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  • Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for August 1st

    Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for August 1st

    Criswell Chevrolet’s Mike Furman delivers new Corvettes to his customers who come from all across the country to work with the nation’s top individual Corvette seller.

    It’s been another fantastic week for Mike Furman and those customers who entrusted their new Corvette orders to the top-selling Corvette salesman. Mike shares 19 deliveries this week which he even admits is a blistering pace, but seeing all those happy faces at the end is totally worth it. Check out this week’s deliveries as well as some personal photos from Mike and the regular collection of vintage and throwback photos!

    Visit Mike’s facebook page for even more photos and videos of his new Corvette deliveries: CorvetteFurman.

    ~Check out my 19 deliveries/stories this week all over the Country,…hoping production continues at this pace. So incredibly difficult to predict with parts suppliers worldwide. Stay tuned as GM is doing the very best that they can under the current circumstances. Have you tried ordering patio furniture? Appliances? a bicycle? Then you know what I mean.

    *I spent every Summer with Zora Duntov from 1978-1990 and his favorite remark to me when I brought up future product was “Rumors sell magazines, not cars”

    Follow on Instagram: corvette.furman: Corvette Furman on Facebook

    ~My former employer back in the 80’s…Malcolm Konner opened his first automobile dealership, selling DeSotos, Plymouth’s, and GMC trucks, in 1935. Only 21 years old at the time, Malcolm was following in the footsteps of his father, who opened his first dealership in 1903. In 1955, Malcolm became a Chevrolet dealer, and for almost 30 years (1964-1994) Malcolm Konner Chevrolet sold more Corvettes than anyone else in the world. This Commemorative Edition Corvette recognized that accomplishment, and it represents the one and only time GM honored a dealer in this way. “ Only fifty (50) 1986 Malcolm Konner Commemorative Edition Corvettes produced by Chevrolet. (Yes, it’s even listed in the Corvette Black Book)

    I have a ton of Corvette memorabilia and all 50 Original window stickers for this special edition Corvette. My plan is to complete a registry for all 50 MK Commemorative 1986 Corvettes! Do you or someone you know own one of these special editions? Send me a PM please with your vin# etc.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman
    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    The Konner family donated a 1986 MK Edition to the National Corvette Museum 3 decades ago. I visit it every year. ~19 Corvette deliveries to report on this week…which doesn’t count the folks that haven’t sent me pics yet and my non-Corvette deliveries. Busy week every week after 43+years of selling Corvettes Nationwide.

    ~Don L. of Pittsburgh, PA took delivery of his new Elkhart Lake Blue 2021 Corvette coupe at the corvette Museum and instantly had a lil fan and his Father wanting an experience behind the wheel. Don obliged the child’s picture opportunity! The red carpet was rolled out for Don and his buddy last Friday. 1st Corvette he has ever owned…Equipment list: 2LT pkg, GT2 buckets, magnetic ride, performance exhaust, sterling silver trident wheels, and much more. Thanks for the really cool headphones Don!

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Forest B. of Jacksonville, Oregon took the red carpet ride option at the National Corvette Museum for his factory order. Don’s Red Mist 2021 Corvette Coupe has sky cool gray two tone interior with the spectra gray wheels. Equipment list: 2LT pkg, GT2 buckets, CF full stripes, chrome badges, magnetic ride, front lift, edge red calipers, performance exhaust, and much more.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~David and Sandy E. of Woodbine, Maryland were referred to me for their 8th Corvette purchase. They took delivery today of a Torch Red 2021 Corvette coupe with red interior and traded in their 2014 Corvette with 69,900 miles! Equipment list: 1LT pkg, bright red calipers, chrome badges, performance exhaust, and spectra gray wheels.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Keith T. of Lafayette, California factory ordered his Torch Red 2021 Z51 Corvette coupe to be drop shipped at his local Chevrolet dealer in Dublin, CA. Keith is thrilled with his new sports car and who wouldn’t be! Equipment list: 2LT pkg, GT2 buckets, transparent top, front lift, magnetic ride, bright red calipers, spectra gray wheels, Z51 pkg and more!

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Neil K. of Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania factory ordered an Elkhart Lake Blue 2021 Corvette Coupe. Equipment list: 2LT pkg, performance exhaust, sterling silver trident wheels, and much more. Neil is looking forward to putting 10k miles per year on his new world class sports car.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Tom T. of Holcombe, Wisconsin felt his best experience buying a new Corvette would be by calling me and starting the process. Tom factory ordered Red Mist 2021 Corvette Z51 Convertible with Jet Black interior and Red stitching. Plycar trucking will enclose trailer his new Corvette from Criswell to his home in Wisconsin. Equipment list: 3LT pkg, CF painted Nacelles and body color roof, front lift, CF instrument panel, magnetic ride, edge red calipers, spectra gray wheels, Z51 pkg, and more.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Ken M. of West Friendship, Maryland factory ordered his very first Corvette and today was delivery day. Ken had our service dept install his wheels and bought the high wing spoiler and ground effects pkg. Super cool look for sure! Equipment list for his Red Mist 2021 Corvette Z51 convertible with Natural two tone interior:3LT pkg, CF painted Nacelles and roof, CF instrument panel, magnetic ride, edge red calipers, CF painted mirrors, Z51 pkg and tan seat belts.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~ Robert and Linda B. Of Tomball, Texas chose Elkhart Lake Blue with Sky cool gray for his 2021 Corvette Z51 coupe and they just took delivery at the National Corvette Museum in KY. The red carpet was rolled out for this Texas couple! Equipment list: 3LT pkg, sterling silver full length stripes, transparent top, chrome badge pkg, CF instrument panel, front lift, magnetic ride, edge red calipers, edge red engine cover, engine appearance pkg and Z51 pkg. Email from the Butler’s:

