For over 25 years, Callaway Cars and Chevrolet Corvette have had a relationship of mutual respect.  Evidence to defend this statement includes:

Ever present examples of Callaway vehicles on display in the NCM Skydome.

The induction of founder Reeves Callaway to the Corvette Hall of Fame in 2008.

The presence of Callaway Cars as a vendor at the National Corvette Museum for the C5/C6 Bash every spring at the Corvette Museum.

And, now, beginning April 16, 2012, a very special exhibit at the National Corvette Museum called "Callaway Corvettes & 50th Anniversary of Z06."  This special exhibit will continue through August 1.  PLEASE NOTE: On the Museum website, two sets of dates are shown.  Per a phone call this morning to the Museum, the correct dates are as shown in the graphic above.

While you are visiting the Museum for the C5/C6 Bash (April 26-28), the C4/ZR-1 Gathering (May 17-19), the Z06 Fest (May 30), or any of the other special events during this time frame, be sure to check this out!  And if you are there for the Bash, please look me up.

By the way, if you are interested in purchasing your very own awesome Callaway Corvette, please give Bill a call at 313-532-2571.  Our parent organization is an authorized Callaway dealership.

As always, CorvetteBlog has the latest ordering constraint information on new 2012 Corvettes.  The good news is that, once again, there are no constraints of any kind on the 2012 Corvette!  All models, options and colors are available!  Order what you want.

Keep in mind, though, that two options that have received great interest this year will end production before the rest of the 2012 Corvette model run.  Carlisle Blue Metallic (Regular Production Option GLF) will be available for just a while longer, but not for the entire 2012 run.  The Centennial Edition Package (RPO ZLC) will also not be available through the entire 2012 run.  If you need either of these two options, please act quickly.  These options will be gone before you know it!  Check this previous post for additional information.

Orders placed this week have a Target Production Week of March 5, meaning they will be built no later than Thursday, March 8.

Please give us an opportunity at George Matick Chevrolet to make you an offer you cannot refuse on your brand new Corvette Coupe or Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06, ZR1, or Callaway!

If you have any questions, or would simply appreciate aggressive, customized pricing for delivery at our dealership in Michigan, by courtesy delivery in any of the other 49 states, or even at the National Corvette Museum, please email us by leaving a comment below (which will be kept private), or Call Bill at 313-532-2571.  We will work hard to earn your business!
 

How often do we get the opportunity to have help in imagining a Corvette of the future?  Well, certainly, we have reported much speculation on the C7, and we are still hungry for pictures of the real deal.  But what if we specifically took a Corvette of the past, and imagined it into the future?

Recently, Amir Iliaifar posted on DigitalTrends.com that: "Former design studio manager at General Motors do Brasil, Nelson Barros, who has had more than 30 years of experience in the auto industry, recently did exactly that, and sent CarBodyDesign some very interesting design sketches.  Barros, who worked for GM from 1969 to 2006, created a series of futuristic concept interpretations based on classic cars from the 20th century.

"Using his talent and experience, Barros has given us a glimpse into the future with his concept drawings." The cars Barros chose to revisit were the 1959 Corvette, the Jaguar XK120,  the 1950 Studebaker Commander, and the 1973 Ford Maverick.  An interesting mix of selections, to say the least.

Amir continues: "Rarely is the future left untouched by the past. This is especially so when it comes to automobiles where brands, makes, and models often carry with them strong former influences and features.  It would appear Barros echoes this sentiment.  Each design for his future concepts relies heavily on the original models, while injecting a futuristic twist."  The Studebaker retains the iconic bullet nose grille for which it is known.  The Jaguar features the original's classic slim grille and stacked “V” shaped lights.  The Ford Maverick includes the muscular front end, and imposing yellow and black paint job.  Of course, the 1959 Corvette is remembered for its red and white livery and tapered chassis.

"We have to admit we are impressed with Barros’ work. The only model we are admittedly not crazy about is the Ford Maverick ( as it resembles too closely a modern Chevy Camaro).  With the one exception, it’s nice to see retirement hasn’t diminished Barro’s talent one bit.  While it would be nice to hold out for a real modern recreation of the classic Studebaker, the odds are that it’ll probably never happen."

