Why Was There NO 1983 Corvette?

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  • Опубліковано 16 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 100

  • @ronstidham6440
    @ronstidham6440 2 дні тому +11

    I almost committed mid video, that there is 1 83 corvette. Waited to watch the rest. You are spot on Mr Lyle, 1 of 1 resting at the corvette museum. Corvette community lives on in history. Great peice, keep it up for us enthusiasts.
    Life is short, don't drive boring cars.

  • @aicsusa
    @aicsusa 2 дні тому +12

    Great video everyone watch it the information is worth your time!

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +2

      Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Lyle

  • @randallorr3730
    @randallorr3730 2 дні тому +7

    You nailed it. In addition to the targa top change that was implemented another issue that plagued the C4 being released in 83 was a little thing called corporate average fuel economy. The crossfire engine did not get the expected fuel economy they thought it would, for a variety of reasons I won't get into here. GM did not want to add a gas guzzler tax to the price of the car. If they sold the car with just the automatic transmission they would have to add that tax to the price due to the CAFE standards. At the time no one built a five speed transmission that would handle the close to 300 ft lbs of torque the engine produced. So, GM tapped on Doug Nash who at that time owned Borg Warner to essentially come up with the wonky overdrive units they hung on the back of the Borg Warner super T10. Due to the fuel economy that could be had with this combination they did not have to add the gas guzzler tax to the price of the car. Unfortunately the overdrive units especially on the 84 and 85 cars were problematic. I worked on a number of them under warranty. It is true, other than the one 83 there was no 83 model year corvettes. However, 84 production started on January 3rd of 1983. I currently own an 84 that was built in March of 1983. Just a little more trivia to think about. Great stuff Lyle. Thanks.

  • @vettekid3326
    @vettekid3326 2 дні тому +7

    I remember when the C3's came out. They really sparked my interest with the styling and the advances suspension for the time. I used to have an '84 that looked like the surviving '83, white with blue interior. It really was a fun car but it really did ride kinda rough especially on the roads up north where you have a lot of potholes. I still have a C3 but it is a later '91 convertible with the ZF six speed manual and still turns heads when I take it out. P.S. I got to see the '83 at the museum back in 1995.

    • @troyblackburn4522
      @troyblackburn4522 2 дні тому

      Did you mean C4? Twice in your comment you mentioned C3; however, the ‘84 and ‘91 cars you referenced are C4s.

  • @joev4074
    @joev4074 2 дні тому +2

    As an engineer for a GM division, Delco Products, at that time we were told that a major issue with the 1983 Corvette prototypes was the targa roof panel flying off the car at 100+ mph during testing. That's why the targa top holdowns are so robust and required a wrench to secure them instead of the latches on previous C3 models.

  • @christopherpitts6381
    @christopherpitts6381 2 дні тому +6

    When my friend and I took our Corvettes (02' and 92') on the 2024 Hotrod Power Tour that started at the Corvette Museum, we took the tour for our first time. And that 83' was the one car I was looking forward to seeing so much! As someone who has loved Corvettes since the moment I started calling myself a "car guy", that 83' had the most emotional response from me of all the cars there. I'm so grateful it survived. And the plaque for it reads "one of none".
    Thank you for your videos!

  • @rjs2005
    @rjs2005 2 дні тому +1

    I've been to the National Corvette Museum twice, and each time I pay a little extra time at the '83 Corvette. IIRC, it is shod with the briefly considered 15" entry-level wheels and tires that didn't make the production '84 model. It's just so cool that it managed to survive the crusher and maintain that continuity that Vette enthusiasts are so proud of.

  • @mikerisner
    @mikerisner 2 дні тому +2

    I turned 16 in '84 when the '84 Vette was released. I recall thinking the exterior design was extraordinarily muted compared to the outgoing C3, but it captured the style of the day. I recall one of my dad's co-workers took delivery of an early '84 Corvette. It was a quality nightmare. The hood and the targa top never fit right. And the catalytic converted clogged the poor engine and frequently made the car smell like a rotten egg. But I always respected the C4's engineering. This video made me dig up my photos of the '83 from my Corvette Museum trip. Not a fancy Vette, but it sure is significant.

