Hot Take: The next car to get backdating treatment

"BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast." (boxerfanatic)
05/28/2020 at 22:26 • Filed to: Corvette, C5 Corvette, C4 Corvette, Radwood, 1980s

Ok, There is a dubious way of making a C4 resemble a C5.

Why is there not a way to go the other direction?

Arguably the C4 is more angular, thinner, less bloated, and a bit more nostalgic for the 1980s and 90s, for the Radwood crowd.

Frankly, I like the combination of sharp lines and hewn curves a bit more than the C5's slight bloat, and generous posterior.

But C5 has the mechanical superiority hands down. The hydroformed chassis, the suspension, the rear mounted transaxle, and the LS-family engines are all big pros in the C5 and C6 columns over the C4.

So where is the body kit that will give the C5 a Radwood makeover for those slick 1980s looks?

And bring back the early C4 aerodisc style wheels, too... maybe with a bit of concave like the slotted mags on the later C3...

DISCUSSION (23)

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
05/28/2020 at 23:01

I’m kind of surprised that there hasn’t been a Camaro in the style of the disco-era cars.

Kinja'd!!!

WilliamsSW > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
05/28/2020 at 23:01

If you’re going to backdate, why take just a small step?

Kinja'd!!!

bob and john > WilliamsSW
05/28/2020 at 23:13

I spit my drink out at this one. jesus

ranwhenparked > WilliamsSW
05/28/2020 at 23:16

You know that probably is going to happen at some point, right?

NKato > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
05/28/2020 at 23:18

Honestly? I would have a raging boner for a 2022 Camaro in this body style.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > WilliamsSW
05/28/2020 at 23:32

What kind of fuckery is that?

facw > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
05/28/2020 at 23:40

I’ve never really liked the look of the C4. I mean it’s fine, but it’s a bit boring, it just doesn’t stand out from the contemporary Camaro/Firebird.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > WilliamsSW
05/28/2020 at 23:51

Kinja'd!!!

Ughh, the C8 is ugly enough, it’s like putting lipstick on a PT Cruiser.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
05/29/2020 at 00:05

It would solve some of the visibility problems. I am always dismayed by how many people modify modern Camaros, clearly a Gen 1 throwback, to try to look like Gen 2 Firebird Trans Ams, that are a retro mis-match.

I am kind of over retro styling of new cars, in that new cars arent’ even trying to be NEW, or innovative... but it is sometimes an interesting thought experiment.

The Gen 1 Camaro was not retro. It was NEW. Gen 2 and Gen 3 Camaros were again... NEW. Even Gen 4, while somewhat of an evolution of Gen 3, it was still forward looking, not hooked on the past.

That is one of the reasons I like 80s and 90s cars... they were forward-looking at that time. C8 Corvette affordable for a year’s salary or more?... Fiero was far more affordable in the 1980s, and the GT was better performance value per dollar than the more expensive C4 at that time.

BTW, I still want a new spaceframe mid-engine car with a performance tuned Voltec 2 drivetrain in the back, and a Bolt drive axle on the front... like an affordable mainstream alternative to i8.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
05/29/2020 at 00:05

I am kind of over retro styling of new cars, in that new cars arent’ even trying to be NEW, or innovative... but it is sometimes an interesting thought experiment.

The Gen 1 Camaro was not retro. It was NEW. Gen 2 and Gen 3 Camaros were again... NEW. Even Gen 4, while somewhat of an evolution of Gen 3, it was still forward looking, not hooked on the past.

BTW, I still want a new spaceframe mid-engine car with a performance tuned Voltec 2 drivetrain in the back, and a Bolt drive axle on the front... like an affordable mainstream alternative to i8.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > facw
05/29/2020 at 00:08

Compared to the over-styled C7 and even MORE overstyled C8... and the bloated marshmallow C5... C4 has a certain clean sleekness. a good color combo, maybe some very subtle updates, and the C5/C6's better chassis underneath, I think it would do well.

An updated F-body between Gen 3 and Gen 4... would be cool too. I have a cunning plan for a sleek Gen 4 Firebird V6 or Formula with a de-winged Trans Am rear hatch and a subtle ducktail spoiler as a streamlined GT... The front and rear treatments are more tapered and sleeker than C5, despite the F-body’s bulk in the middle.

Maybe that needs to be a thing... a C5 Corvette rebody to Pontiac Banshee, with 4th gen Firebird tapered nose and tail, and some other Pontiac cues.