Very interesting,of course, but really, the return of Studebaker?

Among those running Corvettes at the Rolex 24 Race in sunny Daytona Beach, Florida on Sunday, the Action Express Racing Team did the best job, placing fifth and ninth.

Christian Fittipaldi, Darren Law, and David Donohue teamed to finish in fifth position overall.   Four places back was the other Action Express Team, comprised of Terry Borcheller, J.C. France, Joao Barbosa, and Max Papis.

In eighth place was the Spirit of Daytona Team, driven by Antonio Garcia, Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, and Richard Westbrook.

The Gainsco Team, Baughman Team, and Sun Trust Team were awarded places much further down the standings.

At the beginning of the month, we posted that the third oldest Corvette known to be in existence was going to be auctioned later in the month.  Auctioneers at RM had predicted that it would bring in the area of  $450,000 to $650,000.

Well, almost. The selling price was $445,500, a hair under the prediction range.  Hemmings reports that this price did not put the Corvette among the top ten winning bids at this auction!

Looks like a little beauty!

Five Corvette Daytona Prototype race cars are running at the Rolex 24 Race in Daytona this weekend.  Plus, there's a red street bodied car, Number 46, entered by Michael Baughman Racing.  Plus, there are three Camaros!  Chevy is all over this!

We had posted on the Corvette Daytona Prototype back in November, and pictured the same car shown here, but with four teams running, all five cars are unique in appearance.

The Corvette Teams and Cars:

SPIRIT OF DAYTONA RACING - Blue DP Car #90
Antonio Garcia - Oliver Gavin - Jan Magnussen - Richard Westbrook

GAINSCO / BOB STALLINGS RACING - Red DP Car #99
Jon Fogarty - Alex Gurney - Memo Gidley

ACTION EXPRESS RACING - Red, White & Blue DP Car #9
Terry Borcheller - J.C. France - Joao Barbosa - Max Papis

ACTION EXPRESS RACING - Blue, White & Red DP Car #5
Darren Law - David Donohue - Christian Fittipaldi

SUNTRUST RACING - Orange & White DP Car #10
Max Angelelli - Ricky Taylor - Ryan Briscoe

MICHAEL BAUGHMAN RACING - Red Grand Touring Car #46
Michael Baughman - Mike Yeakle - Ray Mason

Best wishes to all of our Corvette drivers!

“Are we there yet?”  It’s an all too common phrase parents hear during long road trips.  Probably not heard too much from children in Corvettes, though!

However, in an effort to avoid this boredom and occupy children’s minds, GM has come up with something… something catchy.

Imagine a rear door window, converted into an augmented-reality screen.  This is exactly what the Bezalel School of Art and Design in Israel has created - “Windows of Opportunity.”  GM created this window concept after Toyota had released something very similar - “Window to the World” technology.

From interactively drawing on windows, to checking other vehicle’s window screens, four different apps have been created thus far for children and adults alike.  The reality of this new window tech leaves production likely far off in the future.  Some would think this to be a major improvement for rear seat passengers.

Obviously, unless Chevrolet decides to build four door Corvettes (a thought we have explored before), this will not work on a Vette, but do you see any possible application for America's Sports Car?

You can see an interesting short video here, to learn more.
 

As always, CorvetteBlog has the latest ordering constraint information on new 2012 Corvettes.  The good news is that, once again, there are no constraints of any kind on the 2012 Corvette!  All models, options and colors are available!  Order what you want.

Orders placed this week have a Target Production Week of February 27, meaning they will be built by Thursday, March 1.

Please give us an opportunity at George Matick Chevrolet to make you an offer you cannot refuse on your brand new Corvette Coupe or Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06, ZR1, or Callaway!

If you have any questions, or would simply appreciate aggressive, customized pricing for delivery at our dealership in Michigan, by courtesy delivery in any of the other 49 states, or even at the National Corvette Museum, please email us by leaving a comment below (which will be kept private), or Call Bill at 313-532-2571.  We work hard to earn your business!

