The Chevy Enthusiast

The June Sales figures are in and it is a clear sales volume win for the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro!   The completely new Camaro held a strong lead over the restyled Mustang selling 9,320 units as opposed to 7,362 for the Ford.

During the pony car wars, Mustang and Camaro had been doing fierce battle for monthly sales superiority. The rivalry has been rekindled now after the lapse in production of the Camaro line after 2002.  The new Camaro has brought independent rear suspension, higher HP rating for both the V8 and the 6cyl, (the V6 Camaro is more powerful than the V8 Mustang), 6 speed manual or paddle shift auto trans all wrapped in a sleek body style.  This is not just a “Retro Design” pony car.  While the styling has taken some cues from the first generation Camaros, it is all new and making a bolder statement than any previous Camaro!

The team at General Motors listened to the enthusiasts and to their own dreams and built the 2010 Camaro as the ultimate “no excuses” pony car.  This is the Camaro of your dreams.

Most dealers report that they are unable to keep the new Camaros in inventory.  That is also our experience as they are selling just like they perform………..FAST.

The Chevy Enthusiast

1953 Corvette Number 1

June 30, 1953 the first production Corvette rolled off the assemly line in Flint Michigan.  This marked the beginning of an era of American sports cars that became an indusrty icon.  The Corvette has become more that just a sports car, it has become a lifestyle with a loyal following.  Corvette has represented styling, performance and class right from thr beginning.  While the first years of Corvette performance were less that iconic due to the use of the 6 cylinder 3 carb engine coupled to a 2 speed Powerglide transmission, they started the dream car image.

Performance became synonimous with Corvette after Zora Arkus Duntov wrote his famous “Hot Rod” letter to Ed Cole, the head of Chevrolet at that time.  Duntov explained that there was a large group of consumers with a desire to have a serios level of performance from their sports cars.  Starting in 1956 the Corvette became a true performance sports car, with the now famous Chevrolet small block having been installed in the Corvette in 1955, it now carried 2×4 BBL carb and a high lift camshaft to produce 225HP from 265 cu. in!  Duntov and the Chevrolet team took the Corvettes to Daytona Beach, Pikes Peak, 24 Hrs of LeMans and 12 Hrs of Sebring  to set records and show off the power.  Drivers such as John Fitch, Betty Skelton, Zora Arkus Duntov blasted this newly styled Corvette into the record books!

Starting in 1957 Corvettes could be optioned with 4 speed manual transmissions, mechanical fuel injection with 283 HP from 283 cu. in., that magic 1 HP per cubic inch level.  Many other performance upgrades became available over the years such as  fast steering, big brake options, HD performance suspension, big fuel tanks, aluminum knock wheels making the Corvette a “made to order” weekend race car!  Performance and style were here to stay and Corvette was constantly leading the pack.

Over the decades, Corvette has constantly been on the leading edge.  From the use of  fiberglass for body construction on a steel frame through the carbon fibre, titanium and aluminum framed Corvettes of today, innovation had been part of the Corvette credo.  Small block, big block,  32 valve LT5, all alumin LS series engines have all been a design success.  The age of computer engine and vehicle managemnt was deeply embraced by the team at Corvette engineering.  Dave McLellan brought this icon into the digital age as Chief Engineer in the 80’s. Dave Hill was the Chief Engineer that brought the Corvette to the long deserved “World Class” status starting with the 1997 model.

The first Corvettes were hand built.  Assembled by a team of engineers and line workers that had a personal passion for this fantastic vehicle.  That passion is still part of the Corvette mystique.  Whether you build, drive, race or restore versions of the Chevrolet Corvette it is a life long passion.

Congratulations on 56 years of leadership, here is to another half century of success.

Thank you Corvette and Happy Birthday!!!!!! 

The Chevy Enthusiast

First 2010 Equinox

First 2010 Equinox 2

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is a much talked about vehicle.  Everyone has been waiting with anticipation to be able to experience these stellar small SUVs in person.

I must say that even with prior knowledge of the attributes to the Equinox, I am very impressed with the styling, engineering and the fit & finish!  Way to go GM!!!

This is the kind of excitement that all new cars used to bring out in people.  If you have not seen one of these great 2010 Equinox SUVs, then come in soon…..before they are all gone!

The Chevy Enthusiast

First Camaro ready to go

Very happy and excited owner

In this fickle automotive world, there are icons and then there are legends.  The Camaro has long been the latter.  The long awaited 2010 Camaro is no exeption to the rule.  While it has been a long time coming it is everything a Camaro enthusiast could wish for and then some!