    Dear Mike,
    Linda and I wish to express our sincere gratitude for all your assistance in ordering our 2021 C-8. You are a consummate professional who helped us plan and order our new Corvette. We have named her “Dream Girl” and you can tell by the pictures that name fits her perfectly. Mike, you did everything in a most timely and professional manner and helped us have a car that, without your experience and eye, would not have been exactly what we wanted. We now have our “Dream Girl” home in Texas and look forward to showing her off as well as recommending to our friends to call Mike for their next Corvette. We will return to you for our next Corvette. Again, thank you for advising us to build a totally awesome 2021 C-8. You are most deserving of our words and praise.”
    Best Wishes,
    Bob & Linda Butler
    Tomball, Tx
    P.S. “The peanut brittle was an unexpected and welcome surprise!”

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Frank S. of Wappinger Falls, New York factory ordered a Black 2021 Corvette Z51 Convertible with Adrenaline Red interior. Frank also had Criswell service dept add the high wing spoiler! Equipment list: 2LT pkg, front lift, magnetic ride, bright red calipers, CF painted wheels, Z51 pkg and Red seat belts. Plycar trucking picked it up and delivered it to his home driveway.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Gary F. of Colorado Springs, Colorado shared the Corvette Museum delivery experience with his wife yesterday in Bowling Green, KY. Gary factory ordered a Rapid Blue 2021 Z51 Corvette Convt with the Tension Blue/Twilight Blue dipped interior. Equipment list: 3LT pkg, CF/Midnight silver stinger stripe, chrome badge pkg, CF painted Nacelles and body color roof, front lift, and Z51 pkg.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Alan C. of San Jose, California factory ordered from me his Red Mist 2021 Corvette Z51 coupe to be picked up at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. This past week the red carpet was rolled out for Alan and his wife. Equipment list: 2LT pkg, front lift, magnetic ride, CF painted wheels, CF painted mirrors/spoiler, engine appearance pkg and Z51 pkg.
    I’m sure they had a blast!

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~John W. of Downingtown, Pennsylvania had the red carpet rolled out this week for both him and his son at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. John called me to order an Elkhart Lake Blue 2021 Corvette Z51 coupe with Natural interior. Equipment list: 3LT pkg, body color dual roof pkg, body color accents, front lift, magnetic ride, edge red calipers, edge red engine cover, EL Blue rear Corvette letters, engine appearance pkg and Z51 pkg. Fun was had by all even the Museum delivery host!

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Robert S. of Leesburg, Virginia factory ordered from me a Red Mist Metallic 2021 Corvette Z51 Convertible with Natural dipped interior. Today was delivery day so Robert and his son could enjoy the weekend in his new hard top mid engine Corvette. Equipment list: 3LT pkg, CF/midnight silver stinger stripe, CF painted acelles and body color roof, front lift, CF instrument panel, edge red calipers, Cf painted wheels, Z51 pkg, visible CF mirror caps, and much more!

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Ron and Pam S. of Eldersburg, Maryland placed their factory order for a Red Mist 2021 Corvette coupe and this week took delivery with perfect timing as their Lease expired on their 2018 Impala they got from Criswell. I was really glad to assist these two through this whole process as they are incredibly nice folks so give them the Corvette wave. All 7 of the Vettes they have owned were C2’s and C3’s, lookout for this stunning C8! Equipment list: 3LT pkg, Two tone Red/Black interior, body color accents, front lift, edge red calipers, performance exhaust, spectra gray wheels, engine appearance pkg, torch red seat belts and much more!

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman
    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Jeff L. of Jacksonville, Florida flew up today to take delivery of his new Ceramic Matrix Gray metallic 2021 Corvette Z51 Convt with Adrenaline red inter. His son and grand son live close by so we had 3 generations of Ludwig guys here at Criswell for this special day. Jeff has owned 2 C7’s and now he is driving his C8! Equipment list: 2LT pkg, chrome badges, front lift, magnetic ride, bright red calipers, spectra gray wheels, and Z51 pkg. A great day for the Family!! ~Gerald and Anne G. of Chantilly, Virginia bought his C7 from me and today he took delivery of his Silver flare with Red/black interior C8 Convertible …his 5th Corvette that they have owned. His daughter and granddaughter were visiting from California and joined in the delivery pics. Equipment list: 2LT pkg, GT2 buckets, magnetic ride, front lift, CF wheels, CF painted mirrors and Z51 pkg.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman
    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Henry G. of Prescott, Arizona Factory ordered his new Corvette to be drop shipped for courtesy delivery at the Chevrolet dealer in Phoenix, Arizona. This week he picked up his Ceramic Matrix gray metallic with Sky cool gray interior 2021 Corvette Z51 Convt and drove home to Prescott. Equipment list: 2LT pkg, GT2 buckets, midnight gray dual stripes, shadow gray exterior accents, front lift, magnetic ride, spectra Gray wheels, silver/ CF hash stripes, Z51 pkg and more.

