Corvette copying Porsche-forgotten over the years.

[CorvetteArchives]

Its funny how you kinda forget things.
GM really was trying to make the 84 Vette seem european werent they?

I was watching tv where they were restoring a 1978 Porsche 928 and remembered that not only did GM steal the traditional Porsche font but even recessed the letters on the front Vette plate "area/cover" for the 84 Corvette!

What's also interesting is that the aftermarket picked up on the styling. Eckler's used to sell a stainless/aluminium sail panel trim just like a Targa 911 that went on the area between the hatch and the "targa top", (Porsche term we public used for the removable roof).

It's also Ironic that the thing I dislike most about the Vette is the lack of structural integrity due to ditching the T-top for the "Targa"...so most of the time I leave my roof on...go figure!

 

[nelson84]

Interesting but I think they copied the one piece targa top from the farrari 308. And most of the styling, but you are right about the recessed lettering and the metal band between the targa and the rear hatch.

 

[Hib Halverson]

"Nelson 84" is correct.

The C4's "Targa" body style does not come from the Porsche 928. It comes from the Ferrari 308 and that has been well-documented. In fact, that fact has been in print many times since Mike Lamm's book on the '84 first discussed the facts of the issue. The book was, I believe, first printed in 1984.

 

[CorvetteArchives]

"Nelson 84" is correct.

The C4's "Targa" body style does not come from the Porsche 928. It comes from the Ferrari 308 and that has been well-documented. In fact, that fact has been in print many times since Mike Lamm's book on the '84 first discussed the facts of the issue. The book was, I believe, first printed in 1984.

Ummm...Perhaps I was unclear: I'll try again

The Porsche Targa pictured is a 911...the 928 reference was to the recessed lettering Only and since it NEVER had a targa panel thats obviously not an influence. .
The Targa 911 was introduced in 1967 while the 308 wasnt around until 1975 although the dino could be a Targa "influence".
BTW, WIKI: In 1967 the Targa (meaning "shield" in Italian[6]) version was introduced as a "stop gap" model. The Targa had a stainless steel-clad roll bar, as Porsche had, at one point, thought that the NHTSA would outlaw fully open convertibles in the US, an important market for the 911. The name "Targa" (which means "shield" in Italian) came from the Targa Florio sports car road race in Sicily, Italy in which Porsche had notable success, with seven victories since 1956, and four more to come until 1973.


Targa although an Italian word is a Porsche term and was written on the sail panel. "Targa" certainly is NOT from the Ferrari 308 which wasnt introduced until 1975 and the 308 never had a metal sail panel to which I referred in text and picture from which aftermarket designers copied a panel for the Vette. Of course, GM never called the roof panel a Targa since they would have been sued by Porsche!

Certainly GM designers were influenced by the trend of the removable roof panel in BOTH Ferrari and Porsche. Of course the body is more 308 in shape then the 911 so I believe that is the influence they may have drawn from including its roof which is why it was cited by Mike Lamm.

 

[Ugolino]

I think I'm getting a headache.

 

[GO_VETTE]

my next car is possibly a Porsche 911 Turbo.

 

[pgtr]

John Deere recesses it's logo lettering on the front of their lawn tractors too. Someone once commented to me 'Hey that's just like a Corvette - Must be the Corvette of lawn tractors!

 

[GO_VETTE]

German engineering innovation

Hey, I think I will have to agree w/ Corvette Archives.
The GM team either were influenced by the DINO or the Porsches.
But the Porsches did it in 67, chances are they al copied Porsche.
In most cases, even today, everyone is copying German cars.
From fuel injection, suspension, and body panels-etc.
It appears that German cars are doing it first and then everyone is doing it identically later on down the road.
So far, only german cars come w/ 7 speed transmissions.
We have to wait and see if GM will come to a 7 speed on the Vettes. if they still plan on making em

 

[CorvetteArchives]

John Deere recesses it's logo lettering on the front of their lawn tractors too. Someone once commented to me 'Hey that's just like a Corvette - Must be the Corvette of lawn tractors!

otfl
When they change the color from that god awful green and yellow, add digital guages and some nice rims...sign me up