All Corvettes are Red
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Registered User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 126
From: New Orleans, LA
All Corvettes are Red
All Corvettes are Red is a book by James Schefter about the development of the C5. He was given access to the R&D, engineering, design, finances, and everything else that dealt with the C5. This book deals with each phase, alpha cars, beta cars, a C5 frame with a C4 body, testing, focus groups, etc.
My 5th gen question is - Will there be a book like this for the 5th gen? Will there be a discovery channel show of the making of the 5th gen?
For those of you who read the book - I'm reading it right now and can't help but wonder what phase the camaro is in. How many test mules are there riding around in another car's skin?
My 5th gen question is - Will there be a book like this for the 5th gen? Will there be a discovery channel show of the making of the 5th gen?
For those of you who read the book - I'm reading it right now and can't help but wonder what phase the camaro is in. How many test mules are there riding around in another car's skin?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 148
From: Southeastern PA
Re: All Corvettes are Red
Really interesting book. Its one of my favorites in relation to automobiles. If they make a book similar to All Corvettes are Red but about the new Camaro i would definately pick one up.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,575
From: Arlington, Texas
Re: All Corvettes are Red
Ahhhh yes....."The BOOK". I think there will be one 
As for ACAR, for anyone who ever wanted to know what it's like to go to meetings at GM....read it. Loved the book, but after about the 20th meeting described in excruciating detail, I was ready to put it down for good! They did finally finish the car though.
As for ACAR, for anyone who ever wanted to know what it's like to go to meetings at GM....read it. Loved the book, but after about the 20th meeting described in excruciating detail, I was ready to put it down for good! They did finally finish the car though.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 199
From: Methuen/UMass Dartmouth
Re: All Corvettes are Red
eh, cant remember, just that it recieved criticism for not being completely accurate. i think it was the gm guys that called the book out. overall it was correct just a few parts were off. do some research cause i dont feel like it.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,531
Re: All Corvettes are Red
Originally Posted by posaune
like.....
As the former editor of Corvette Fever magazine, I have chaffed at "All Corvettes Are Red" since it was published. While it shines a critical spotlight on the sheer chaos that afflicted General Motors' management in the early '90s, there are elements within the book that are sheer fantasy.
Like most fantasies, there has to be a villian and a hero. In "All Corvettes Are Red," Chief Corvette Dave McLellan is cast as a contrite, uncooperative villian who is determined to operate outside the new GM management guidelines. Nor is he given the credit he is due for the design of the C5. That's right. McLellan is responsible for that magnificent chassis and the drivetrain layout. When he chose to take an early out in 1992, most of his work had been done and the C5 chassis was essentially done.
More fantasy: The book depicts new Corvette Chief Engineer Dave Hill (the hero) and Production head Russ McLean as hitting off immediately. Not so. I recall a higher-up member of Chevrolet PR telling me he was about to "sit them both down and get them to stop fighting and decide who the hell is going to be Chief Engineer!" When I was editing Corvette Fever I spent time with both men, and found them to be dedicated to their jobs and to the Corvette. It was, however, a shakey relationship at the start.
There are other inaccuracies in this book, which had to go through several rewrites to win Chevolet's approval for publication. No doubt "All Corvettes Are Red" is a good read to get an idea about how mercurial GM management was - and still is. But I recommend reading the book with the knowledge that it's a very laundered version of what happened and who the players were. There's some good history here, but there's also a lot of fiction.
Like most fantasies, there has to be a villian and a hero. In "All Corvettes Are Red," Chief Corvette Dave McLellan is cast as a contrite, uncooperative villian who is determined to operate outside the new GM management guidelines. Nor is he given the credit he is due for the design of the C5. That's right. McLellan is responsible for that magnificent chassis and the drivetrain layout. When he chose to take an early out in 1992, most of his work had been done and the C5 chassis was essentially done.
More fantasy: The book depicts new Corvette Chief Engineer Dave Hill (the hero) and Production head Russ McLean as hitting off immediately. Not so. I recall a higher-up member of Chevrolet PR telling me he was about to "sit them both down and get them to stop fighting and decide who the hell is going to be Chief Engineer!" When I was editing Corvette Fever I spent time with both men, and found them to be dedicated to their jobs and to the Corvette. It was, however, a shakey relationship at the start.
There are other inaccuracies in this book, which had to go through several rewrites to win Chevolet's approval for publication. No doubt "All Corvettes Are Red" is a good read to get an idea about how mercurial GM management was - and still is. But I recommend reading the book with the knowledge that it's a very laundered version of what happened and who the players were. There's some good history here, but there's also a lot of fiction.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 27
From: Bavaria, between Germany and Austria (Sorry if i misspell something)
Re: All Corvettes are Red
Well....
There was a 45 Minute TV on the (Zeta based) VE Commodore
http://videos.streetfire.net/search/billion/0.htm
There was a 45 Minute TV on the (Zeta based) VE Commodore
http://videos.streetfire.net/search/billion/0.htm
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,463
From: SoCal
Re: All Corvettes are Red
Well If someone wants to give me corporate clearances again I'll be glad to stroll into Design Staff and Engineering and write a book on the 5th Gen... I still know some people over there.
Oh yea and I'll need a writer too. I do have a title.
"The fall and rise of an American Icon"
Oh yea and I'll need a writer too. I do have a title.
"The fall and rise of an American Icon"
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Re: All Corvettes are Red
Well If someone wants to give me corporate clearances again I'll be glad to stroll into Design Staff and Engineering and write a book on the 5th Gen... I still know some people over there.
Oh yea and I'll need a writer too. I do have a title.
"The fall and rise of an American Icon"
Oh yea and I'll need a writer too. I do have a title.
"The fall and rise of an American Icon"
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,463
From: SoCal
Re: All Corvettes are Red
I've thought about how fun it would be to get the whole story of a car production like the Camaro and put into a book for a long time. But when I tunred in my spaceball and mouse and eventually even left Detroit I knew I'd only ever be a consumer and enthusiast. So if someone does write a book I'll be glad to read it.
Disciple
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 99
From: New Orleans, LA
Re: All Corvettes are Red
excellent book, despite the few "character flaws." and a great insight into just what happens behind the scenes before you see a car at your local Chevy dealer. good for anyone interested in what's going on with the Camaro right now, even though it's about the Vette... i wonder what stage the Camaro is in right now as well???
and yes, if we can ever get Scott to write "the book" he keeps talking about, all of us Camaro fans will be very happy indeed! note to Scott: write it!!! how many iced teas do i need to bring ya? LOL
and yes, if we can ever get Scott to write "the book" he keeps talking about, all of us Camaro fans will be very happy indeed!
note to Scott: write it!!! how many iced teas do i need to bring ya? LOL
ALMIGHTY MEMBER
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,298
From: Detroit, MI USA
Re: All Corvettes are Red
I've thought about how fun it would be to get the whole story of a car production like the Camaro and put into a book for a long time. But when I tunred in my spaceball and mouse and eventually even left Detroit I knew I'd only ever be a consumer and enthusiast. So if someone does write a book I'll be glad to read it.
uhmmm........99SilverSS -- I note in your signature "gone but not forgotten" and there's *noticably* a white 2002 listed.........you have some 'splaining to do!!!!!
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 506
From: Columbia, SC
Re: All Corvettes are Red
hehe... scott dont worry bout him.. i make up for him.. I just got a 67 Camaro RS last month.. needs resto, but she still runs and has only 92xxx on the od
so forgive him if he got rid of it.. my four should make up for his one, and with luck, this year ill bring the purple 92 instead of the SOM 01 to the Gathering in Atlanta.
-steve