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    ~Joe H. of Miami Beach, Florida flew up this morning to take delivery of his Arctic White 2021 Corvette Z51 Convt. Joe will enjoy this C8 as it’s his very first Corvette that he has owned. Equipment list: 2LT pkg, CF painted Nacelles/roof, front lift, magnetic ride, Z51 pkg. ~Patrick W. of Hanover, Maryland is literally cooler than the other side of a pillow…check out his very first Corvette!! Patrick ordered a Black 2021 Corvette Z51 Convt with Black interior and Batman better look out as there is a new Sheriff in town.
    Equipment list: 2LT pkg, chrome badge pkg, front lift, magnetic ride, cf painted wheels, Z51 pkg and much more! I believe Patrick’s buddy Jeremy will be a Corvette customer sooner than later!
    ~This past Wednesday the 28th I played in a Golf Tourney in Princeton, NJ. It must be about the 25th year that I have played in the NCAA College Wrestling Hall of Fame Golf outing for Charity. Next to me is my High School Wrestling Coach, still going strong at 78 years young. ~The Corvette Furman school out at Ron Fellows Spring Mountain Race track in Pahrump, Nevada has been popular over the last 7 years… so I am doing three classes this Fall. Each class has 20 of my Corvette customers from around the world and Spring Mountain is a terrific venue to learn more about your new C8 Corvette. 7 Pro Instructors in each class teach you how to best drive your C8. I host a Dinner party at The Clubhouse for each class the night before. Any questions? Call Donna Hammontree 1 800 391-6891 x232 ~~The Frank Class Corvette barn find and throwback picture section…please post up your favorite pic(s).

    The debut of the 1953 Corvette at the GM Motorama brought on worldwide attention…

    Dinah Shore…

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman
    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    Joe E. Lewis

    Corvette Deliveries with Mike Furman

    John Wayne and brought the attention of Zora Duntov. Zora Duntov and his pilot. Drive safely.

    Mike Furman
    Criswell Chevrolet
    Gaithersburg, MD
    301-212-4420 desk direct
    Off Fridays and Sundays
    “I sell and ship Nationwide and have done so for 43+ years!
    [email protected]
    CorvetteFurman.com

    Click on the link below for Cigar Aficionado magazine article that just came out:
    Cigar Aficionado: The Legend of Mr. Corvette

    Each day I post up Corvettes stories and delivery videos…follow on Instagram: corvette.furman and Facebook: CorvetteFurman

    Mike can deliver new Corvettes at Criswell Chevrolet in Gaithersburg, MD or through the National Corvette Museum’s R8C delivery program. He can also deliver new Corvettes via covered transport direct to your door or a courtesy delivery to the Chevrolet dealer near you.

    Related:
    Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for July 25th
    Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for July 11th
    Corvette Delivery Dispatch with National Corvette Seller Mike Furman for June 27th

    Click Here!


  • [VIDEO] Stolen C8 Corvette Crashes During Pursuit in Midtown Detroit

    [VIDEO] Stolen C8 Corvette Crashes During Pursuit in Midtown Detroit

    Photo Credit: Michigan State Police

    We’ve been telling you for a long time that the new mid-engine Corvette is one hot automobile.

    Of course, we were referring to its ranking as the fastest-selling vehicle in America for several months running.

    Now, though, this black 2021 Stingray is one hot automobile in another way: the Detroit Regional Communication Center received a call from OnStar at 10:10 a.m. today (July 15) reporting it stolen with no license plate from a dealer lot in Novi, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit.

    On the bright side, the car was quickly recovered, but not before a high-speed chase ended with the Corvette badly damaged in a crash.

    With OnStar providing updates on the car’s location, Michigan State Police were able to locate it near the intersection of Gratiot Avenue and Outer Drive in Detroit at 10:35 a.m.

    After turning onto the I-75 Service Drive from Warren Avenue, the suspects sideswiped a van, bounced off it, and then crashed into several parked vehicles on Chrysler Avenue. Video from a local news crew shows the Corvette suffered major damage to the passenger side front, with the front tire resting on the asphalt several feet away.

    Two people exited the car after the crash and fled on foot, but they were quickly apprehended by MSP and Detroit police officers and taken to Detroit Detention Center.

    Police said no one was injured in the incident.

    Source:
    clickondetroit.com

    Related:
    [ACCIDENT] High Speed Chase of a C7 Corvette Ends with a Crash in Houston
    [VIDEO] Two Men Sitting in a C8 Corvette Were Shot by Unknown Assailants on Saturday Night
    [VIDEO] C7 Corvette Driver Hits 130 MPH Running from Cops Before Being Sideswiped in Intersection

    Click Here!


  • 2022 Corvette Prices Increased for the Z51 Performance Package, Front Lift, and Destination Fees

    2022 Corvette Prices Increased for the Z51 Performance Package, Front Lift, and Destination Fees

    Photo Credit: Chevrolet

    We wrote earlier this week that dealers can now start submitting preliminary order requests into the GM workbench order system but that pricing wasn’t available yet. Chevy must have heard our call as our friends at the Corvette Action Center are sharing these screens from GM’s ordering system that are now showing some pricing for select options.

    Unfortunately, the bottom line is that your price for ordering a 2022 Corvette may cost more than the $1,200 increase that Chevy announced last month depending on options and equipment.

