The Forty-Three-Year Wait is OverWhat took 43 years to reappear but can disappear in just 18 seconds? The power-operated soft-top on the C6 Corvette convertible;
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The power took 43 years to reappear on a Corvette. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
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yep, prior to
model year 2005 a powered top last kept rain off Corvette hides in 1962. Fortunately today's version is much more effective and efficient than the canvas lid of yesteryear. Available in Canada in two shades of gray, basic black or beige, the modern top seals tightly to hold rain and wind at bay while providing satisfactory vision through its glass rear window. Best of all, after manually unlatching the leading edge of the roof from the windshield frame, servo motors take over and drop the top in less time than it took me to type this sentence - or thereabouts.
With its fabric and glass shelter safely stowed beneath a beautifully contoured
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| With its fabric and glass shelter safely stowed beneath a beautifully contoured hard shell tonneau, this iconic example of American muscle enters a new era. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
hard shell tonneau, this iconic example of American muscle enters a new era: one dominated by sun, wind, six gears and four hundred horsepower. At first drive, I immediately sensed this week's tester to be considerably tighter and united in mission than the last Corvette I tried out, which happened to be a coupe featuring the Z51 performance package. Such has often been the criticism of Vettes: clunky and poorly assembled. What exactly Chevrolet has done to all but eliminate such defects I am not precisely sure; but I am certain that the red thunder serving me this week is a much-improved roadster over any previous Corvette that has found its way into my driveway during 30-plus years.