If C8 looked like the Aerovette concept... nobody would remember any number before it... Maybe C2... maybe.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
05/29/2020 at 00:14

At least chevy has somewhere to go with it, both the disco and IROC era cars would be a refreshing change from 10 years of basically the same C amaro. The D odge C hallenger has nowhere to go style- wise, and I don’t think a retro big-body mustang or a new mustang III would sell.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
05/29/2020 at 00:33

That’s just it. Why does it need to repeat something?

1971 Camaro was drastically different than 1970. 1982 F-body was different again.

1979 Fox Mustang was drastically different than Mustang II or the other Mustang continuation, Maverick/Comet.

Today, doing something that isn’t tied to a precedent is tantamount to sacrilege. But why?

Why not have FCA throw Chrysler a bone and create a new Conquest, while Dodge focuses on tradition/retro styling. Maybe a new Dodge Aspen R/T, perhaps. ;-)

Ford amazingly took more of a risk than I thought possible with Mustang Mach E... even along-side the regular Mustang... after all the repeated times that the Mustang fans beat back Ford from changing Mustang (Ford Probe, and other occasions) that probably makes Ford reticent to change Mustang’s formula very much.

JoshROOSTER > WilliamsSW
05/29/2020 at 00:37

Is it wearing braces?

WilliamsSW > ranwhenparked
05/29/2020 at 01:41

I’m absolutely sure there is a JORTS and New Balance wearing boomer who is already working on it.

WilliamsSW > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/29/2020 at 01:43

I just googled “c8 corvette as c1" and Google shat that out.

Makes those silly ass C5 1953 Vettes look good in comparison.

PartyPooper2012 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
05/29/2020 at 08:32

I want to make my C5 look like 1980 C3.... gimme that kit.

I don’t care for C4 look at all.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
05/29/2020 at 09:21

Almost no one likes C4's besides C4 owners. Besides, the correct C5 is the FRC.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/29/2020 at 14:35

But is the dislike for C4 mechanical or visual?

Fixed-roof coupe C5 is technically better... but visually goes from bloated...

to quote Tommy Boy... “ a big fat [ car] with a tiny head.” as in VERY disproportionate and hideous looking.

MikeGolf96 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
05/29/2020 at 15:19

I love my FRC and I sure loved the fit of my 93 ZR-1. The only thing I would like to take from the C4 and add to the C5 is the Clamshell hood. Like it or hate it. It sure made the engine and suspension easier to work on.

MikeGolf96 > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
05/29/2020 at 15:47

And they are fast too, lol.

Kinja'd!!!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
05/29/2020 at 17:29

The pre-facelift looks awful, the facelift is just dated. The C5 looks way better. That being said, the C4 has aged a lot better than narrow body C6's. They’ve aged worse than early 996's IMO.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/29/2020 at 17:57

I don’t mind the C6, other than the front facia is bland. At least it isn’t as GTR-wannabe over-styled like C7... and C8 is overstyled, too.

C6 seems less bloated and marshmallow-y than C5, but C5 seems lower and a bit more aerodynamic.... aside from the C5's Hugh Jass. (the fixed roof and convertible are even more blatant than the fastback/targa)

Early C4 seems a bit dated, the facelift seems a bit generic in the lights interior... but the shape of the bodywork and the proportions is great. the wedge nose that curves to a flatter profile behind the front wheels, the sleek canopy roofline.

The aft section seems tailored compared to the later cars, but not quite as severely tapered as the C3 (although I like the C3 also) . It was wide enough to seem sporty, but not overly bloated like C5 .

I like the oval C4 lights slightly better that the early round pie-plates , but I like the early Kamm-like back-cut tail panel, rather than the later convex tail panel, so I can forgive the dated-looking tail lights. (my theoretical back-dated C5.4 would not be 100% literal... so it could mix in a bit of modern LED lighting and style to be a bit resto-mod.)

A good C4 looks like a sharp tailored business suit, although the bad ones kind of look like they are out of fashion with wide lapels or something...

where most C5s look like a plus-sized relaxed track suit, IMHO. Some atheletes can pull off the look if it is purposeful in the right setting ... some others shouldn’t dress that way... and velour really pushes it too far.

Taking that analogy to the standard C6, is like John Q Public wearing a sports jersey as a day-to-day shirt. Not bad... but neither actually well dressed, nor a real purpose for wearing a jersey.

C7 is someone dressed in cosplay. Clearly an elaborate costume to emulate a japanese character rather than normal street clothes.

The C8... I am not sure... Maybe like Clark Griswold wearing the Italian designer suit that he bought on his European Vacation, in Rome...