    Chevrolet had already announced the $1,200 price increase for the three trim levels on the 2022 model year Corvette, and we learned today that it was the trim groups that were raised by $1,000 and the mandatory destination charge of $1,095 was increased by $200, so that’s how the 2022 Corvettes are going up by $1,200 for everyone. We wanted to see those numbers so here is how they look. The first price is the current 2021 MSRP that includes the $1,095 destination charge for each trim level and body style with the second number showing the $1,200 price increase:

    2021 Price vs 2022 Price with destination fees included

    • $60,995 – 1LT Coupe – $62,195
    • $68,295 – 2LT Coupe – $69,495
    • $72,945 – 3LT Coupe – $74,145
    • $68,495 – 1LT Convertible – $69,695
    • $75,295 – 2LT Convertible – $76,495
    • $79,945 – 3LT Convertible – $81,145

    As we read through the order sheets, we note that the Z51 Performance Package has been increased from $5,995 to $6,345. Nearly 70% of Corvettes are ordered with the Z51 Performance Package so this one will be hitting a majority of buyers as well. Another popular option is the E60 Front End Lift. This option is now priced at $2,260, an increase of $860 more than the $1,400 when it was offered on the 2020 model. The Black Trident Wheels have been increased by $100 to $2,995 and the High Wing also saw an increase of $100 to $1,250.

    As far as the new content for 2022 goes, there is just the low profile spoiler (TVS) which is offered for $595. While the pricing isn’t coming up on the order system, the IMSA GTLM Championship special edition package will add $6,595 to the price of a 3LT Corvette with Z51.

    Finally, we note that one option appears to have been discounted. The 5VM ground effects package was initially priced at $4,895 and we now see it priced at $4,445.

    Check out these screens below which show the options and pricing based on the 3LT trim package for Coupe. You can see the Convertible pricing sheets here.

    2022 Corvette 3LT Coupe Pricing

    Source:
    Corvette Action Center

    Related:
    Ordering is Open for the 2022 Corvette, But There is a Catch…
    The 2022 Corvette Order Guide Shows New Carbon Fiber High Wing, Intake Trim
    Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter on the 2022 Corvette LT2 Engine Updates

    Click Here!


  • [VIDEO] IndyCar Drivers Sebastien Bourdais and Dalton Kellett Take a Lap at Road America in the C8 Corvette Pace Car

    [VIDEO] IndyCar Drivers Sébastien Bourdais and Dalton Kellett Take a Lap at Road America in the C8 Corvette Pace Car

    This weekend the NTT IndyCar Series is racing at Road America for the REV Group Grand Prix and the pace car for the event is a Red Mist 2021 Corvette Stingray. Over the last few IndyCar races, we’ve taken notice of the pre-race coverage by the IndyCar series on social media that features a veteran driver taking a rookie around the track in the Pace Car. While we believe the idea is that the drivers will be discussing the track, inevitably they end up having a conversation about how nice the new Corvettes are.

    We previously shared the drive prior to the Indianapolis 500 that had Juan Pablo Montoya and Felix Rosenqvist in the cockpit with JPM saying “I love this car” as they made their way around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    Today’s Pace Car drive prior to the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America featured drivers Sébastien Bourdais and Dalton Kellett with Sébastien getting “the much more fun side of the car” according to Dalton as they make their way out on the track. The great thing about Road America is how fast it is with the sweeping corners and long straights, and the IndyCar driver doesn’t disappoint in allowing the Corvette Pace Car to stretch its legs on the track. Right away both drivers comment positively about the car with Sébastien commenting on the “nice grip.” Bourdais also comments on how the “mid-engine makes a big difference” and says “it’s a cool car…I like it,” while Kellet comments how he likes the Great Wall of Buttons and the layout of the cockpit.

    As they wrapped it up, they talk about the sound of the Stingray as the engine is just behind them and what a “feisty” sound it made during the hot lap.

    Source:
    NTT IndyCar Series / Twitter

    Related:
    [VIDEO] Juan Pablo Montoya Loves the 2021 Corvette Stingray Indy 500 Pace Car
    [PICS] The 2021 Corvette Convertible is the Official Pace Car of the 105th Indianapolis 500
    Take a Lap in the 2021 Corvette Convertible Indy 500 Pace Car with IMS President Doug Boles

    Click Here!


  • [VIDEO] Rapid Blue C8 Corvette Roaming the Streets of Atlanta on 22-Inch Forgiato Wheels

    Posted on by admin
    [VIDEO] Rapid Blue C8 Corvette Roaming the Streets of Atlanta on 22-Inch Forgiato Wheels

    I guess this answers the questions on whether or not 22-inch rims will fit on a C8 Corvette. And with 21s on the front, there’s no need to lower it to get rid of that wheel gap…amirite?

    In fact, wheel-gap is virtually non-existent on the Corvette and we are wondering if there are any compromises that come along with a staggered 21/22-inch set-up versus the stock 19/20s that come on the car from Bowling Green.

    We caught this Rapid Blue C8 Corvette Convertible posted to YouTube from WhipAddict showing the car at an Atlanta meet-up and we are simply captivated by the Forgiato rims under it. We’ve only seen a preview of one other car with 22-inch wheels on the rears, and we were waiting for it to be posted from our friend Morgan Crosbie when this Rapid Blue Coupe slid into our timeline.

    [VIDEO] Rapid Blue C8 Corvette Roaming the Streets of Atlanta on 22-Inch Forgiato Wheels

    It’s just a five-minute video, but it features everything we like including a bit of drone footage that shows off the two-tone Blue interior in the car when the top is down.

    To figure out which wheels these are, we hit the Forgiato website and were able to find them right away. These wheels are the Forgiato Blocco-ECLs customized to match the Rapid Blue Z51 Convertible. The black accents with the Black and Blue center cap match the car perfectly and we like the concave design that you can really see when the car is at the right angle.

