Ford testing Corvette???
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 576
From: Houston, TX
Ford testing Corvette???
NASCAR star shows some chivalry during Ford visit
An administrative assistant at the Ford product development center in Dearborn was recently pressed into action as a car valet. After parking a Corvette that Ford engineers were driving for comparison purposes, she was told the low-slung two-seater was in the wrong spot and had to be moved again. Because her skirt made for awkward entries and exits, she asked for a volunteer from a small delegation of visitors who had gathered near the front door.
One of them responded graciously, parked the 'Vette and returned the keys a few moments later.
His name: Ricky Rudd. The NASCAR star was visiting Ford for a test drive.
An administrative assistant at the Ford product development center in Dearborn was recently pressed into action as a car valet. After parking a Corvette that Ford engineers were driving for comparison purposes, she was told the low-slung two-seater was in the wrong spot and had to be moved again. Because her skirt made for awkward entries and exits, she asked for a volunteer from a small delegation of visitors who had gathered near the front door.
One of them responded graciously, parked the 'Vette and returned the keys a few moments later.
His name: Ricky Rudd. The NASCAR star was visiting Ford for a test drive.
Link:
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins...D02-264785.htm
hmmm comparing to what???? I wonder what they are testing for... is there a future 2 Seater from the Blue Oval lower in price than the GT/Shelby??
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,579
From: The Land of Pleasant Living
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Of course they test the Vette, where else would they learn how to do things! 
If you want to learn how to build a car, learn from the Best! I would be willing to bet, they've been testing the Corvette since the old GT-40 days. 
If you want to learn how to build a car, learn from the Best! I would be willing to bet, they've been testing the Corvette since the old GT-40 days.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Originally Posted by falchulk
Could be for the cobra. They have been saying for years that they envision the mustang as a compeitior to the corvette.
Essentially two different cars (at least in Ford's eyes anyways).
(I hope that's what you meant)
Likewise with the Supercars.
We should really be comparing the Ford GT or GR1 to the new Z06 and Viper - not the GT500. But it will never play out that way.
Oh well. :blah:
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,881
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Originally Posted by ProudPony
Actually, they intend for the COBRA to be competitive to the base Vette - not the Mustang.
Essentially two different cars (at least in Ford's eyes anyways).
(I hope that's what you meant)
Likewise with the Supercars.
We should really be comparing the Ford GT or GR1 to the new Z06 and Viper - not the GT500. But it will never play out that way.
Oh well. :blah:
Essentially two different cars (at least in Ford's eyes anyways).
(I hope that's what you meant)
Likewise with the Supercars.
We should really be comparing the Ford GT or GR1 to the new Z06 and Viper - not the GT500. But it will never play out that way.
Oh well. :blah:
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,579
From: The Land of Pleasant Living
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Originally Posted by Josh452
General Motors was also "testing" the Viper prior to the z06's formal introduction.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,801
From: Nashville, TN
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Originally Posted by SCNGENNFTHGEN
Of course they test the Vette, where else would they learn how to do things! If you want to learn how to build a car, learn from the Best! I would be willing to bet, they've been testing the Corvette since the old GT-40 days.
If you want to learn how to build a car, learn from the Best! I would be willing to bet, they've been testing the Corvette since the old GT-40 days. 
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,579
From: The Land of Pleasant Living
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Originally Posted by Chris 96 WS6
LMAO...
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 385
From: Ontario, Canada
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Originally Posted by SCNGENNFTHGEN
Of course they test the Vette, where else would they learn how to do things! If you want to learn how to build a car, learn from the Best! I would be willing to bet, they've been testing the Corvette since the old GT-40 days.
If you want to learn how to build a car, learn from the Best! I would be willing to bet, they've been testing the Corvette since the old GT-40 days. 
Registered User
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,887
From: northeast Miss.
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Originally Posted by SCNGENNFTHGEN
Thanks! Now I'm gonna make myself look real dumb. Where can I go to learn what ALL the abbreviations mean? LMAO?
Anywhooo... I thought it was pretty common knowledge that car companies bought their competitors stuff to tear apart and look at??
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,579
From: The Land of Pleasant Living
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
Originally Posted by ckt101
Ford must be slow learners, they haven't come up with anything nearly as good as the vette, as a total sports car, for anywhere near the same price.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 121
Re: Ford testing Corvette???
I don't know if they had a corvette for testing when they were doing ford gt development but I do know the benchmark car was a ferrari 360 and they were always talking about it and racing it around the track and comparing it to the GT. It's also the reason ford went crazy with its weight saving program for the GT re-engineering tons of parts for weight purposes. The corvette is probably for testing against the Shelby GR1 that is supposed to replace the Ford GT. http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2004/040813ford-gr1/