2003 Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette celebrates its 50th anniversary with a 2003 Anniversary Edition model, although poor sales of the 1953-55 'Vette nearly caused General Motors to drop the car about half a century ago.

The debut in late 1954 of the highly popular 1955 Ford Thunderbird two-seater shamed GM into improving and continuing the Corvette, which initially was a concept car that wowed auto show visitors. But buyers were scarce when Chevy got the delayed Corvette into production in late 1953, when only 315 were built. GM reserved most 1953 Corvettes for VIPs and promotion purposes.

Some VIPs didn't want the uncomfortable two-seater, and others quickly got rid of it. Moreover, it cost $3,513 when you could get a sporty Cadillac coupe for a few more dollars.

The 'Vette arrived when the sports car market was new and small in this country. It was dominated by a few British cars such as the MG, which had "foreign appeal.'' Most Americans couldn't understand why family-car-oriented Chevy was selling a sports car--let alone one with a leaky convertible top and no roll-down windows.

Corvette sales thus totaled only 3,640 cars in 1954--a drop in the bucket for giant Chevrolet--and plummeted to 674 in 1955. That year, Ford sold 16,155 Thunderbirds, which had roll-up windows and lots of comfort features, including a removable hard top.

Chevy added comfort items to the 1956 model and put seasoned sports car expert and racer Zora Arkus-Duntov in charge of the Corvette. He quickly turned it into a genuine sports car that won races against exotic foreign sports cars.

Corvette sales rose to 3,467 cars in 1956 and to 9,168 units in 1958. Ford's two-seat T-Bird stayed popular, but Ford never was really interested in making a sports car. So it turned the 1958 Thunderbird into a four-seat "personal-luxury'' car, which had much higher sales. Giant GM could afford to keep the Corvette a two-seater, and finally began making money with the car in the late 1950s. At that point, it was a widely recognized Chevy prestige item.

The 2003 Corvette also costs as much as a Cadillac The base hatchback model with removable roof panel costs $43,225, while the convertible goes for $49,700. Those models have a 5.7-liter, 350-horsepower V-8. The special $50,485 Z06 fixed-roof coupe's 5.7-liter V-8 has 405-horsepower and comes only with a six-speed manual gearbox. Other models are sold with both the manual gearbox and a four-speed automatic.

All 2003 Corvettes have a 50th anniversary emblem on the front and rear. I tested the base hatchback Corvette with the $5,000 50th Anniversary package--not offered for the Z06 because it adds weight.

Disappointingly, as with all previous Anniversary or "Collector Edition'' Corvettes, there are no performance-enhancing features--just appearance items.

The Anniversary package features "50th Anniversary Red'' paint, although it's really a lustrous burgundy with aluminum-oxide flakes to give depth and sparkle to the color under a special tinted clear coat. The 1953 Corvette only came with "Polo White" paint and a red interior, but Chevy thought white would be too plain for the '03 model.

The package also has special badging, unique shale interior with a color-coordinated instrument panel and console--along with champagne-painted "anniversary'' wheels with special emblems, embroidered badges on seats and (for the convertible) a Shale soft top.

The package contains a major technical advance, which also is offered for 2003 Corvettes without the package. Called Magnetic Selective Ride Control, it works with a computer and uses a unique damper design that controls wheel and body motion with special shock absorber fluid. The result is a quieter, flatter ride and more precise, responsive handling--especially over large bumps and dips and also during sudden high-speed maneuvers. On bumpy or slick surfaces, the system works with the standard traction control system to assure maximum stability.

The 150-plus mph Corvette handles extremely well without Magnetic Ride Control, but this futuristic feature really works well. It costs $1,695 for models without the anniversary package.

The new Corvette has more standard equipment, including sport seats with a power passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control for driver and passenger, parcel net and a luggage shade for the coupe.

The Corvette remains an exceptional high-performance bargain. The only other American sports car is the 500-horsepower Dodge Viper convertible; it's redone for 2003, but costs nearly $80,000 and is less comfortable than the 'Vette.

The lighter, more powerful Z06 is faster (0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds) than the 350-horsepower Corvette hatchback and convertible. But they're still extremely fast, hitting 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and topping out at 160 mph.

The manual gearbox isn't needed with the high horsepower and torque; in fact, it costs an extra $915. But the Corvette is more fun with the manual transmission, although the shifter is rather notchy if rushed and the long-throw clutch has a stiff action.

A driver who feels lazy can start in second gear and immediately shift to fourth gear without hurting the car. In sixth gear, the 350-horsepower V-8 absolutely loafs at 1,700 rpm at 75 mph, which is why highway fuel economy is so good for such a high-performance car.

Fuel economy is an estimated 19 mpg in the city and 28 on highways with the 350-horsepower V-8 and manual transmission and 18 and 25 with the automatic. The Z06 delivers 19 and 28.

Steering is quick, and the Corvette has race-car-style handling despite its relatively large size and heavy weight. Anti-skid and traction control systems help keep it stable despite all the pounds, especially on slippery roads. The brake pedal doesn't depress much, but has a smooth action and allows short stops with the standard anti-lock system.

It's generally easy to enter and leave the fairly quiet interior, as long as you're not caught in a tight parking situation with the car's long, heavy doors. The Corvette is very wide, so there's decent room for two tall adults in the quiet interior despite a large console.

The bucket seats are supportive and gauges can be quickly read, although the interior still needs higher-quality materials. Major controls are easily reached and most are large, but both sides of the steering wheel rim block secondary controls. The horn button is hard to find without glancing at the steering wheel center area; a driver shouldn't have to take eyes off the road in situations calling for a quick horn blow.

The cargo area is large but has a high opening, and hardtop models have no partition between the cargo hold and passenger compartment.

High Corvette sales have allowed Chevrolet to continually develop the car and keep the price down. Lucky us.


2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Prices:
$43,225-$50,485

Likes:
Sizzling high-performance bargain. Unique 50th Anniversary package. Advanced new ride control system. Comfortable. More standard equipment.
Dislikes:
Rather notchy shifter. Stiff clutch. Steering wheel hides some controls. Long doors. Horn button location.