North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia Corvette owners and enthusiasts are invited to participate in caravaning to the National Corvette Museum in late August 2014 with the official group.

Frank & Laura Sancineto (pictured here) are the local Caravan Captains.  A summary of their Official Announcement follows:

Attention Corvette Enthusiasts: Are you ready for another caravan?  If you missed the 50th Anniversary Caravan in 2003, and the 15th Anniversary Caravan to the National Corvette Museum in 2009, here is your chance to join other Corvette friends for the 20th Anniversary of the National Corvette Museum by participating in the 2014 Caravan.  Mark your calendars for August 24-31, 2014.  The festivities will begin in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 24.

My name is Frank Sancineto.  My wife Laura and I were captains for the North and South Carolina 50th Anniversary and the 15th Anniversary Caravan.  We had such a great time and met so many wonderful people we now call friends, that we are going to be captains again for this trip.

Our road trip begins at the host hotel in Concord, North Carolina: The Hampton Inn, I-85 at exit 49, 9850 Weddington Rd., Concord, North Carolina 28027.

The route: I-85 S to Spartanburg, SC; I-26 W to Asheville, NC; a stop at the Ingles Supermarket (located off exit 1 - 1851 Highway 14 East, Landrum, South Carolina 29356 (864-457-5187) for gas, snacks, and/or lunch; then I-40 W to Tennessee. Our destination is the Smoky Mountain Stadium, exit 407.

Please note: if you cannot start with us in Concord, meet us at the Smoky Mountain Stadium.

From there, the route is: I-40 W to I-75 N to Kentucky 80 W; 80W to I-65 S into the NCM.

Information about registration and our events will be updated as it becomes available.

Please email Frank at F6978@aol.com if you would like to participate as a local leader and/or volunteer for our committees.
 

Glenn & Andrea Johnson, Gulf States Region Captains for the 2014 Corvette Caravan have aksed CorvetteBlog to invite all of you Corvette enthusiasts in Southeast Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle to join their great migration of Vettes to the National Corvette Museum in late summer 2014!

The activities fall into two time periods:

• August 25-27, 2014 - Gulf States Region Festivities & Caravan
• August 28-30, 2014 - NCM 20th Annual Anniversary Celebration

The 2014 Gulf States Region Caravan is open to every Corvette Club and Corvette Owner in the Gulf States Region (Southeast Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and NW Florida Panhandle).

All Gulf States Region Area Caravans will arrive at the 2014 Gulf States Region Headquarters, on Monday, August 25.  Although participants are certainly not required to travel with the area caravans, it is encouraged, as it does make the overall experience more enjoyable and exciting.

At this time, only the Southern Area Caravan (Houston, TX to Birmingham, AL) has been set up, but other regional groups will be established as time passes.  Area caravans are needed in Northern Louisiana, Central & Northern Mississippi, Northern Alabama and the Northwest Florida Panhandle.  Those wishing to organize in this way should contact Glenn & Andrea.

Additional information follows below the jump.

Our previous blogpost on National Corvette Caravan 2014 can be read here.

Our previous blogpost on Pacific Northwest Region Caravan can be read here.
 

The tentative agenda for the first part of the week is still sketchy, but specific details and times are being developed.  On Monday and Tuesday, August 25 & 26, Gulf States Region area caravans & individual participants will begin to arrive, register, and enjoy local activities.  The drive to the N.C.M. will begin on Wednesday, August 27.

The tentative combined 2014 Gulf States Region Corvette Caravan Route will begin in Birmingham, Alabama, and travel via Interstate 65 to Nashville, TN.  Lunch to be determined.  The caravan will then continue on Interstate 65 to the Kentucky State Line.  Exit into the Kentucky Welcome Center and stage for our arrival at the NCM.  We will then be escorted to the National Corvette Museum for our arrival parade.

Regional planners are identified in Glenn & Andrea's linked PDF.