  • @toddjones9715
    @toddjones9715 2 дні тому +7

    Great history of the 1983 Corvette. Great Job

  • @RhettCrowell-dp8dc
    @RhettCrowell-dp8dc 2 дні тому +7

    Thank you so much, Lyle, for doing due diligence to the one and only 1983 corvette! It's why your UA-cam channel on corvettes is second to none.

  • @KeithPaolella
    @KeithPaolella 2 дні тому +1

    Great story facts Lyle. I worked at the GM Tech Center in Warren MI, from 1981 to 1987, and never knew the reason for this. Thanks so much!!

  • @Vetteman372
    @Vetteman372 2 дні тому +6

    Always informative about the Corvette.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

  • @Chris-Nico
    @Chris-Nico 2 дні тому +7

    Always a big thank you to you Lyle and C&S for corvette history telling. Good job 👍 🇺🇸

  • @billfleming8281
    @billfleming8281 2 дні тому +6

    Always a great informative vlog and excellent presentation! Thanks Lyle for the outstanding content and enthusiasm. Much appreciated!

  • @klaytonmayeaux8966
    @klaytonmayeaux8966 2 дні тому +7

    I jokingly been telling some people around me that if they want to mess with someone claiming they have a Corvette, tell them they own an '83 ZR1 hahaha.

  • @jamesw.6931
    @jamesw.6931 2 дні тому +3

    I had a 1989 Dark Red Metallic C-4 auto. When the ZR-1 came out I drove one but couldn't wrap my mind around the $60k price tag so. I installed the Carroll Supercharger kit running 10 lbs of boost. That took my Corvette to 13:40 at 110 mph in the quarter mile for an additional $7k. My 2008 Z06 is the last Corvette I will ever purchase new, although I'm considering restoring a C-3...

  • @jonathanmorrisey5771
    @jonathanmorrisey5771 2 дні тому +4

    The gent that missed getting the surviving '83 told in an interview that there were multiple closed door "chats" over the car and he was lucky to keep his job.
    Also, the wheels on the museum car are 15" and they were to be the standard wheel with the 16" wheels optional. The delay gave them time to decide to make the 16" wheels standard.

  • @RichardK-ql7mt5qi2y
    @RichardK-ql7mt5qi2y 2 дні тому +1

    Great story. Loved hearing all the details.

  • @stevenherrmann8896
    @stevenherrmann8896 2 дні тому +4

    Very informative Lyle, thank you for sharing.

  • @jimschafer5018
    @jimschafer5018 2 дні тому +4

    Funny. Was sitting in Spring Hill physical therapy waiting room wearing a prominent Corvette shirt when an older lady asked if I indeed had a corvette.
    She went on to say that there was not a 1983 model sold. She claimed her nephew was involved in the road testing as an engineer that told her of the cancelled production. I did not let on that I was aware of that but later confirmed in a internet search engine. What a macho man I was, hey?

  • @RandyBeres
    @RandyBeres 2 дні тому +2

    I never knew about the one 1983 Corvette. Thank you Lyle.

  • @Dorich55
    @Dorich55 2 дні тому +3

    Great video! I had NO IDEA! Thanks so much!

  • @thomaskeane242
    @thomaskeane242 2 дні тому +1

    Thanks for the history lesson on the Corvette, Lyle.

  • @user-fq9ug8zl6n
    @user-fq9ug8zl6n День тому +2

    I really enjoy your videos. Great info.

  • @cuttingedgeinnovationstati5208
    @cuttingedgeinnovationstati5208 21 годину тому

    Thanks for this video. As an owner of a 78 Silver anniversary car and being born in 1983 getting an opportunity to see this car is on my list.

  • @gregkistner1955
    @gregkistner1955 2 дні тому +3

    Good information ! Thankyou!

  • @AlbertPendergraff-rp7jp
    @AlbertPendergraff-rp7jp 2 дні тому +2

    I am a life time member of the corvette museum and I see that car every time I go there it's very beautiful car to bad that GM didn't go through with it because it would have been a hole new Corvette from the old Corvette but they didn't and that is a shame

  • @rubyred93chev
    @rubyred93chev 2 дні тому

    Absolutely spot on video Lyle. Great job explaining the '83 Corvette. Aside from Lloyd Reuss wanting the targa top in one piece(yes, President of GM, Mark Reuss is his son), the car had to meet strict CAFE fuel requirements (and yes GM was having trouble with getting those cats just right). And for those naysayers today about the first C4, it literally won every automotive award on earth for 1984.

