It retained the high rise manifold and also received a special hood, which was externally different to the regular big block hood. Emission control equipment was installed on the first 1. January 1, 1. 96. AM/FM stereo radio was offered as an option. The "Sting Ray name" was not used on the 1.
Corvette, but returned in 1. Stingray" as one word. Corvette had its first all aluminum engine in 1.
ZL- 1. It was not the first GM automobile to do so, however, being beaten by the Corvair in 1. Buick 2. 15 V8. Only two 1. Corvettes were sold with the ZL- 1 all aluminum 4. Corvettes of all time. Note: Visit Roger's Corvette Center in Orlando, Florida, for a close- up look at an original 1. ZL- 1. In 1. 96. 9, the ignition lock was moved from the dash to the steering column.
It would remain there until 1. In 1. 97. 0, big block engines increased from 4. HP LT1 small block engine made its debut. The first ZR1 performance package appeared in 1. HP LT1 engine and a host of other performance items.
The only external difference between the 1. Corvettes is the amber front turn signals and chrome plating on the egg- crate grills on the 1. Corvette "Big Block" engines in the 1. Beginning in 1. 97. Pewter Silver" was only offered as an exterior color in 1.
LT1 engine and since only 2. Although 1. 97. 3 VIN's run to 3.
The 1. 97. 0 - 1. Corvettes were the last to feature chrome bumpers front and rear. In 1. 97. 3, due to front impact legislation requirements, the front bumper was changed to a body- colored flexible plastic. In 1. 97. 4 the rear bumper followed suit. In 1. 97. 3, aluminum wheels were again listed as an option.
However, their inability to maintain air pressure (much like the problems which plagued the early 1. The rear view mirror in the 1. Corvette was increased to a width of 1.
The last true dual exhaust was installed in 1. After that, all exhaust gases were channeld through a single catalytic converter. The 1. 97. 4 rear "rubber" bumper was made in 2 pieces due to shortcomings in the manufacturing process.
The process was improved the following year, thus 1. The big block engine made it's final curtain call in the 1.
Corvette. The FE7 Gymkhana Suspension package was first introduced in the 1. Corvette. 1. 97. 4 was the last year the Corvette would be produced to run on "leaded" gasoline. HEI distributor. The convertible was discontinued after the 1. GM cited declining sales for convertibles (only 4,6. Corvette used the same steering wheel as a Chevrolet Vega for the "Sport Steering Wheel" Option. Due to stricter emissions standards, California Corvette buyers could not opt for the L8. The 5. 00,0. 00th Corvette, a white 1.
St. Louis assembly line at 2: 0. P. M. on March 1. The aftermarket "Moon Roofs" (glass t- tops for Corvettes) were supposed to be optional equipment in 1. Chevrolet. GM developed their own glass panels for the 1. The 1. 97. 8 model saw the first fastback rear window since 1. The '7. 8 Pace Car's distinguishing "Black and Silver" paint was chosen over other alternative color schemes primarily because it photographed well.
Back then, most magazine articles and ads were still done in Black & White! Crossed flag emblems returned to the nose and sides of the Corvette in 1. More Corvettes were built in 1. Due to tougher emission standards, Corvettes bound for California were fitted with 3. The 3. 05 cubic inch V- 8 installed in 1. California- bound Corvettes was the first Corvette engine to be monitored by a computer. Since 1. 98. 1, all Corvettes have been computer equipped.
By Federal mandate, the 1. Corvette was the first Corvette to have a speedometer with an upper limit of only 8. MPH. There were no optional Corvette engines in 1. The 1. 98. 1 Corvette had two cooling fans to increase engine power.
In 1. 98. 1, Corvettes were produced with two different types of paint. Lacquer was applied at the St. Louis plant, and enamel was applied at the new Bowling Green plant.
In 1. 98. 2, console mounted clocks were quartz units and had the word "QUARTZ" printed on the face, while the 8. In 1. 98. 2 fuel injection reappeared in the Corvette after a 1. For the first time since 1.
Corvette with a manual transmission.