why where there no vettes made in 83??
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Re: 1983 vette
Hello Ian:
The much anticipated complete redesign could not be made ready for 83 and therefore was withheld until 84. The refitting of the factory to produce the C4 required the dismantling of much of the equipment's fixtures used to produce C3s.
jerry -
Re: 1983 vette
They made 42 or 43 - the quoted number varies - they were used up by Engineering in various tests. None ever reached the public ......Comment
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Re: 1983 vette
Ian-----
Also, as far as I know, only 1 complete 1983 Corvette remains in existence. That one can be seen at the Corvette assembly plant lobby or the National Corvette Museum where it now alternates residence. Half of a 1983 Corvette(segmented longitudinally) can be seen over the rear entrance (employee and tour entrance)of the Corvette assembly plant. If there exist any others that escaped destruction, GM has them "squirreled away" in some warehouse. I doubt it, though. You can be certain that none have ever or will ever reach the public. In the era of federal emissions and safety certification requirements, it would probably be easier for the people in hell to get icewater than for GM to release one of these cars to the public.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Was one stolen?
Hi Mr. Lucia!
Seems I remember reading an article in Vette about circa 1990 or so written by a car theif who stole a "new" Corvette in the early 1980's from a GM executive's parking place. He wasn't supposed to be driving it for personal use or something to that effect. GM was very very interested in recovering the car and the thief had to assure them it had been chopped up...because it was an unreleased 1983 model.
Ever heard this story?
CarlComment
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Re: Was one stolen?
Carl-----
I never heard that story. I suppose it's possible, though. Or, it's another part of Corvette "folklore". Sort of like steel body Corvettes, 409 Corvettes, and factory-original 1970 LS-7s.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Was one stolen?
I suspect you're 100% correct Mr. Lucia! most of thiese "stories" tend to be only relatively accurate. If you're interested I may be able to pull the issue - it was an article on something like "Confessions of a Corvette Thief" who had changed his ways and was now in the security business.
CarlComment
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Re: Was one stolen?
Carl-----
I think that I know that guy. I think he's the guy that one day was out riding in the country in his factory-original 1962 Corvette with 409 engine when he saw a little sign on the lawn of an old farmhose advertising a Corvette for sale. He went to the door to inquire about it and was taken back to an old barn. The owner peeled back the dusty old car cover to reveal a shiny new 1970 LS-7 Corvette with the rare steel body option. In fact, it still had the window sticker on the driver's side window. You see, the owner's son had purchased it just before he left for Vietnam and, unfortunately, he didn't come back. So, the car just sat there for 25 years. But now, time had healed all wounds, and the owner thought that it was time that he sold it so some new owner could drive and enjoy it. In fact, he was a little apologetic when he asked if $2,000 would be too much to ask for it. After all, though, even though the car was 25 years old it was in like-new condition. So, the buyer went back to his home to get the cash, but then forgot how to find his way back to that old farmhouse. Wouldn't you know.........?In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Was one stolen?
I seem to remember someone advertising a 83 for sale that had been recovered from somewhere other than the US. The car was in a junk yard somewhere in Europe and this person had recovered it before it was destroyed. The story goes that there was more than one but this one was the only one to survive being destroyed.Comment
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Re: Was one stolen?
Hi Joe:
I bought that car and now have it for sale. The steel body had rusted beyond repair and it has been refitted with a CORRECT, ORIGINAL, RARE fiberglass 70 body. The VIN does not match the frame so it has a salvage title issued in Puerto Rico. Rest assured that "it's all there".
jerComment
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Re: Was one stolen?
I seem to remember reading this article in one of the Corvette mags in the time frame you describe.
Fred OComment
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Re: 1983 vette
There is a federal law (or regulation) enforced by one of the myriad agencies that play "watchdog" on the auto industry that specifies criteria for model year designation. In so many words, since the C4 did not go into production until AFTER January 1, 1983, GM could legally car it an '84, and that's what they did!
DukeComment
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Re: Was one found?
Those steel bodied optioned cars are supposedly a dime a dozen here in the Midwest and hidden in barns all over. But every time I hear of one and go to purchase it someone else has beat me to it, usually by about a year. I'd really like to find that "flat black paint" option and "false dual gas tank". Those were popular for special order Corvettes and......well you know, "cooking gas". TBarr #24014Comment
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Re: 1983 vette
Joe is right about the location of the remaining '83s, but the one over the employee's entrance at Bowling Green has been down for over a year. Maybe it is in one of those Midwest barns just waiting for us.
I was also told that a number of '83s were crushed and buried at a GM facility in Loren's home state. Two active suspension ZR1s are supposed to be in the same location, with the sole survivor in Bowling Green.
Terry
TerryComment
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So that's why there were no 83s?
...And I had always thought it was that after that snazzy two-tone paint job of 82 they figured, "Let's go out on top..."
Everyone was at the top of their game back then (L70s, E80s) remember? How about "disco Mick" and that classic, 'Beast of Burden'?
JPComment
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