  • @spanky3101
    @spanky3101 2 дні тому

    Nice to see some C4 content. I love my 96 convertible, a very rare car here in the UK.

  • @billydee8051
    @billydee8051 2 дні тому

    Thanx for another interesting and great video. I hope you guys are having an awesome 2025 thus far.
    The first time I noticed the Corvette was when I watched the movie, Billy Jack, and Billy told Bernard to drive his '69 Riverside Gold vert big block (BB) Corvette into the lake or he'd break his elbow. It was love at first sight. I think a lot of folks would've taken the broken elbow. I looked all over trying to find that particular car but just like Jimi Hendrix's '69 Cortez Silver BB Vette, it's whereabouts are lost in the annals of car history.
    While I will always have a soft spot for the '69, I love all the Corvettes. The Corvette is a true American icon. The older ones, especially C3s, are perhaps the most recognized cars in the world. Let's face it, the C4 (and every subsequent generation) had some big shoes to fill but, with the exception of the corporate greed tactics used with the C8, overall, Chevy has done a good job maintaining the brand.

  • @c5grapeape
    @c5grapeape День тому

    Kinda weird this video came into my feed. My brother-in-law and I were just talking about this very topic this afternoon. Thanks for clearing up some things. I've been to the museum and I have seen that one of one. Pretty cool.

  • @Boo-Vette
    @Boo-Vette 2 дні тому

    Thank you Lyle for sharing your spot on info about Corvette history. I also watched the video from the Corvette Museum about the "83 Corvette. Funny how GOD, Dumb Luck and a pair of Cowboy Boots saved this baby from the crusher.

  • @ronduncan9527
    @ronduncan9527 2 дні тому +1

    Very informative! Great video as usual!

  • @jeffreywestphal1223
    @jeffreywestphal1223 2 дні тому

    Thanks for the 83 Corvette story. Very interesting.

  • @browningbelgium2326
    @browningbelgium2326 2 дні тому +4

    I've always wondered why GM built this car for 13 years while the C5 was only 8 years and C6 was 9.

  • @mic98ws6
    @mic98ws6 2 дні тому

    Great video as always Lyle. I owned a 99 FRC and loved it. I have a modded, 2018 Camaro SS 1LE. It makes over 600 rwhp. My plan is to get a C6 in the next few years as another car to build with my son. We both went to the Corvette Museum a couple of years back. We drove up from Florida. We both have pics of us, with the 1983 car there. What a story about that car! Keep up the great videos. I live near Daytona Beach. I’d love to stop at the shop one day if I’m in that area.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +1

      Swing on by if you are in the area! Lyle :)

    • @mic98ws6
      @mic98ws6 2 дні тому

      @@csvettewill do!

  • @barco581
    @barco581 5 годин тому

    Great video Lyle. It sounds like you have read the book Corvette from the Inside from the chief C4 engineer. Great book and highly recommended.

  • @richardcorcorran8965
    @richardcorcorran8965 2 дні тому

    Thank you brother for the history lesson, if anyone is new to Corvette a good starting please to learn HER history is the little black book he showed in the video.

  • @tonyweir1317
    @tonyweir1317 2 дні тому

    There is ONE 1983 Corvette left. It's in the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. Apparently, back in 1983, GM put the order out to crush all the 1983 Corvettes because they were not ready for production. As they were rounding up the cars, a big storm came through and one car was quickly pushed back into the yard and covered. It sat for over 10 years before someone looked under the cover an found the car. It's in excellent condition and on display in the museum.

  • @robmunger922
    @robmunger922 2 дні тому +2

    You must have heard me some C4 content great video thank you.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +1

      Glad you liked it! Lyle

  • @darrylsjodin7184
    @darrylsjodin7184 День тому

    My son has a red 2013 Viper. Amazing car!

  • @perryelder5045
    @perryelder5045 2 дні тому

    Excellent, did not know this, thanks

  • @hughm990
    @hughm990 2 дні тому

    Love the story Lyle!

  • @pilotgirl5953
    @pilotgirl5953 2 дні тому +1

    Excellent 🎉

  • @rshooer
    @rshooer День тому

    Such great information! Thank you Lyle for sharing it with us. I have an 82 Collector Edition, and which has the Crossfire Injection engine, and I know the 84 has that engine as well. What engine does the "1983" have?

