Rumors are floating around about possible GTO hp figures, but people keep insisting it cannot out-do the base Vette's or Z06's numbers by tradition. Is this even necessary? Were the F-bodies rated at 345hp, would it have really have cut into Vette sales? It was nearly as quick, what difference does the rating make? Would it have been more to the Camaro/Firebirds advantage saleswise to have had a truer rating?

To me, a Corvette buyer is different than a GTO or F-body buyer. A Corvette is a world-class sports car, and competes with the Vipers and Porsches of the world. People yearn to have a Vette for performance, status, etc. I see a GTO buyer shopping against a Mustang Cobra and other GT coupes, and that wouldn't change if the GTO had 350 or 400hp--why not put out the best car you can? It can only help by drawing more customers to your car from the competition.

I'd imagine this is frustrating for anyone working on the GTO project or any other performance car at GM. "Ok, your big brother can run this fast. You better take a dive so you're not nipping too closely at his heals."

Is the ego of one fairly limited production car more valuable than wringing the most you can (or could have gotten) out of cars like the GTO, Cadillac CTS, Camaro, or Firebird? Don't get me wrong, I'd like a Vette someday just like everyone else. But wouldn't it be nice to have the CTS stick it to BMW and GTO to Ford, etc by removing the glass ceiling?

 

I agree with this post so much. And I'm sure there would be people that would complain if it wasn't the fastest or whatever. IMO no its not nessessary. The limitation is exactly that, limiting other cars potential and sales.

 

The vette rule should go. Look at all the profitable internal competitors that were discontinued because of it.

The rule is still here today. Cadillac xlr was rumored to have a sc425 hp engine. Now that engine isnt ready for the 1st year.
The vette is going up is hp anyways,so a heavier 400hp gto wouldnt hurt it.

I never did like"the only sports car that matters" Corvette ad campaign.

 

With Camaro gone, Corvette is evidently the only sports car that matters at GM, anyway. And that's only as long as the car is profitable.

The "no car can be faster than a Vette" rule is stupid, but let's face it, Corvette is the halo sports car at GM and whether we like it or not, nothing will likely ever be allowed to override that.

 

waiting for guionM to step in.

 

It's easy, just make the Corvette Faster!

Of course, other than the GTO, they have nothing else even close in their car fleet.

 

Exactly.

 

Or they could do that.

 

I never heard of the corvette rule. Must be something new, when did this happen?

 

Status, that's the problem. Corvette buyers don't want to give $40-50K for their car, and have a $20-30K car out run them. To be honest, I don't blame them. I don't really like the rule, but I do understand it.

 

Probably in the 70's. I'm not sure exactly when, but it's not new. There have been a few exceptions to the rule, but not many.

 

That would be the ideal way for folks like us!! If I ran GM, that's what I would do.

 

To be perfectly blunt about it, the Corvette rule is a myth.
However, there has been occasions where Chevrolet, as a division, has steped in and squashed ideas from other divisions.

The most glaring example is the Pontiac Banshee, a 2 seat sports car (the story was in Motor Trend earlier this year I think) that Chevy helped stomp because they felt it competed with Corvette. Chevy once (and maybe still has) more clout than any other GM division. The Fiero made it to market because Pontiac sold it to management as a commuter car, not as a competitor to Corvette, though almost from the start, that's exactly the direction Pontiac wanted to take it.

Trans Ams from 1976-1979 were matches for Corvettes of the day, and were actually quicker off the line and 0-60. Although they had 200 hp in '76 while Corvette's L82 that same year had 210, the Corvette had 255 ft/lbs torque, the T/A had 330. In '78 it was 260 vs 325 ft/lbs.

Buick Grand National's of the late 80s were running about 5 second or less 0-60 times while Corvettes wer running about 6s. In 1987 Corvette had 240hp while Grand Nationals were conservatively rated at 245. If that doesnt break the "Corvette rule" , then how about that 275 horsepower GNX of the same year! Again, a conservatively rated engine!

In 1989, Corvette was still rated at 245hp when the underrated 250 hp anniversary Turbo T/A came out. Later the GMC Typhoon not only had 280hp (again, underrated!) but was also quicker from 0-60 than a Ferrari 348ts (Car&Driver magazine). Same holds true for Syclone.

So basically, that "Corvette Rule" is a figment of someone's imagination. Yes, Chevrolet helped keep Corvette the only 2 passenger sports car at GM, but as far as "no car being faster than Corvette", or "no car having more horsepower than Corvette", I think it's time for some of you to give up this ridiculous and obviously wrong myth.

 

Well Said guionM!

 

to the man.