No. 1 "Cool Car"

[Patrick]

So there I was yesterday, waiting in the customer area for the rotors on my winter beater vehicle to get machined, and I pick up a copy of the October '04 issue of Automobile magazine to read. They have an intriguing article they are hyping on the cover: the list of the top 100 coolest cars ever. I browse the article as they count from number 100 forward.

Interesting list, but undoubtedly bound to stir some polite dissent from automobile enthusiasts everywhere. You can view the full list by going HERE.

Sadly, their web-page doesn't give you the brief write up they provided for each choice. They even had a great picture of Sean Connery standing next to his '64 Austin-Martin from "Goldfinger."

Well, where, I am thinking, is the Corvette on this list? I found it... on the last page. It was on the last page, because the C2 ranked as Automobile Magazine's No. 1 Coolest Car ever. Since they don't provide their write up on the web site, I've transcribed their comments:

100 Coolest Cars
Automobile Magazine, October 2004

#1: 1963-1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray
Forget the IRS, the side pipes, and the big block under the hood. Coolness doesn't rise out of nuts and bolts. Instead, it's a glow rooted in a car's soul: the spirit of those who sank their hearts into design and engineering, the risks taken, investments squandered, and traditions forsaken without so much as a glimpse in the rear-view mirror.

For 1963, chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov wanted a Corvette that would rock his European rivals back to the Champs-Elysees. So he created a Sting Ray that Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz never imagined coming: smaller than the car it replaced, with a stiffer frame, a fully independent suspension, a lower center of gravity, and more than half its mass carried by the rear wheels. Cargo room wasn't a priority, so the trunk lid was eliminated as a weight saving measure.

Design genius Bill Mitchell did his part by wrapping the new Corvette in the tightest chemise he and his favorite sculptor, Larry Shinoda, could stretch over Arkus-Duntov's running gear. The capable pair warmed up for the task by adapting to their closet racing effort a shape Mitchell had discovered on the European show circuit. The strong horizontal character line accented by fender blips wore well on the 1959 Sting Ray racer and looked even better after Shinoda freshened it for the 1963 production. The GM designers were so smitten by the tapered roof and split rear window that they urged management to skip the expense of tooling up a roadster.

But the tug of war for control of the Corvette among Mitchell, Arkus-Duntov and GM's engineering staff kept a convertible in the mix. This was a rear instance where creative tension actually helped a car evolve in a fruitful manner. Throught their short but spectacular run, the mid-year Corvettes progressively shed their jewelry, allowing Shinoda's iconic sculpture to shine all the brighter. The engineers improved their play toy with knockoff aluminum wheels, better fuel injection, side exhaust pipes and the first American-made disc brakes. A rising tide of horsepower, from a 250 horsepower base in 1963 to a thumping 435 horsepower (gross) kept Corvettes on a pole position during the early muscle car years.

But what exactly makes this the coolest ride ever? Like James Dean, JFK and Jimmy Clark, mid-year Corvettes left the scene at the peak of their game. The '68 models that replaced them were too flamboyant to stand the test of time. When technological paralysis set in, Corvettes barely survived the 1970's.

Midyear Corvettes are the coolest of the cool because they embody America's post-war optimism and creativity in a glorious piece of rolling sculpture that's bold and brash and loud and fast, all rolled into a single package.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Nice to see that Automobile has good taste.

Tom

 

[ZRGator]

Well, what else can you say? When they're right,they're right!

 

[67HEAVEN]

Forget the IRS, the side pipes, and the big block under the hood. Coolness doesn't rise out of nuts and bolts. Instead, it's a glow rooted in a car's soul:

Funny that the photo they use is all of that.......IRS, side pipes and big block.

 

[Grizzly]

Well, what else can you say? When they're right,they're right!

What more can I say.........................

 

[warren s]

Did you ever notice that when a C2 rolls by, even people that dont really care about cars stop and stare?

(I would have ranked the Superbird much closer to the top)

 

[66 Red Rocket]

They Are Just Telling It Like It Is, I Have A Good Friend Who Swears They Quit Making Corvettes In 1967. And I Dont Argue With Him(he Is 6'6") John

 

[Grizzly]

Did you ever notice that when a C2 rolls by, even people that dont really care about cars stop and stare?

No question about it................................

 

[ptuner11]

c2;s and c1's. stares, smiles and thumbs up all the time.

 

[MsSchroder]

Midyear Corvettes are the coolest of the cool because they embody America's post-war optimism and creativity in a glorious piece of rolling sculpture that's bold and brash and loud and fast, all rolled into a single package.

I agree, wholeheartedly. Oh, for a midyear!

 

[67HEAVEN]

Not that I'm biased or anything, but don't those '67 big blocks just scream testosterone?

I mean, just look at that hood.....those sidepipes....and the roofline on the coupe.

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Not that I'm biased or anything, but don't those '67 big blocks just scream testosterone?

I mean, just look at that hood.....those sidepipes....and the roofline on the coupe.

Up..Up..And ..Away...Testosterone Man....

 

[Montana]

Thats my story

And I'm sticking to it! The C2 is the coolest of the cool..........

 

[paul67]

Bob,
You're giving me an inferiority complex with all that BB/testosterone talk....

 

[Ron Miller]

They Are Just Telling It Like It Is, I Have A Good Friend Who Swears They Quit Making Corvettes In 1967. And I Dont Argue With Him(he Is 6'6") John

Years ago at some of the 'vette shows & swapmeets some of the vendors had a t-shirt with early Corvettes on it and the logo saying "Sure they made Corvettes after 1967, But who the Hell cares?" Never did get one, didn't want to offend any of the later 'vette folks, but I have to admit that I still like the earlier 'vettes best of all. And the best of the best in my mind were always the C-2's!!!

 

[tlong]

Too Cool

I miss my '63. Definitely the coolest. Until I get the '96 up into triples, then I don't miss it so much. #1 is a good number, I got something right in my life back then.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Bob,
You're giving me an inferiority complex with all that BB/testosterone talk....

Us old guys need something to get the fires burning.

Paul.......who could deny the appeal of your beautiful coupe?