  • @Jimmyjamesgarage
    @Jimmyjamesgarage 2 дні тому +1

    Great video.

  • @ronallen6578
    @ronallen6578 2 дні тому

    While I'd like to have a cap, to pay $30 for a $10-12 cap just isn't going to happen. Youre not the only channrl doing this, but in all fairness I don't have any of those either. Really informative video. Thank you

  • @bryanbarker9467
    @bryanbarker9467 День тому

    Great video and story. Thanks for sharing. Does the hat ship to Canada? No option on the drop down menu.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  23 години тому

      Go ahead and send Lyle an email for shipping inquiries! lyle@corvettepartscenter.com

  • @scoutdogfsr
    @scoutdogfsr 2 дні тому +1

    I remember reading in Popular Hotrodding that GM was skipping the years production. I think it worked because it drew more attention to the change. The c4 looks a bit lame on paper today but it was a kick in the pants in 84. When your grannies 76 station wagon had more power than a new Monte-Carlo SS.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +1

      You're absolutely right, that '84 was a game-changer.

  • @richarddobreny6664
    @richarddobreny6664 2 дні тому +1

    I thought 84 pulled 1 g with z51, just 84. I have an article somewhere outlining their search for 1 g

    • @supadeezOA
      @supadeezOA 2 дні тому

      I believe that was the 95 ZR-1.
      I may be wrong though.

  • @howardscott7521
    @howardscott7521 2 дні тому +2

    Magnum’s Ferrari is a 308. 348’s came to be about 10 years later.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +1

      Yep. I always confuse those two cars, although they aren't terribly similar. I can't fit into or afford either of them, so I haven't really educated myself on the nomenclature. :) Lyle

  • @mullighanistan3422
    @mullighanistan3422 День тому

    They have one at the NCM!

  • @413TomaccoRoad
    @413TomaccoRoad 2 дні тому

    Have you done a Gymkana Suspension video?

  • @mikegreendale6936
    @mikegreendale6936 2 дні тому +3

    If you REALLY want to rock your C&S Corvette hat , Put out a Flex Fit model .... Just a thought

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +2

      Maybe on the next run? :) Lyle

    • @billfleming8281
      @billfleming8281 2 дні тому +1

      @@csvetteif you guys create visors , I’m in . I’m a visor guy 👍

  • @brianmorgan3659
    @brianmorgan3659 2 дні тому

    47 total is what I was told by a guide at the corvette museum.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +1

      Could be? I got my number from the NCM archives in preparation for this story, so who knows? Either way, the story is cool! Lyle :)

  • @Slickpete83
    @Slickpete83 2 дні тому +2

    *because I was born in 1983 , so they had to take a year off to celebrate, that's what I always tell people* hahaha..

  • @CarlosMendoza-ll9yk
    @CarlosMendoza-ll9yk 2 дні тому +3

    Magnums Ferrari was a 308

  • @corvetteswithbowie7529
    @corvetteswithbowie7529 2 дні тому +1

    Does the 83 have a troof or targa ?

  • @stevegili
    @stevegili 2 дні тому +1

    Love the video! do you think the reason why GM made so many Corvettes in 84 and 85 was because the union workers had to make up for not having a vette in 83? Being that that there was so many union jobs in manufacturing a laying off workers. GM being one of them at the time.

    • @rubyred93chev
      @rubyred93chev 2 дні тому

      _Sounds reasonable, but no. Production for the first two years of the C4 was incredibly strong due to the car selling like gangbusters. I believe I've read somewhere that Chevy predicted about 20,000 units first year production(and it turned out almost three times that many)._

  • @4th.Gen.V6-F-Body-4life
    @4th.Gen.V6-F-Body-4life 2 дні тому +2

    Good evening Lyle, thank you very much for that very interesting clip. 👍

  • @gusgiesel
    @gusgiesel 2 дні тому

    1 example is definitely not production. This is why I take issue when enthusiasts claim the "Corvette is the longest running sports car in continuous production."

    • @odfarmboy
      @odfarmboy 2 дні тому +1

      he said there was more than one, the rest were crushed.

  • @mww4612
    @mww4612 2 дні тому

    Wow I didn't Know Now I know LOL great.....!!!!!