Prior to the event, a Gulf States Region Route Book will be mailed to all participants of the 2014 Gulf States Region Caravan.  Ads are available for sale in the route book.  For more information, please contact a Regional Leader or the Gulf States Region Captain.

Assistance needed at this time includes the following opportunities: a volunteer to serve as the Mississippi Regional Leader, volunteers to serve as Local Leaders throughout the GS Region, and sponsors.  If you know an individual or a business that may be interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Glenn & Andrea.  Sponsorships are available from $25 up.  The Johnsons will be glad to make the contact, and present the sponsorship information.

The 2012 Corvette Racing Team roster is set. In addition to these familiar names and faces - Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Tommy Milner, Richard Westbrook, and Antonio Garcia - there’s a new young lad who will take over the endurance driver duties at Sebring, Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans.  His name is Jordan Taylor.  The twenty-year-old Jordan Taylor, that is!

As son of Wayne Taylor, who twice won the Rolex 24 Race at Daytona, Jordan grew up in Apopka, Florida.  He made his name on the track in the 2009 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the 2011 Rolex GT Championship. It’ll be exciting to watch him this year on the tracks of the three Corvette Racing endurance races, as well as at the 2012 Rolex Series.

“Corvette Racing is one of the most iconic names in motorsports, and joining this team is a huge opportunity for me,” said Taylor, a student at the University of Central Florida. “There are certainly going to be challenges as I learn the capabilities of the Corvette C6.R race cars, become familiar with the team, adapt to new tracks, and race with new competitors.  It’s going to be amazing to race a Corvette at Sebring, Le Mans, and Road Atlanta, and I can’t wait to get started!”
 

The prototype was shown, but it looks much like the car that will be purchased later this year, when VIN #1 goes home.

The purchaser will get to option his car as he wishes, but one thing's for sure: the 2013 Corvette Convertible built on that future day will have Chevy's historic small block 427 cubic inch, 7.0L V8 engine.  Rumors are that this engine will be gone, once the final C6 Corvettes have been replaced in fall 2013 with the C7!  It is hard to imagine, but the day approaches.

Video of the auctioning of this Corvette treasure is available at this link to AutoBlog.  Barrett-Jackson secured $600,000 for the car last week, and the proceeds will go to charity.

While I was enjoying the sights at the North American International Auto Show last week, several vehicles caught my eye that were not Corvettes.  I don't see any of these is a direct competitor to the Corvette, but they are all coupes or convertibles.

This Acura NSX Concept, which is said to be close to the planned production model, is quite a looker.

One has not been able to buy a new NSX for some years, but production of this slick coupe will definitely result in sales for Honda's luxury division.  How many will be determined by the price.

And then I saw the BMW i8 Concept, which is not exactly the same car as in Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol, but is certainly close:

The Audi R8 GT Spyder was pretty sweet, too:

And then, we were told that this Falcon F7 is the very first production model, already sold and committed to a buyer.  The website suggests a price around $200,000, so it reminded me of how remarkable the low price of the Corvette ZR1 truly is!

The foot pedal arrangement is unique:

We all know that the big excitement of the 2014 Corvette C7 is still some months away.  Best we can tell, the cars will not hit dealerships until fall 2013, easily half a year from now.  I recently posted on it here.

So the question is: what kind of interest do the new Corvettes from the two remaining years draw now?  For example, would anyone stop by the Corvette display at a major auto show to see a Vette?  Well, happily, yes!

I took a few photos, when visiting the North American International Auto Show (a.k.a. the Detroit Auto Show) last week, and, in fact, there was quite a bit of interest in the 2012 Corvette.

Additonal evidence is that the first ever 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible was sold at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona over the weekend, for an amazing $600,000!  Photos of that event will be posted here tomorrow.

Without question, the last of the C6s have great appeal for many!

Lots of admiration for Corvette shows here:

This time we are being given real photographs of C7 Corvette prototypes, not just an artist's conception of the car based on real photographs.  On the other hand, we are clearly still in the cloak and dagger phase, with wild black and white stickers on cars covered with shrouds.

