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