Chevrolet assignment to the engineers entrusted with the evolution of the Corvette is two-fold:  Produce one of the finest all-around 2-seaters in the world.  Make it more affordable than most.

Clearly the words “finest all-around” encompass the potential for a staggering variety of interpretations.  Even among knowledgeable car people.

Ettore Bugatti, for example, who long ago embarked on a similar but self-imposed quest, once stated, “I build them to go, not to stop.” It was a simpler era, to be sure.

But “finest all-around”? does that then mean star styling, catapult quickness and the lateral acceleration of a stone at the end of a string?  To a degree, yes. Because those are a few of the more obvious ways by which fine performance cars are judged.  Still. 

In the car business of the eighties and beyond, a high-performance car should also reflect sound reasoning.

            A corvette is unique in the world of high-performance cars because it is also a Chevrolet.  Corvettes will continue to exemplify the fundamental abilities of all Chevy’s—relative affordability, drivability, and the convenient availability of maintenance, parts and service.

            For all those too-often overlooked attributes, however—the ones that makes a driver’s relationship with a car more enduring—be assured that Corvettes fulfill their primary mission very well.

            As to exactly how well Corvettes do perform, may we recommend the road test summaries regularly published in two of the more highly regarded car magazines.  While wee can’t vouch for the accuracy of their test instrumentation, methods or results, we respect the road testers as impartial observers.