Detailed History of C3 development?

[Bill B.]

I have come across and just finished reading an interesting book I found in my local town library: All Corvettes Are Red - The Rebirth of an American Legend, by James Schefter, 1996. He was a west coast editor of Popular Science magazine, and was granted unheard-of access to the Corvette team by then GM President Bob Stempel, all the while sworn to secrecy until the '97 C5 rolled down the assembly line. A great read for those interested in exactly how the C5 was born and how it and GM almost became extinct back in the Oct '92 timeframe.

Anyway, I was wondering if there were similar books and documentation detailing the struggles and birth of the 1968 C3. I know Dave McLellan's excellent book chronicles history, especially the C4, and is filled with engineering design details and data. Others like Karl Ludvigsen (Corvette- America's Star-Spangled Sports Car), Jerry Burton (Zora Arkus-Duntov- The Legend Behind Corvette), and Paul Van Valkenburgh (Chevrolet - Racing?) all include some insight, but not as focused upon decisions and arguments for or against design and engineering attributes and details of a next generation Corvette within the walls of Chevrolet.

Just curious if anyone knows of such a gem like Schefter's C5 book exists for C3 (and C2 and C1)?

At the very least, I hope I have informed some C5 owners of an excellent read that they may have been unaware of.

[David H.]

Re: Detailed History of C3 development?

. ....Just curious if anyone knows of such a gem ... book exists for C3 (and C2 and C1)?

Bill

Not C3 and not a book, however, link below is to pdf of Zora Duntov's presentation to SAE on development of 1963 Corvette.

Interesting to me with comments re C1 development driving engineering/production requirements for 1963.

For example, C1 bodies gaining increasing internal metal structure (reinforcements) from 1953 thru 1962. Drove 1963 Corvette manufacture starting with a metal structure birdcage and glued on body panels.

Dave

https://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/c2/1963/1963-SAE.pdf

[Duke W.]

Re: Detailed History of C3 development?

I think most of the good books have been covered. Maybe 5-10 years ago SAE consolidated all the Corvette related SAE papers in a single soft bound volume for a giveaway price. I announced it here and it sold out quickly. I don't know if it's ever been reissued by SAE.

I bought Schefter's book when it became available and found it fascinating.

A few years later I had an opportunity to spend some time with Chuck Jordan at his Rancho Santa Fe estate. The meeting was scheduled from about 10-12, but we hit it off and he invited me to lunch. Of course I accepted, and we drove to a nearly bistro in my Cosworth Vega.

I learned that Chuck had a ME degree from MIT, and I asked how he got involved in design. He said he had a flair for art,
and I lamented that I was good with numbers, but could barely read my own handwriting.

His estate included a garage for a full sized coach RV, and it was his "office". He had a couple of dozen four draw er file cabinets with memorabilia, and he gave me some documents including an 8 x 10 B & W photo of a Grand Sport at Nassau signed by the guys in the image that included John Mecum, Jim Hall, and Roger Penske.

At one point I said to Chuck that in a 1970 vintage Road & Track magazine there was a cover photo of a mid-engine Corvette prototype with a caption "This is the 1973 Corvette". Further, I told Chuck that when I was a grad student on a GM fellowship at the U of Wisconsin Engine Research Center I visited the Tech Center and there were three or four dyno cells with that transverse SB V-8, a Toronodo drive chain to a Muncie for speed that had a tailhousing with a bevel drive that sent the power via shaft through a "tunnel" in the oil pan to a contemporary axle and suspension. I figured it was durability testing.

So Chuck just waved his arm and said: "Aw, that was just another one of Duntov's pipe dreams." Wow did that ever take the wind out of my sails.

I further said that Duntov appeared to have way more influence than his position as a staff engineer on the org chart in that era indicated, but Ed Cole, who personally hired Duntov, was always his mentor, and Cole worked his way up to President of GM. Chuck confirmed that connerction.

So I take issue with Schefter's descrilption of Jordan as the "chrome cobra", but I think I understand the issue. CEO Bpb Stempel made the deal with Schefter, but never told Chuck. So Schefter shows up with with a chit from Stempel at what is basically a "skunk works" to look over,the development of the next Corvette, GM' premier image car, so I understand why Jordan was pissed and didn't hit it off iwth Schefter.

I always though Stemple was a good CEO and was shocked when he and Lloyd Ruess were cashiered in the early nineties, but he should have told to Jordan before making the deal with Schefter.

In any event, Chuck Jordan is probably the most charming, interesting, and knowledgeable guy I've ever had the pleasure to spend six or seven hours of my life with.

Duke

[Bill B.]

Re: Detailed History of C3 development?

Thanks David & Duke! Interesting history! Love it!

[Bill C.]

Re: Detailed History of C3 development?

Hi Bill:


Since I have a 1971 LT-1, your post motivated me enough to start looking for material relevant to the C3 development. I did find a couple of items that may be of interest:


An interview with Larry Shinoda on the Corvette Action Center, (CAC) about the design of the 1968 Corvette. Rather than provide a link to that story (and all the ads that come along with it) here are the steps needed to get to it - perhaps you already know this.


1.) From the CAC home page scroll over to Tech Center
2.) Scroll down to C3 and then over to C3 Tech Center and click
3.) Then scroll down to 1968 Corvette
4.) Click on that and several categories display
5.) The second category is design and contains the interview with Larry Shinoda.


In addition, an out of print book,


Copies of this book can be found online, but I put it on my Portland Swap Meet list. The swap meet comes up at the end of the month.


Bill Chellis

[Bill B.]

Re: Detailed History of C3 development?

Thanks Bill ! I did happen to find the book on-line for under $50, so I purchased. (many other sites had it selling for over $100). Figured it would make a good library addition to my collection of information.

Interesting insight of Bill Mitchell, who according to Larry, sounded like a guy who liked to push gadgets in and on the cars to which the design studios had to keep reeling him in and to make it sound like it was his idea to back away from it. All of these gifted people had quirks that made them who they uniquely were!

B.

[George J.]

Re: Detailed History of C3 development?

Thanks for the story, Duke. Great read.

George

[John D.]

Re: Detailed History of C3 development?

Shefter's book also gives insight on how the fate of the Corvette in GM's lineup was in jeopardy and was saved with a some behind the scenes maneuvering and support by high level executives. Manufacturing Chief Joe Spielman is one name that comes to mind.