I’ve got an addictive personality. If I like something, I like it a lot,” says Robbie Allen. And when you lay eyes on his 1976 Corvette, it’s pretty easy to see what he’s talking about.
While some people would say the car is overkill, to Robbie it’s pretty much perfect. The build has been an ongoing labour of love for 14 years now, and in that time it’s continued to grow and develop to represent Robbie’s personality. As he rightly says, he’s worked hard all his life for his toys, so he may as well make them how he wants them and get the maximum enjoyment from them. The road to automotive perfection hasn’t been an easy one though, and we’re pretty sure it hasn’t been a (more…)

The Rossi SixtySix has been a fascinating design concept for Corvette enthusiasts and now it’s set to move from rendering to real life. It’s no surprise there has been sufficient interest to send the concept into limited production as it mixes the raw horsepower and handling prowess of the C6 Chevrolet Corvette with the timeless good looks of the ’63-’67 Stingrays. Apparently, Rossi has just finished building all the tooling necessary to bring the vehicle to life, and the first production-spec car will be unveiled this weekend at an event in Detroit.

In the journey from drawings to real metal the car has undergone a few changes, mostly to the front end. The new nose design probably won’t appeal to all, but the rest of the car has stuck fairly close to the renderings that gathered initial interest. Under the new sheetmetal, the drivetrain remains largely unmolested, and apparently the company can perform the whole conversion, including the cost of a brand-new C6 Corvette, for around $130,000 USD. While it’s a unique machine, for that same money, a buyer could get his hands on a ZR1, or possibly even an original ’63 split-window.

Check out images of the Rossi SixtySix in the gallery below. (more…)

GM explains the new Corvette Stingray concept and its design cues from the original Corvettes

If you like Corvettes, it’s time for some good news. Fresh after dodging financial ruin, General Motors has announced its two-year product plans for Chevy, Caddy, Buick and GMC. Included were some details for the new C7 Corvette.

The plan at this stage is for the C7 to be introduced in April of 2012 as a 2013 model which is an improvement on the pre-bankruptcy plan to not reinvent the Corvette until 2014.

Almost nothing at all is known about the new Corvette at the moment. One thing that has been shelved, however, is a rumoured switch to a mid-engine layout. The C7 will stay front-engine just like it’s been for 57 years, according to the recent report. Like the current car, the C7 will also make extensive use of materials like carbon fibre, aluminum and magnesium to help cut weight while maintaining rigidity.

In terms of exterior appearance, it’s likely that the Corvette Stingray Concept (pictured) shown at the Chicago Auto Show is a likely indicator of the new styling direction for the C7.

As far as powerplants go, there is speculation a smaller, forced induction engine – most likely a supercharger, will be utilised to help the car meet fuel economy targets. A dual-clutch gearbox has also been talked about, and would make sense to keep pace with the likes of Porsche’s 911 and Nissan’s GT-R.

Like the C6 improved on the C5 the new C7 will likely be an incremental advancement on the already proven Corvette platform. It will be an evolution rather than a full revolution but should provide a serious performance package.

Expect to hear more details on the C7′s progress over the next year or two.

High performance at a fair price has made the Chevrolet Corvette a permanent favorite for tuners and custom car specialists. The group at custom coach builders n2a Motors has already created the 789, the Anteros and soon, the Stinger – a modern take on the Corvette Stingray.

Based around the C6 Corvette chassis, the Stinger will feature design elements from the Stingrays of the 1960s, but with the power of the current model ZR1 – a 6.2L, 638hp (476kW) supercharged LS9 V8 engine.

With light weight composite body materials and a fully custom interior, the Stinger is expected to equal or improve on the ZR-1′s blistering performance, including a 0-100kph run in just over 3 seconds and a top speed over 320km/h.

So far n2a is keeping the details quiet, but check out the gallery below for design sketches and clay models.

Is General Motors considering going retro-style for its next Corvette? Well probably not, but retro styling has worked wonders for the current crop of remade pony cars, with Chevy’s own Camaro being a prime example. Some might argue, though, that the modern ‘Vette has never really strayed from its core ethos of offering big performance for a relatively low price, so perhaps it’s not in real need of visiting the past for inspiration.

One Corvette enthusiast by the name of Christian Cyrulewski has taken matters into his own hands by using the third-generation Corvette as inspiration for a rebodied C6, the current version of the American sports car. This is the second version of the C3R, and it is a work in progress. Design elements like the Shark-inspired front fender peaks and steeply flowing rear-end from the early C3 series are present, as are hideaway head lights, which were a Corvette trademark until the latest C6.

While there are no firm plans to produce a car based on these renderings, Cyrulewski would love to see his C3R being created for real. It may not be the right moment for General Motors to make it happen, but retro styling isn’t going to change anytime soon.

South African designer Idries Noah has revamped the Corvette into the Fireblade. After recently having a crack at a Ferrari F250 concept, he’s gone for some of the General’s muscle, taking inspiration from the Corvette Stingray, Gillet Vertigo and Shelby Daytona.

The car (which is only a computer render at present) would feature a 6.1-litre supercharged V8 (the LS9), on display under a clear portion of the bonnet.