What can we tell from these pictures?  Well, Jalopnik believes they confirm the validity of the sketches they published back in November (see my post then).

Observations from Autoblog, Jalopnik, and me:

Front wheels may be moved forward.
Trunk deck may be higher, and trunk larger.
Rear overhang may be longer.
First new side mirrors on a Corvette since the first C5!
Four exhaust pipes closer together.
Hints of Camaro-esque taillights (which will appear on the new Malibu and Impala, too).
Reverse mohawk roofline (like Camaro).
Big open grille.
Kick at the rear bottom of the door.
A-Pillar, as in the sketches.

What do you see?

As always, CorvetteBlog has the latest ordering constraint information on new 2012 Corvettes. The good news is that there are no constraints of any kind on the 2012 Corvette! All options and colors are available! Order what you want.

Orders placed this week have a Target Production Week of February 13, meaning they will be built by Thursday, February 16, 2012.

Please give us an opportunity at George Matick Chevrolet to make you an offer you cannot refuse on your brand new Corvette Coupe or Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06, ZR1, or Callaway!

If you have any questions, or would simply appreciate aggressive, customized pricing for delivery at our dealership in Michigan, by courtesy delivery in any of the other 49 states, or even at the National Corvette Museum, please email us by leaving a comment below (which will be kept private), or call me at 313-532-2571. We strive to earn your business!
 

This video is amazing!  Watch as GM engineer Tom Norkiewicz puts the C6 Corvette through its paces at the GM Desert Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona.  Are you up to drifting at 130 mph?

Norkiewicz has 22 years experience, mostly at the Desert Proving Ground, where he helps develop the ride control systems for GM vehicles.  Norkiewicz gets to drive Corvettes to the limit of their ample capabilities year-round.

You can see additional photos of the facility just below.

Automobile Magazine recently reported that Universal Studios has recorded the sound of the Corvette Grand Sport for use in future movies and television shows.

We have a link to the article, with a short video clip as to the importance of getting car sounds correct.  This clip also features recording the "sound" of the Chevrolet Volt.

[ Video ]

Recently, I made a post on the Corvette Caravan 2014 called All Roads Lead to Bowling Green, in which I invited Caravan Captains to communicate their plans through this blog.  If you are a Caravan Captain and are sending me your announcements, please send a photo of yourself, preferably with your Corvette or your local club.  Our readers love the photographs! 

First to respond was Robin Forrer, Captain for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.  You can read Robin's complete announcement here, but also, this slightly abridged summary:

We are planning to arrive on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 this time!!! This means that we have almost 5 days in Bowling Green, making it a real treat to see and participate in the local areas festivities, events, tours, and landmarks.
 

The Pacific NW Caravan is unique, in that we have the potential of many participants from 5 states, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.  We also have some of the Canadian groups and Northern California participants joining us.  All Corvette Owners are welcome to join in our caravan!

Please email me (PacificNWCaravan@hotmail.com) if you have plans to attend our section of the Caravan, and I will add you to my email list.  Please include what area you are from, and where you want to join in with our group.  This helps me with planning our stops and activities . Also remember to register for the event, via the NCM website when registration becomes available (expected mid-2012)

A complete itinerary of information, routes, etc. will be available in the route book you will be receiving from me in April 2014.  Hotel blocks that are already in place will be released a year prior to our departure.  Many of the hotels have indicated they will not accept reservations more than 10 months in advance.  The blocks are well in place for our scheduled stops, so please do not worry that you will not have a reservation available to make.

Plans as of this date are:

Our Pacific NW 2014 NCM Caravan starts on Friday, August 22, 2014 with the following Schedule (subject to change):

(Thursday, August 21, 2014: If you want to come to the Portland or Seattle area early, a hotel will be available near these departure areas.)