Being the sponsor for the Ontario Camaro Club, we have listened to many of the eager Camaro owners that have 2010 Camaros on order and the excitement level is super high for each and every one of them.  This total excitment was multiplied for the proud owner of our first 2010 Camaro.  She came to pick up her beautiful Red Jewel Tintcoat 2LT RS Camaro Coupe on Friday June 5th at Wilson Niblett.  To say that she was excited is an understatement!!

The Chevy Enthusiast

First Canadian Callaway SC580 delivery

Our long standing client Mr. Fyfe took delivery of the First Canadian Callaway SC580 Corvette on June 4th.  He is pictured above between John Mansfield, his Sales Consultant (left) and Gordon C. Wilson the dealer(right). He has always had a soft spot in his heart for the Callaway Corvettes and after driving the SC580 he jumped at the chance of being the owner of the first one delivered in Canada!

The SC580 Corvette is a stellar creation from the engineers at Callaway.  The package offers 580 BHP and 510 lb. ft. Torque in either the Coupe or Convertible Corvette body style.  It will comfortable handle either a six speed manual or paddle shift automatic with trememndous ease of drivability.  This first Canadian SC580 is a Convertible equipped with paddle shift auto with F55 adjustable suspension that creates the “Ultimate Grand Touring” car that is equally at home driving to a gala evening, canyon carving or touring the countryside in style and comfort.

Last we heard from him, he doesn’t want to stop driving the Corvette and can’t get the permanent smile off his face!!

The Chevy Enthusiast

The following is a Press Release from our friends at General Motors

1.5 Millionth Corvette coming off assembly line

DETROIT – At the June meeting of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association, Karen Rafferty, Chevrolet Product Marketing Director, today announced the recent production of the 1,500,000th Corvette at GM Bowling Green Assembly.

“The 1.5 millionth Corvette is a great example of how Chevy is America’s Brand,” Rafferty said. “For nearly 60 years we have built America’s Sports Car and this milestone is a solid proof point.”

The 1.5 millionth Corvette, built on May 28, is a white convertible 3LT with red interior and black top (similar to the first, 500,000th and 1 millionth Corvettes built in 1953, 1977 and 1992 respectively). The first Corvette rolled off the assembly line on June 30, 1953 

Here is to another 1.5 Million Corvettes in the future

The Chevy Enthusiast

Wilson Niblett has always enjoyed the Corvette hobby and the wonderful people involved in the appreciation of the marque.  17 years ago they created the Hillfest Corvette Show with their sposored Corvette Club, the Corvette Club of Ontario.  The Corvette Club of Ontario has been active since 1962 and have a very wonderful diverse group of members.  Since the CCO are no longer involved with us, we embarked on the endeavor to keep this wonderful Corvette Show flourishing.

Over the years, the Hillfest Corvette Show has become the “kick-off” to the Corvette Show season each year.  It is well attended and supported by all members of the Corvette hobby including the Corvette Club of Ontario, Corvettes of Durham, Corvettes of Brampton, Upper Canada Corvette Club, Corvettes of Peterborough, NCRS Ontario, Golden Triangle Corvette Club, Vintage Vettes, Wasaga Beach Corvette Club, Pine Ridge Corvette Club and the Corvette Forum “Un-Club” groups.  There are many others that I have not mentioned, but you get the idea……everyone comes out to see the cars and meet with friends at Hillfest.   Many of the members of these clubs actively volunteer to help us stage this premiere event each year.

This year the event was held on May 31st and we had a great turn out!  While the weather was a bit chilly, the sun was bright and we had 155 Corvettes come out.  The food tent was busy all day and we sold out of hamburgers completely!!

Due to the generosity of our suppliers, employees, volunteers, clubs, event attendees and Wilson Niblett, we have been able to raise between $4,500 to $7,000 at each show for the benefit of the Sick Kids Foundation.  Come out and see the show next year!

Check out all the pictures by following this link

http://corvettecanada.ca/hillfest/gallery09a.htm

The Chevy Enthusiast

Corvettes in the Service area

Judging discussion

Group meeting

As Canada’s #1 Corvette Dealer, we have always enjoyed a deep relationship with all Corvette enthusiast throughout the hobby.  There is one group that has been dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Corvettes since 1974.   These avid Corvette aficianados learn, teach and share their information and love of the marque with the Corvette hobby at large.  This group is the National Corvette Restorers Society.  The Ontatio Chapter has been an active group since it’s beginnings in 1980.  Many of it’s membership have been involved in the NCRS National for many years, and some boast very low membership ID numbers.  Many of the members have owned, driven, raced, restored, collected and/or sold these cars over the last 5 decades.  The amount of collective knowledge in any NCRS gathering is staggering.

