Information/Discussion of C8 Pre-Reveal Steps

[John]

A companion thread for any recommended additions, corrections, updates and discussion to the C8’s pre-reveal process as it is contained in this compassion, but locked “timeline only” thread:

https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...ine-and-events

Your thoughts please as to the process??? Any info to add or correct to the linked one?

[CCoMEditor]

C8 - Why 7/18/19 at 8 PM in CA

In high school I was a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. This is my attempt to follow the clues.

At the Bash Tadge showed a slide of the C8 in New York with big red arrows pointing to two tiny areas on the car. While the car was covered in camouflage these two areas contained tiny decals of Zora Duntov’s head. At the last minute Tadge had been given the OK by the head of communications to place them on the car.

Why would Tadge have Zora decals and how many might he have? Not something you carry around on a whim.

Hmmm! Zora raced Porsches before joining General Motors and even after retirement tried to get General Motors to build a rear-engine Corvette and now it’s here.

At his presentation Tadge was asked how long the C8 had been in development. Without hesitation he said 66 years. The audience didn’t know if he was joking or not. He wasn’t.

In 1953 Zora wrote a now famous memo to management. The original is on display at the NCM. If you subtract 66 from 2019 you get 1953. A coincidence? I think not!

What Corvette related event is happening in mid-July of this year? Why it’s the NCRS annual meeting.

What’s happening at the meeting on 7/18/19. It’s the presentation of the awards.

What is one of the awards? Why its none other than the Duntov Mark of Excellence.

My guess is that the car will be known as a/the Zora.

Invitations to the reveal were sent out and it will be in Orange County, CA at 8 PM. Could it be at the Marconi Automotive Museum? The museum is a non-profit with proceeds from events going to children’s charities. That fits with GM’s philanthropic activities.

The 8 PM time makes sense. GM wouldn’t want to detract from the NCRS awards banquet which should be over by 11 PM eastern time which is 8 PM CA time. That way the Corvette faithful at NCRS won’t have to cut short the NCRS awards to watch the reveal.

My guess is also that there never was going to be a reveal at the New York or Detroit auto shows.

My guess is that GM management has been getting a chuckle reading all the wild speculation that has been published in the past many months. I would if I were them.

While we were at the Bash Mary Barra announced GM would be adding a second shift and hiring 400 employees at the plant to meet the expected demand. That means the price is going to be reasonable.

Dear GM Execs: If you think I’ve done good job following your clues it would be really nice if you invited my wife and I to the reveal.

[Lexterrae]

Seems so elementary (now that you say it) Dr. Watson! Nice first post, welcome to the forum.

[ltomn]

C8[B]

While we were at the Bash Mary Barra announced GM would be adding a second shift and hiring 400 employees at the plant to meet the expected demand. That means the price is going to be reasonable.

My guess is GM added a second shift to manufacture the new front engine Corvette that will be the price leader going forward. The Zora, which I wholeheartedly agree will be the name, will not be a moderately priced vehicle unless compared to the competition, where it will shine as a great value although in six figure territory.

[TOMDOM69]

My guess is GM added a second shift to manufacture the new front engine Corvette that will be the price leader going forward. The Zora, which I wholeheartedly agree will be the name, will not be a moderately priced vehicle unless compared to the competition, where it will shine as a great value although in six figure territory.

Why haven't we seen any mules of this new FE?

[John]

The Corvette team is minuscule in size. They are putting in massively long weeks, week after week, on development of the mid engine C8.

[Milliwatt Rob]

And somebody, somewhere, is working on a Helms shop service manual set.

[meyerweb]

Why haven't we seen any mules of this new FE?

While I don't believe there is going to be a new FE, if there were the testing could probably be done with C7 bodywork. on the cars, and no one would even notice.

My guess is GM added a second shift to manufacture the new front engine Corvette that will be the price leader going forward. The Zora, which I wholeheartedly agree will be the name, will not be a moderately priced vehicle unless compared to the competition, where it will shine as a great value although in six figure territory.

While you could be right, there seems to be lots of people in a position to have some inside knowledge who say the cost will be within about $10K of the C7, or possibly less. And we've seen interior shots of the car with the Stingray name. That could be deliberate misdirection, of course. And, as John said, it's hard to believe the Corvette team has the resources to develop two new cars simultaneously, even if one is "only" an update to the C7.

[meyerweb]

C8 - Why 7/18/19 at 8 PM in CA

You could be right, but at the Bash it was whispered that the reason for the date was simply the schedules and availability of GM execs.

[meyerweb]

And somebody, somewhere, is working on a Helms shop service manual set.

Which won't be available to owners for 2 years after the car goes on sale.....