FTR, C2 came out in 1963, before the 911.

 

I'm just saying that I think that they did take influence from European sports cars, but didn't have to beat them at their own game bc of the big puddle in between. notes taken were to make it small, light, low and sporty. They just needed something unique enough and good enough to drive daily. They did a good gob but ended up taking too many "off the shelf" parts and threw them into the car, making something that was cool, but not as good as it could have been. This ultimately left the door open for the T-bird to crush vette sales when it came out.

As far as the identifiable characteristics flowing from model to model, I can't say it's completely necessary.

The purpose and vision needs to stay remotely the same.

Over time, I think the corvette has done a great job of maintining a good pedigree and vision unlike what has happened to the Ford Mustang and Thunderbird over time although they've reeled it back in with the Mustang.

 

This is probably sacrilege, but the first two vette's were hideous!

 

I own a Vette and I agree. In fact, I'd say that most Vettes are hideous. LOL.

 

Actually, I take it back. I think the C1 and C3 are the ugly ones. The C2 is good looking, though I can't help but think of this when I see one:

 

Yeah it does!

 

I'd agree that the C2 is purrtty. The 63 Stingray Split window is one that I adore.

 

A tastefully flared C2 is hard to beat and this is a great looking car.

To some degree each generation stands on the shoulders of the previous cars whether with drivetrain advances or suspension, etc. The bean counters got in the way more than once. One may or may not be able to recognize a the C1 heritage in the C7, but there is some. It's certainly not as obvious as the 911, but IMHO, that's ok.

 

I don't know that the Corvette had any more or less specialty parts than many of the Europeans. The Corvette certainly had a lot of Corvette specific parts under the skin as well. Yes, I do agree that sometimes they had to cut corners for cost but really that's reality at even the Corvette's price point. I loved the story about trying to get the rear mount transmission in the C5. The cost of tooling the auto was something like 50% of the total tooling cost for the car. Then it turned out the truck group wanted the same auto and thus the Corvette group didn't pay for any of the tooling. At the truck group's volume the tooling cost was nothing.

As an aside, two very good books to read about the Corvette are All Corvettes are Red and Dave McLellen's Corvette from the Inside. Both are interesting for what they say about the Corvette as well as automotive development in general. All Corvettes is also interesting because it gives insight into why GM was fundamentally broken in the 1980s as well as why things started to get better starting in the late 90s (the fixes started in the 90s but the improved product took a few more years to launch). Good book all around.

 

I've had All Corvettes Are Red on my Amazon wish list ever since you first recommended it a few years ago. I'm going to go buy it right now...