    From WhipAddict via YouTube:

    The homie @allaround_towing_llc just copped the new body C8 Corvette, Light Blue with black and light blue interior, and immediately drooped in on 21s 22s Concave color matched rims from Rim Source Motorsports and mounted up by Butler Tire! One of the hardest I’ve seen! What do you think?

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    Source:
    WhipAddict / YouTube

    Related:
    [VIDEO] C8 Corvette Chased by a Police SUV is Actually a Promotion to Sell Aftermarket Wheels
    [PICS] 2020 Corvette Stingray Rides on Avant Garde M520-R Monoblock Wheels
    [PICS] Rapper’s Two-Tone C8 Corvette Triggers References to Batman Villain Two-Face

    Click Here!


  • [VIDEO] The Fastest Corvettes (and other GM vehicles) at Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap

    The Fastest Corvettes (and other GM vehicles) at Car and Driver's Lightning Lap

    Photo Credit: Car and Driver

    2006 was an exciting time! Pluto was still a planet, the Wii was just released, there was no Twitter, most people hadn’t ever heard of a Kardashian, and Car and Driver (which was still mostly thought of as a magazine) gathered the hottest new cars of the year at Virginia International Raceway for the first time. This annual occurrence was dubbed “Lightning Lap,” and your author (a high school Junior at the time) was hooked from the moment he opened the mailbox.

    Some Quick Background Info for Those of You Who are New to the Enthusiast Fold: Lightning Lap is an annual mega-test that C&D holds on Virginia International Raceway’s 4.1-mile Grand Course, which they call “the ultimate test of modern machinery,” the perfect test of all the things that a performance car should be. Vehicles that participate in LL are split into classes, based on their MSRP. The first tier, LL1, covers all sticker prices below and including $34,999, LL2 picks up at $35,000 and goes up to $64,999. Next is LL3 which spans from $65,000 all the way to $124,999, and is the field where the majority of the best domestic performance cars do battle. LL4 ($125,000 to $249,999), and LL5 (quarter-million dollars and higher) make up the stratosphere and mesosphere of the test that is rounded out by an LLU class that is strictly for concept, kit, and race cars, trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles.

    Back on Track: In the fourteen years since the 2007 Z06 became the first car to stop the clock in under three-minutes at Lightning Lap 2, few OEMs have found the level of success that General Motors has enjoyed, especially with the Corvette. A quick glance at C&D’s all-time results reveals GM products on top of three out of the four price-based classes in which they compete and on the podium (sometimes in multiple places) in all four. What follows are the dozen quickest Corvettes (and friends) to ever lap VIR in the hands of C&D editors, followed by a look ahead at the future of go-fast machines from the RenCen. Now, without any further ado, let’s get tropical!

    1. 2019 Corvette ZR1 – 2:39.5

    The swan-song front-engine Corvette, the 2019 ZR1, is the fastest General Motors product that Car and Driver has ever piloted around VIR, the fastest LL4 class car in Lightning Lap history, and at 2:39.5, it sits in fourth place out of 281 all-time competitors. In 2018, The King of the C7 Hill was one of three competitors to better the $450,000 2017 Ford GT’s all-time record. Out of that record-setting trio, the 755 HP Corvette ended up ahead of the otherworldly McLaren 720S by .2 of a second but behind the 911 GT2 RS Weissach Edition and its then record-holding 2:37.8 lap time. On the same rubber, we maintain that the C7 ZR1’s silver medal would have turned to gold, but, as it stands, this all-time giant-slayer still earned its early retirement.

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    2. 2015 Corvette Z06 (Z07) – 2:44.6

    The first supercharged variant of seventh-generation Corvette, the 2015 Z06, still manages to hold on to the silver medal in GM’s stable of Lightning Lap times and the title of fastest LL3 car ever, even after five years of relentless advancement across the board. Like its big-wing sibling, the Big Nasty etched its working-class name in the two-slot of the leaderboard when it was new. At the time, only the million-dollar Porsche 918 Spyder had ever Lightning Lap’d faster. Just think what the upgraded 2019 model could have done with its cooling enhancements and updated mag-ride calibration!

    2015 Corvette Z06

    3. Sixth-Gen Camaro ZL1 1LE – 2:45.02:45.7

    The top-dog Camaro just missed out on toppling its two-seat LT4-buddy with a 2:45 flat around VIR (for the 10-speed auto, the manual was .7 behind). To illustrate just how impressive the two $75,000ish ZLE variants are, take a look at the cars around them on the list. Sandwiched between the slush-box and the stick are the Ferrari 488 GTB and Ford GT. Immediately following six-speed is the McLaren 650S Spider and a run of other LL5 and LL4 cars that include two Porsche GT cars! These things definitely represent the front, business, portion of their mulleted reputation!

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    4. 2017 Corvette Grand Sport (Z07) – 2:47.1

    Chevrolet has been absolutely dominant in the LL3 class throughout the years. Prior to this year, The Bowtie brand held the four fastest times ever run in the highly-competitive $65,000-$124,000 price range, and five out of the top six, only leaving room for the fourth-generation Viper ACR at fifth. The C7 Grand Sport equipped with the Z07 Ultimate Performance Package may only be the third fastest of this bunch, but it does claim the title of fastest vehicle ever sent around VIR with fewer than 500 HP at its disposal.

