An interview with Ed Welburn

[ltomn]

I just read a Wall Street Journal article, in today's paper, entitled, The Corvette Expert's Corvette and it is all about head of GM Global Design, Ed Welburn and his acquisition of a 1957 Corvette from Reggie Jackson. It is silver (only one of 65 made that year in that color) with a red interior. It goes on to tell about how the Corvette of the 1950's was designed by Harley Earl. So attached to that legacy, when Mr. Welburn went to register his '57 he asked if the plate, Mr. Earl, were available. His '57 now bears that plate moniker and, if I do say so, it's appropriate. He goes on to say, that same year he also retired from GM and ordered a C7 ZO6, model year 2016. It was also ordered in silver with a red interior. Now, the clincher, and this is a quote, "One of the last cars I worked on at GM was the next-generation Corvette, which is not out yet. I can't wait to get that car - silver, with red interior."

This is Ed Welburn, retired head of GM Global Design, who also worked on the C8 declaring the next generation Corvette is imminent!

[Skank]

Great catch Ltomn

[John]

Thanks ltomn. Now I can come out of the closet. I had heard, but was told not to share, that Ed was wanting his ME to be in that color combination. Now he has shared that, and now many see why I have twice posted I expect the first year ME, which was design wise completely finished and signed off by Ed before he retired, to be revealed in silver, especially as so many Corvette ME prototypes have been silver.

https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...-to-production

[tooold2race]

The sign off of the design in 2016 makes sense because of the lead time for tooling, etc. I saw the article and it said that the 'next' Corvette was designed before he retired but I don't recall it saying that it was 'signed off'. While there may have been some minor 'tweaks' after he left, I'm thinking it's a pretty safe bet that the design is at least 3 years old already.... By the way, I like silver with a red interior. Our new '96 was that color combination and it was striking.

[Mobius]

...so many Corvette ME prototypes have been silver.

Silver should look very nice on the C8... I almost went with silver for my C7.

[John]

I wonder whether Ed will choose Adrenalin Red or Spice Red?

[meyerweb]

I wonder whether Ed will choose Adrenalin Red or Spice Red?

I think Adrenalin is a lot closer to the color on the '57.

[TOMDOM69]

Silver should look very nice on the C8... I almost went with silver for my C7.

silver sure hides dirt alot better then Black or white. My C6 was black and that got dirty while it was warming up, but it looked sooo nice clean.

[bobbytinvab]

Agree with meyerweb, adrenaline red with silver. If you went with a more gunmetal grey then spice red would look great. I've seen some F cars with that combination and have always liked that look.

[TNBlueVette]

Thanks ltomn. Now I can come out of the closet. I had heard, but was told not to share, that Ed was wanting his ME to be in that color combination. Now he has shared that, and now many see why I have twice posted I expect the first year ME, which was design wise completely finished and signed off by Ed before he retired, to be revealed in silver, especially as so many Corvette ME prototypes have been silver.

https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...-to-production

While I'm happy for you guys I'm going to cry if they dont have a variation of the blue that a few of the renders kept showing.

[John]

Elkart Lake Blue is absolutely beautiful. Looks like someone took the now-extinct Laguna Blue, removed its $995 upcharge, and to make it even more special IMO, added metallic into it. As it is a new color, and very popular, my belief is that its chances of being a 2020 color are above 95%.

[OnPoint]

Mine will be silver too.

Very much looking forward to it.

[Sigmon]

Mine will be silver too.

Very much looking forward to it.

Are we all having silver now? lol. I'm thinking about it. ha ha, but maybe with tan interior.

[John]

I heard tell that we will have another exciting color rendering to drool over sometime. Stay tuned if you wish to be further tormented will more great options (but I do not know when).

[meyerweb]

I generally prefer brighter colors on sports cars, but do think the C7 looks very nice in silver.