A few days ago I finally had an opportunity to take photographs of a mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. As I made my way around the pictured car, I wondered why they called it a Corvette. The so-called C8 generation is simply too different from its predecessors.
Thus, I found it amusing to see how advertising for the C8 has emphasized the nameplate’s legacy and paid homage to Zora Arkus-Duntov, who played a major role in the engineering of early Corvettes.
As I took photographs, I found myself comparing the C8 with the original Corvette Sting Ray, which was produced from 1963-67. To my mind this generation represented peak Corvette, particularly in its styling. Although the C2 Corvette lacks modern greenhouse side curvature, it otherwise strikes me as one of the top designs of the post-war era — and perhaps the single best-styled car produced during William Mitchell’s tenure as head of General Motors’ design department.
Also see ‘2014-18 Corvette taillights: A veritable petting zoo on wheels?’
In contrast, I find the C8 Corvette to be a stylistic disaster. Even if I ignore the car’s bloated size, its over-amped jet fighter sculptings have all of the sophistication of a 13-year-old’s sketches. This is most pronounced in the rear, where the iconic boat-tail shape of the C2’s fastback has been transformed into an overly busy assemblage of creases, folds and mutilations.
One of the most aesthetically pleasing parts of the C2 was the ducktail rear end with dual-pod taillights. A modern car couldn’t get away with such a simple design, but the C8’s taillights are way too cluttered and gimmicky.
The C2 had fairly fat thighs for a mid-1960s car. One could argue that the main reason for that is side glass that is nearly or completely flat. C8 designers did not have to work around that limitation, but still gave their Corvette even fatter thighs.
Fun fact: The 2022 Corvette is 6.5 inches wider than its 1965 predecessor but has only 1.1 inches greater hip room. Where did all that extra width go? Apparently into side scoops big enough to suck in a medium-sized dog.
The C8 coupe does have .9 inches more headroom despite being a full inch lower than the C2. However, the mid-engined Corvette has a scant .1 inches extra leg room even though the car is 7 inches longer and the wheelbase is 9.2 inches longer than the original Sting Ray.
Of course, the C8 is a much safer and more civilized car, but the interior styling is just as overdone as the exterior.
The original Sting Ray’s front end was arguably its least impressive feature. Although the veed fascia cleverly hid retracting headlights, it presumably was not as aerodynamic as the likes of the Studebaker Avanti.
Meanwhile, the C8 Corvette’s front end has a fairly conventional sports-car shape whose main problem is that it suffers from an overabundance of cheap-looking black plastic.
All in all, I was decidedly unimpressed with the C8 Corvette. I say this recognizing that I am just another old fart whose design sensibilities are hopelessly stuck in the past. So if I fall asleep here in my lawn chair, don’t bother waking me up until Detroit grows out of its current infatuation with wildly exaggerated styling that can even top the late-50s sci-fi look.
NOTES:
Specifications are from corvsport.com (2022), iSeeCars.com (2022) and Wikipedia (2022).
RE:SOURCES
- corvsport.com; 2022. “1965 Corvette Performance & Specifications.” Accessed Oct. 19.
- iSeeCars.com; 2022. “2022 Chevrolet Corvette Dimensions.” Accessed Oct. 19.
- Wikipedia; 2022. “Chevrolet Corvette.” Page last modified Oct. 11.
ADVERTISING & BROCHURES:
- wildaboutcarsonline.com (Automotive History Preservation Society): Chevrolet Corvette (2021)
The first photo showing the front of the C-8 from above, suggests a combination of Marvel’s Iron Man’s and Red Ronin’s helmets!
I pretty much agree with everything you said, Steve. The C8 is not a pure design exercise, it’s a boy racer fantasy and I was quite underwhelmed when it debuted. The as the styling is more “follow the leader” than the C2 which was definitely “go your own way”. Some of might describe the C8’s various bulges, creases and aero add-ons as “junked up” but then again, some of us might think that the ’65 Sting Ray convertible is just about the most perfect car ever.
The above should read: “The styling is more…” and “Some of us might”… Sorry for the goofs, lol.
I’m an old man, and I love the looks of the C8 Corvette.
I find the C8’s overall styling cartoonishly busy as well, and the tail end of the car looks obese; yes, I’m fat shaming a car. The C2 and the E-Type sported the most svelte of automotive arses.
Driver safety has improved with the C8, but the car’s capabilities are beyond the skill level (and risk assessment?) of most buyers as was made horrifyingly clear in LasVegas last November.
First off, the C-8 Corvette is an interesting halo car for General (i.e. China) Motors, especially in these challenging times with the future of the internal combustion engine at a real crossroads. I was entering my teenage years when the 1963 Corvettes were introduced. That Chevrolet put the C2 Sting Ray on the road was to me, amazing. I had the opportunity to drive an early production metallic blue 1967 327-cu.-in./300-h.p./Powerglide convertible with the optional hardtop, my father in the passenger seat (He was an Allison’s Engineering (G.M.) project engineer.) around the block in Greenwood, Indiana at the Kelly Chevrolet dealership. Even in boulevard cruiser specs, it was like no other car I had ever driven up to that time. Of the Corvettes I have had the pleasure of driving, my favorite is the C-6, which to me looks just right. The C-7’s rear end lost me, and the C-8 seems as out of place on the road as do rear-engine Ferraris and Ford GTs. I have visited Bowling Green several times and toured the museum, but with most roads clogged with traffic (as least east of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers), why anybody would want to drive an over-powered supercar on public roads is beyond me. I have sat in a “base” 2020 C-8. I appreciate the engineering that went into the current Corvette, but somehow, my chronically sore back and I long for a very low-mileage 2008 Pontiac G-8 for my travels. Barring that, what about low-mileage 1965 Catalina 2+2 ? (Love the smell of new Morrokide, although I mourn for all the Morroks that gave up their hides !) One final thought, in my opinion, the finest BALANCED sports car I have ever driven on public roads of all types is the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL with the Pagoda roof…nothing but class and refinement !
Indie Auto received the following comment:
“It’s not any different form the original Stingray than that was from the ‘62 and previous Corvettes. I think you need to say, more often, IMHO! rather than making pronouncements that sound like authoritative statements that all agree with.”
Indie Auto is a journal of opinion. To get a better sense of the method to our madness, go here.
In the context of opinion, I would say the C8 styling holds its own relative to its contemporary peers, especially the Italians, much like the C2 did in its day. The exaggerated proportions may not be for everybody, but then some think the Avanti is a standout design. I don’t think so and I could throw in a derisive comment but that’s not the point, styling is subjective. My thought is comparing the C8 to the C2 is like comparing oneself entering retirement to graduating high school, the same person, yet at a different stage in life. As for the folds and creases let’s look beyond production cars and check out the modern Formula 1 car, a design that is both amazing and mind-boggling. I do agree on the plasticky parts and especially the taillights, it looks more messed up than the Avanti.