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    5. 2020 Corvette Stingray Z51 – 2:49.0

    The new face body of America’s Sports Car performed admirably on America’s toughest track. Lapping within .4 seconds of the once-untouchable 2008 Viper ACR and ahead of the GT-R Nismo and 458 Italia while fitted with regular summer tires is a heroic feat! The Z51 package is just a set of Pilot Sport Cup 2s away from claiming this list’s naturally aspirated title, for now, at least.

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    6. 2017 Camaro ZL1 – 2:50.1

    The “run-of-the-mill” sixth-generation Camaro ZL1, equipped with the same 10-speed automatic transmission as the faster 1LE, set a seriously fast time in less-than-ideal conditions. Still, landing smack-dab in the middle of a group of four super (and/or track-special) cars (Ferrari 458 Italia, Viper TA, NSX, 991.1 GT3) makes this one impressive 2+2, especially when you consider its comparatively reasonable asking price!

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    7. C6 Corvette ZR1 – 2:50.7 – 2:51.8

    In 2009, the C6 ZR1 obliterated the field at Lightning Lap 4, with the third fastest lap ever recorded. While it has somehow fallen all the way to 40th on the leaderboard, it is one of just five representatives from the ’00s that still registers in the top 50.

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    Fresh off a trip to Germany, where the lighter, sticker PDE package helped it shave six seconds off its Nürburgring time, the Blue Devil showed up to the 6th running of Lightning Lap and took home the gold, for a second time. Not only was it more than two seconds faster than the second-place Nissan GT-R that year, but it also bested its previous run by 1.1 seconds.

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    8. 2015 Camaro Z/28 – 2:50.9

    One of, if not THE most impressive thing about this whole list is that a 505 HP, 3,858 lb. pony car slots on the high side of in-between the previously mentioned pair of 638 horse sports cars. Not only that, but it stopped the clock during the same second as its supercharged, automatic transmission successor, ended up within a tenth of the Ferrari F12, and matched the record-holding, million-dollar Porsche 918 Spyder for g’s in turn one at VIR. If you are looking for a car that is entirely comfortable fighting outside of its class, “Steve” is your huckleberry.

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    9. 2011 Corvette Z06 (Z07) – 2:53.5

    Just like the C7 Grand Sport mentioned above, the new-for-’11 Z07 package proves that sometimes a lower curb weight can make it easy to forget more than a hundred horsepower. The Z07 lapped just 1.7 seconds behind the ZR1, and all of that time can be attributed to the high-speed sector 1, the 7.0L monster matched or outright beat its more expensive sibling everywhere else on VIR, at the same time shaming the best laps of the finest road course slayers Italy had to offer at the time; the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV.

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    10. 2014 Corvette Stingray Z51 – 2:53.8

    As impressive as the LS7-powered beast at #9 is, the Stingray nearly rose to its gauntlet, and it did it without the extensive use of carbon fiber, ceramic brakes, or about 40% of the asking price! If it weren’t for the next car on the list, with mid-40s asking prices for nice examples, an early C7 Z51 would be the easiest way to embarrass your rich friends at a track day in a humble Chevrolet.

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    11. 2017 Camaro SS 1LE – 2:54.8

    For a full $10k less than the C7 Stingray (at current market value), you can get within one second of its lap time and beat unobtanium like the Lexus LFA to the checkered flag. The SS 1LE is GM engineering for the masses at its finest!

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    12. 2016 Cadillac CTS-V: 2:56.0

    The Wreathless Crest just missed out on cracking GM’s top ten Lightning Lap times, but when the now-retired LT4 Caddy was new, it was the fastest sedan in the history of the event, and it remains the quickest RWD four-door ever, definitely worthy of recognition!

    Honorable Mention: 2013 Camaro ZL1 – 2:57.5 The first of the new breed of Super Camaros did its job of defeating the much more powerful, contemporary Shelby GT500 (by more than three full seconds!), but what the 580 HP fifth-gen really does now is highlight how far the humble pony car has come in the past seven years.

    Looking Ahead

    The General has a handful of internal combustion masterpieces to bestow on the world before the company fully shifts its focus to autonomous, connected, plug-in transportation pods aimed at eliminating emissions, crashes, and congestion from our roads. Here are the two that we are hoping to see in full attack mode at VIR in the next year or so:

    Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: When Lightning Lap makes its triumphant return next fall, look for the CT5-V Blackwing to challenge the AMG GT63 for sedan supremacy. The $200k ‘Benz’ current record for four-doors sits at 2:49.3 while the car that the Blackwing is replacing ran a 2:56 flat. Can 28 additional horses, ceramic brakes, and a new, grippier tire compound help shave the necessary 7 seconds? We can’t wait to find out!

    2022 Corvette Z06: The fifth car on our list is only the beginning for the mid-engine Corvette. The first hi-po model is expected to feature a 9k redline from an ultra-fast-spinning V8 with dual-overhead cams and a flat-plane crankshaft. The first super-C8 should also fix the Stingray’s track-tire issue and, maybe even offer active aerodynamics. Official output is still a mystery, but we are expecting somewhere between a nice, round 600 and the C7Z’s 650 HP from the naturally-aspirated mill. Even down on power, this is the one that could threaten the upper echelon of the entire Lightning Lap leaderboard!