(Day 1, Friday, August 22) The Oregon and Southern Washington group will kick off from Suburban Auto Group, Sandy, OR to Richland for lunch, courtesy of McCurley Chevrolet, then onto Worley, ID, for the evening.  Seattle area will gather at Lee Johnson Chevrolet in Kirkland, WA and travel to Ellensburg for lunch (joining up with central Washington groups, then onto Worley, ID. Idaho area will have a hotel available in Idaho Falls on Friday, for the departure on Saturday, August 23.

(Day 2, Saturday, August 23) Worley to Missoula for lunch, then to Bozeman.  The Idaho area group will join us in Bozeman and we all will participate in a sponsored dinner; special event here TBA, then onto Billings for a well earned rest.

(Day 3, Sunday, August 24) Billings to Casper for lunch, then to Cheyenne where the Northern California/Nevada and Utah caravan maybe will join us (if they haven’t joined the Colorado Caravan yet in Denver).

(Day 4, Monday, August 25) Cheyenne to North Platte, NE for lunch and onto Lincoln, NE where the Nebraska group will have a "Welcome to Lincoln, Nebraska" event on Monday, August 25, 2014.

(Day 5, Tuesday, August 26) the caravan will tour the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, NE.  The caravan will then travel to Columbia, MO.

(Day 6, Wednesday, August 27) We are planning our launch point from the Columbia, MO area where we will gather at the Bass Pro Parking Lot with a 7:30 AM launch time August 27, 2014.  We will travel to Mount Vernon, IL, where we will stop for lunch.  There is anticipation we will regroup once again while in Bowling Green just prior to making our grand entrance.  Please see the Kansas MO Captains Site for more information.

An awesome video courtesy of Joe Moncado (Kansas, MO Captain) is available here.  In 2003 we launched from Independence with approximately 1000 Corvettes that morning.

And while the Caravan is a little more than 2 years away (time flies when you’re planning a trip like this) we look forward to working with each and every Corvette Club and Corvette enthusiast in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana and beyond.

Hotels
I am blocking the hotel rooms for our journey, and will have the locations available for individual reservations about a year before the event.  A few of the hotels I have blocked will not take reservations till October 2013.  Each person is responsible for making their own hotel reservations.  Please try to use the hotels I will have given you as they are strategically selected to be at the most advantageous location at each stop for events.

Registration
Registration for the NCM 20th Anniversary Celebration and the 2014 National Corvette Caravan is not open at this time, but is expected to go live in September 2012.  You will need to go the NCM website to register when registration becomes available.  Also, please email me so I may add you to my list for our section.

Assembly Plant Tours
Within 2 years of the event, you may register yourselves or groups to tour the assembly plant. Each person wanting to do this activity should register independently.  You can visit the site here.  I highly recommend registering early as registrations will fill up quickly with the anticipation of the C7 being in production and the Caravan drawing many participants nationwide. There are only a few days we are in Bowling Green, and reservations for the Assembly Plant fill up fast.

Volunteers
We still need volunteers to make this a successful Caravan.  If you are interested in being a part of the team, please contact me at PacificNWCaravan@hotmail.com or 503-998-3062.  We need Volunteer Committee members and a host of others.  The areas I still need are: Ellensburg (Yakima Club), Idaho Falls, and Billings, MT (Glass Reunion).

Sponsorship
To make the Pacific NW Caravan successful, we need sponsors.  If you are interested in a Sponsorship or if you know a business or individual, who would like to provide a Sponsorship, please contact me at PacificNWCaravan@hotmail.com or 503-998-3062

Please make sure you are signed up to keep current on National Corvette Caravan news.  In closing, I look forward to seeing each and every one of you down the road, and if you ever need anything, or have a question, do not hesitate to ask.

Zip Corvette, supplier of parts for the Chevrolet Corvette, recently announced a new product that is sure to get attention, and potentially reduce damage to the fronts of thousands of Corvettes.

All of us remain concerned, when driving a low-slung Corvette, about underbody damage to the front of the car when we are parking.  The distance from concrete parking blocks is often difficult to determine.  I have even heard one story of someone who pushed a parking block out of position with a Corvette, moving it several feet, simply because the driver could not see it.

Zip has the solution!  The kit is pictured below.