If there’s one thing I know about car nuts, it’s that many of us love modifying our vehicles. Sometimes we add parts from upmarket models to make our rides look sportier. For instance, the owner of a regular Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan might swap out its factory wheels for AMG rollers.
This site alone is a testament to the popularity of cosmetic and performance upgrades. I’ve seen gussied-up Goats, custom Camaros, and tweaked Trans Ams. Soon, you all might be able to show off your C7 Stingrays wearing a whole laundry list of Z06 show and go parts.
Key word: might. The bow tie crew hasn’t yet decided whether or not it will offer the following Z06 components, which it fitted to one of its SEMA 2014 exhibits, for Stingrays in its Chevrolet Performance catalog:
• Anti-roll bars, control arms, and unique composite transverse rear leaf spring
• Bilstein shocks tuned to work with the above hardware
• Front and rear steel brake rotors and six-piston-front and four-piston-rear calipers
• Front brake ducts, rear quarter-panel vents, and high-wing spoiler
• Radiator fan and grille
• Rear transaxle-oil and front auxiliary transaxle coolers
• Carbon-fiber torque tube and driveshaft couplers
• Carbon-fiber underbody braces
Jim Campbell, Chevy’s vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports, said, “We are looking forward to the feedback from SEMA members and Corvette enthusiasts around the world about their interest in these concept Z06 parts.”
What do you all think? Would you buy any of the above gear to put on your Stingray?
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
If there’s one thing I know about car nuts, it’s that many of us love modifying our vehicles. Sometimes we add parts from upmarket models to make our rides look sportier. For instance, the owner of a regular Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan might swap out its factory wheels for AMG rollers.