    Source:
    Car and Driver

    Related:
    [VIDEO] 2021 Corvette Stingray Z51 Runs 2:49.0 at Car and Driver’s 2021 Lightning Lap
    2019 Corvette ZR1 Dominates at Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap 2018
    [VIDEO] 2017 Corvette Z06 with New Magnetic Shock Calibrations Runs 2:39.77 at VIR

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  • [PIC] First Look at the 2021 Corvette’s Stinger Hood Graphic

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    [PIC] First Look at the 2021 Corvette's Stinger Hood Graphic

    As a C2 Corvette owner, I’ve always been a fan of the stinger hood and Chevy’s attempts at recreating the look via a Stinger hood graphic on the most recent generations have pretty much worked. However, when the 2021 options list showed a preview of the new Stinger graphics option, I found myself having a hard time embracing the new design.

    The C8 Corvette’s front (and frunk) has been such a radical departure from previous generations. As the engine now resides in the rear, there is no “power bulge” on the C8’s hood as compared to the C7s, so Chevy’s designers created a two-tone graphic designed to run along the narrow creases on each side of the hood’s center.

    The new Stinger Stripes are $500 and are offered in three flavors:

    • DZX Carbon Flash/Edge Red Stinger Stripe
    • DZU Carbon Flash/Edge Yellow Stinger Stripe
    • DZV Carbon Flash/Midnight Silver Stinger Stripe

    Tonight on Instagram we caught our first photo of a 2021 Corvette with the DZU Carbon Flash/Edge Yellow Stinger Stripes on a Zeus Bronze Z51 Coupe. Perhaps this isn’t the best color combo to show off these new stripes but we’ll take what we can get. Who wants to guess the car has matching Edge Yellow calipers?

    Posted via @carsfromhoff via Instagram:

    Do you like the concept of the 2021 Stinger stripes? Want to see a different color combo before passing judgment? Us too. I’d like to see the Carbon Flash/Midnight Silver stripes on a black car myself. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

    Source:
    @carsfromhoff

    Related:
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    [SPIED] The 2021 Corvette ‘Stingray R’ Graphics Shown at Road America

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  • Santa’s New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!

    Santa's New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!

    Photo Credits: Jeremy Welborn

    When I walked into the National Corvette Museum the afternoon of October 19 and took a look at the seven bright and shiny new 2020 Corvettes waiting for delivery on Corvette Boulevard, I quickly realized that all seven of these beautiful Corvettes were Hard Top Convertibles (HTCs).

    One HTC soon captured my attention as I noticed it was not only Torch Red with a Torch Red roof and Torch Red nacelles, but it was also adorned with Torch Red vents all around. I was hopeful that this Corvette’s new owners would take delivery the following day and that I would have a chance to visit with them about their fabulous new HTC.

    Santa's New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!

    My friends, Ken and Diane Berg, had invited me to participate in the delivery of their new Rapid Blue HTC scheduled for October 20. Our mutual friends, Karen and David Bedell, were also scheduled to take delivery of their Rapid Blue HTC that day, making the day even more exciting and special. I didn’t think the day could get even better, but it did. After arriving at the NCM that morning, I noticed a license plate had been added to the Torch Red HTC that had drawn my attention the day before. In large letters the plate read “HOHOHO” and before I had even met the new owners, I wondered if this might very well be Santa and Mrs. Claus’ new sleigh!

    Santa's New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!

    It wasn’t long before a jolly looking fellow sporting a flowing white beard appeared with his wife and an NCM delivery specialist for a review of the features of the most technically advanced sleigh Santa Clause has ever owned. Yes, as luck would have it, I was there when Santa and Mrs. Claus took delivery of their new Torch Red HTC Corvette!

    Santa recently shared that “last year, when the new C8 Corvette was revealed, Mrs. Claus watched the show with me. At the end, I looked at her and said ‘Santa needs a new sleigh!’ She said, ‘Well, if Santa can figure out how to pay for it, we’ll see what we can do’. After some ‘resource and asset allocations’, Santa and Mrs. Claus picked up their ‘New Sleigh’ at the National Corvette Museum in October, just in time for the Holiday Season. Another example of wishes and dreams coming true if you believe in them and work hard to achieve them.”

    Santa's New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!

    Mr. and Mrs. Claus are go by the aliases “Walter and Karen” where they live in New Hampshire when they aren’t at the North Pole. But with a beard like that, it’s hard to really hide anywhere. As a result, Walter has had the honor of being Santa Claus for all of the local children, both young and old alike, for the last 20 years.

    “It has been truly rewarding listening to the wishes and dreams of so many children over those years. There have been some funny conversations and some serious ones during my brief interactions. During one visit about 15 years ago, a ‘senior’ child sat on Santa’s lap to whisper her earnest wishes. I asked her, ‘So, little girl, what do you want for Christmas?’ She looked up at me and smiled and said ‘Santa, I am 96 years old, and I would like to live to be 100 years old!’ Well, I stammered and finally said, ‘That is a very big wish, but I will see what I can do.’ She said ‘Thank you, I’ll come back if I make it’. She did come back four years later, and we had a nice visit. She lived to be 103 years old and was lucid and bright to the end. Once again, it just goes to show that wishes and dreams can come true if you believe in them.”

    Santa told me that this has been a very different year for him, just as it has been for all of us. He has worked hard to spread as much cheer as he possibly could. Social distancing and mask requirements have made sharing holiday traditions more difficult, but he and Mrs. Claus continue to share in holiday traditions as much as possible. He also shared that last week’s winter storm brought as much as 46 inches of snow to some areas. Following the storm, a very important last-minute delivery came up. With all of the snow, you might wonder if Santa was able to make the delivery. Well, this is Santa Claus, and like he always does, Santa arrived just in time in his bright red Mid-Engine Corvette HTC sleigh!