  • @alanrainey8081
    @alanrainey8081 День тому

    40 some were produced, but never sold. The only one that exist is in the Corvette Museum in Kentucky
    I guess I should have watched the video before making the comment? Oh well, good video

  • @bentonedwards8689
    @bentonedwards8689 2 дні тому +10

    There actually was just not sold to the public. Have one in the museum

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +9

      We get there at the end of the video. Lyle :)

    • @Glide1992
      @Glide1992 2 дні тому +6

      That's funny. Benton, you didn't watch the video and had to jump right to the comments to tell everyone how smart you are to know about the one in the museum. And then find out that anyone that didn't know, learned about it in the video you didn't watch.

    • @wardhood2137
      @wardhood2137 2 дні тому

      ​@@Glide1992. 🙄😆

    • @bentonedwards8689
      @bentonedwards8689 2 дні тому +1

      @Glide1992 boo hoo

    • @troyblackburn4522
      @troyblackburn4522 2 дні тому +3

      @@Glide1992Considering it’s Lyle he really should have waited until the end before posting that comment; however, if he’s new to this channel I can understand jumping the gun a bit. There are soooo many UA-camrs out there posting bad information such as all Corvettes being made of fiberglass, factory use of gel coat on any but the early 53 & 54s, etc… I know I’ve watched some videos in which the UA-camr got so much information wrong in such a short amount of time that I found it difficult to watch to the end.
      That being said, this is Lyle we’re talking about and while he’s not flawless, he knows his stuff and generally does his research before posting stuff.

  • @OhioCoasterStudios
    @OhioCoasterStudios 2 дні тому

    This was the year they switched over to a different panel procedure. I thought it had something to do with smc.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +1

      no, the c4 was still largely actual fiberglass. Lyle :)

  • @williamtricarico6684
    @williamtricarico6684 2 дні тому

    Lyle contradicting himself. The new design had monocoque aspects but it still had a full perimeter frame and was still body on frame up till the C-8.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому +1

      I see what you mean. While it wasn't the traditional body-on-frame like the previous gens, it still wasn't a full monocoque. I misused the term. for sure. Lyle

    • @williamtricarico6684
      @williamtricarico6684 2 дні тому

      @csvette wasn't trying to be negatively critical, as I am so very thankful for all the information that you always provide us. Just have owned dozens of Vettes currently own 3, have worked on thousands in my life, as a tech and like to share as correct of information as I can. Thanks again, Lyle.

    • @csvette
      @csvette  2 дні тому

      @@williamtricarico6684 Correct Terminology matters! I don't use a pre-written script when we film these videos and they are all done in one take, so I do occasionally use the wrong term for something or just completely flub a fact. I take no insult from being corrected, as that is how we all learn and improve! Thank you for watching and thank you for helping our little community get the best info possible! Lyle :

  • @jerryarkema3870
    @jerryarkema3870 2 дні тому

    I understand, but why no 1992 rx7?

  • @williamhopkins4162
    @williamhopkins4162 2 дні тому

    There was a total change during that year to the 84 not at all the same cross fire flop..

  • @kirkthejerkthe1st
    @kirkthejerkthe1st 2 дні тому

    With as many recalls as the 1984 had, maybe they should have skipped 2 years.

  • @davidcat1455
    @davidcat1455 2 дні тому

    🇦🇺🇺🇸👍

  • @C4VETTELT1
    @C4VETTELT1 2 дні тому

    1 83 does exist but in reality they shouldn't have made the 84 either!! Should have waited until 85 when a decent engine was developed!! The 84 crossfire is garbage!!!

  • @84GordonShumway
    @84GordonShumway 2 дні тому

    This video is VERY distracting, with poor Lyle sliding left, then right, (how many Lyle's are there?) then right in your face, bigger head is a real turn off..... like in so I married an axe murderer! "HEAD, DOWN!" Your video guy may be good, but needs to keep in mind, less is more. He's really into showing off every video effect in a 14 minute video. Calm down there Chuckie, you got plenty of videos to make. Distracting the viewer should not be part of the job description. I mean, do a scan of the video, poor Lyle should be out of breath with all the gymnastics you have him doing. Not very professional IMHO. The video edits are pretty harsh too. Much better videos in the past, these are just way too distracting. (I actually unsubscribed because of it.) Hope you can make them better in the future!

  • @willyspeljak2214
    @willyspeljak2214 2 дні тому

    My is no 517

  • @kennyTraub
    @kennyTraub День тому

    Great info. Thank you