The NCRS accreditation awards that can be accumulated by owners, are based on the factual originality of what the particular Corvette would have represented when sitting in a showroom during the applicable model year.  These “Judging Meets” are not a Show & Shine event.  The looks and clenliness are nice factors that result from an era perfect representation of an original Corvette.  All the components, finishes and combination of options must have been available when the Corvette was built.

This past May 23rd, we hosted the NCRS Annual Judging Meet at our facility.  We cleared out the Service Shop and let them fill the area with Corvettes to be judged against their standard of originality.  There was a large turnout with volunteer NCRS Judges coming from other Chapters in New York, Quebec and Ohio.  We also cleared the front row of the dealership parking lot and had them park all the NCRS Sportsman Award Corvettes for display.

We look forward to hosting this wonderful group of Corvette afficianados next year.  Come out next year and watch the judging process and view these beautiful Corvettes

The Chevy Enthusiast

Chevrolet Announces New 2010 Corvette Grand Sport

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. –Grand Sport. It’s one of the most storied monikers in Corvette’s illustrious racing heritage. Today, Chevrolet announced it is returning to the lineup in the new, 2010 Corvette Grand Sport model.

The announcement was made at the 12^th annual C5/C6 Corvette Birthday Bash, held at the National Corvette Museum, in Bowling Green, Ky.

The new Grand Sport combines the Corvette’s LS3-based powertrain with unique, wide-body styling and a racing-bred suspension for a distinctive model that delivers a great balance of road and race track performance. It is offered in both coupe and convertible body styles, with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The LS3 6.2L engine is rated at 430 horsepower (321 kW)* and 424 lb.-ft. of torque (575 Nm)* with the standard exhaust system. An optional two-mode exhaust system elevates the power ratings to 436 horses (325 kW) and 428 lb.-ft. (580 Nm).

The Grand Sport replaces the Corvette’s previous Z51 package and brings a greater degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tires; revised shock, stabilizer bar and spring specifications; and specific gearing. The equipment enables cornering capability of 1.0 g, as well as a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60 acceleration vs. standard LS3-powered models.

Grand Sport coupe models equipped with the manual transmission are uniquely outfitted for race track competition, too, with a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery.

The complete list of content and special features for the Grand Sport includes:

• Wider front and rear fenders – including specific front fenders with integrated Grand Sport badges
• Z06-style front splitter and tall rear spoiler
• Functional brake ducts and extra cooling
• Unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels; painted finish standard and chrome finish optional
• Large 275/35ZR18 tires in front and 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear
• Z06-size brakes, including 14-inch (355 mm) front rotors with six-piston calipers and 13.4-inch (340 mm) rear rotors with four-piston calipers
• Specific manual transmission gear ratios
• Specific rear axle ratio on automatic-equipped models

With its special equipment, the Grand Sport offers a unique blend of performance and amenities. Its suspension package approaches that of the Z06, but includes a removable roof on coupes (Z06 has a fixed roof) and, of course, the availability of a convertible body style. Also, the paddle-shift six-speed automatic transmission is offered, while a manual transmission is the only choice with the Z06.

All of Corvette’s exterior colors are offered on the Grand Sport, and an available Heritage package adds iconic front fender hash marks offered in four colors, as well as two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery. The Grand Sport can be ordered with 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trim packages, too.

Grand Sport history

Envisioned by legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov as a factory-built, lightweight and race-ready production model that would trump domestic and foreign road-racing competitors, the original Corvette Grand Sport was a promising idea that led to the production of five special prototypes in 1963. The project was later shelved, following GM’s agreement to stay out of manufacturer-backed motorsports.

The five prototypes were based on the styling of the 1963 Corvette and were hand-assembled under Duntov’s watchful eye. But while they looked like production models, the prototypes were purpose-built race cars that shared little with their assembly-line cousins. Duntov also oversaw the Grand Sport engine program that featured a special, 377-cubic-inch small-block V-8 with side-draft carburetors.

Although never officially sanctioned by General Motors, the five Grand Sport prototypes saw extensive racing experience throughout the 1960s in the hands of “private” racers who had strong contacts within Duntov’s engineering circle. All five original cars are accounted for today and are among the most valuable in the collector market.

Chevrolet offered a limited-edition Grand Sport production model in 1996, commemorating the original racing cars and marking the end of the C4 era in Corvette production. All of the 1,000 examples were painted Admiral Blue and featured a white center stripe and red “hash mark” graphics on the left front fender, a graphic scheme that mimicked the look of some of the original race cars.

*SAE certified.  

SPECIFICATIONS

Engines

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Brakes

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* SAE certified.
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.