    Santa's New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!
    Santa's New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!
    Santa's New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!
    Santa's New Sleigh is a 2020 Corvette!

    I asked Santa if he had anything else that he’d like to share before he, Mrs. Claus, and all of the elves made final preparations for Christmas Eve deliveries all around the world. Santa replied, “I truly enjoy sharing my experiences with this wonderful car, and especially the smiles it puts on people’s faces. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

    Maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll see Santa delivering presents in his new sleigh, a bright red 2020 Corvette HTC.

    Merry Christmas!

    Related:
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    [GALLERY] Santa, Christmas and Corvettes! (49 Corvette Photos)

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  • [PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? This C8 Corvette Has The Original Chief Engineer’s Stamp Of Approval

    [PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? This C8 Corvette Has Original Chief Engineer's Stamp of Approval

    It looks like there might be another “Zora Head” Easter Egg now gracing the C8 Corvettes!

    Ryan Jaycox posted a video and pics of his find to the C8 Corvette Owners (and friends) page on Facebook. During a service stop at his Chevrolet dealer, Ryan was checking out the underbody as it was on the lift and spied the stamping of Zora on the underbody panel.

    Ryan posted to the group saying “Today was the first time I’ve been under my C8 and I thought this was AWESOME, check out what’s stamped on the bottom.”

    [PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? This C8 Corvette Has The Original Chief Engineer's Stamp Of Approval

    The video is inconclusive about the exact location of the stamping with Ryan adding “if I remember right it was stamped towards the center of the bottom.”.

    Chevy’s Corvette Engineers have used the Zora Head badges since the beginning of the program. Inside General Motors, the C8 Corvette was codenamed ZERV, a nod to Zora’s CERV program (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) in the 1960s. If you didn’t have a Zora Head on your GM ID, you couldn’t get into the secure areas where development was taking place. The team would tell us whenever they were confronted with a problem, they would ask “What would Zora do?” for guidance.

    The Zora Head badges were revealed to the public in April 2019 when Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter drove GM’s CEO, Mary Barra, in a camouflaged C8 Corvette prototype featuring the stickers in New York City. At the end of September, the badges began showing up as printed on the bottom of the passenger-side of the front windshield.

    [PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? C8 Corvette Has Original Chief Engineer's Stamp of Approval

    Zora Arkus-Duntov advocated for the Corvette to go mid-engine after racer John Fitch was nearly cooked in a front-engine Corvette racecar. Over the years a number of mid-engine and rear-engine prototypes were produced, but Zora found resistance to the plan at every turn. After he retired in 1975, his successor Dave McLellan would also take a look at a mid-engine Corvette and despite several new mid-ship Corvettes built for styling and engineering purposes, it would languish until the current team began exploring the concept back in the mid-2000s.

    [PICS] Another Zora Easter Egg? C8 Corvette Has Original Chief Engineer's Stamp of Approval

    Source:
    Ryan Jaycox / Facebook

    Related:
    [PICS] Chevrolet Adds Zora to the C8 Corvette’s Windshield
    [PIC] Iconic ‘Zora Head’ Logo Found on the 2020 Corvette
    [PICS] Corvette Team Gives Nod to Zora Arkus-Duntov with Easter Egg Profile Graphics

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  • [PIC] C8 Corvette Rendered with Round Taillights Looks Plain Jane

    [PIC] C8 Corvette Rendered with Round Taillights Looks Plain Jane

    Remember the fuss when Chevy revealed the C7 Corvette and the taillights weren’t round?

    You’d have thought someone had spit in Zora’s eye!

    Well, earlier this week, a fellow named Andrew Switch Lanez – who bills himself as a former hardware engineer at Cisco Systems who is studying robotics engineering at Naval Postgraduate School – decided to use his artistic talents to appease those traditionalists who believe all Corvettes are not only red but they also have circular lights on the rear end.

    He posted this rendering on Facebook after someone in Corvette Enthusiasts asked him to graft a C6 or C7 rear bumper onto the eighth generation mid-engine Corvette. Instead, he used a hybrid of the two designs as found on the Genovation GXE electric C7 Corvette. That explains the custom vanity tag and the fact there are no exhaust ports on this car!

    I don’t know about you, but it just looks mighty dull – like that girl you asked to the eighth-grade square dance. She may have a great personality, but after seeing the drop-dead gorgeous girl everyone was drooling over, you just don’t want to dance with Plain Jane anymore. In short, round lights just don’t do justice to the ultra-modern, hip Stingray.

    After seeing the forward-thinking rear end (is that an oxymoron?) created by Chevy’s talented group of designers for their new supercar, this retro treatment just doesn’t live up to all the hype of a car that is competing against the likes of Ferraris and Lamborghinis, does it?

    The round lights really look great on a C6, but sometimes great design deserves to be left in the past. This is a prime example.

    And speaking of designs of the past, there was talk in some circles about reviving the split window on the C7 and C8, but every rendering we’ve seen just doesn’t look nearly as good as the original ’63. We especially dislike those aftermarket spines that look really goofy on C5s and C6s. The C8 does pay homage to the split window styling cue in its own way, though, with body lines moving from the frunk across the roof and to the Stingray emblem on the back, with the V8 engine under the hatch serving as “the body” of the Stingray.

    What do you think? Should some enterprising businessman quickly produce new rear ends for the C8, complete with round lamps? We think not.

    Source:
    Andrew Switch Lanez / Facebook via AutoEvolution.com

    Related:
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