A mid-engined Corvette is an idea that’s long been entertained by General Motors, but never put into production, for one reason or another. That still hasn’t stopped people from coming up with their own M/R Corvette concoctions, as evident by this Craigslist posting, found on Jalopnik.
Here’s the thing, though. That engine placed in the trunk is more useful as ballast than a propulsion system, because it’s not even hooked up to anything. Ugh. Sounds like a pretty foolish way to spend $8,000 if you ask us.
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The Corvette already is mid-engined and has been so since the C4. Pushing the engine further back probably won’t do much more than what we have now.
Grawdaddy, think you’re stretching the definition of mid engined just a bit? I know the engine sits just behind the front wheels but mid engine to all of us gearheads means behind the passenger compartment, ahead of the rear wheels. You know the corvette has never been referred to as mid engined.
I’m stretching the definition of mid engined? You think the location of where the driver sits defines the qualities of a mid-engine car. THAT is stretching the definition.
Being mid-engine has nothing to do with where the driver sits, period. A driver can sit on top of the engine and the vehicle can still be mid-engined, like the first gen Toyota Previa.
Mid-engine is what it is; an engine between the axles. You don’t have to be a ‘gearhead’ to know that FMR and RMR are both mid-engined layouts.
Here’s some proof.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_mid-engine,_rear-wheel-drive_layout#Front_mid-engine.2C_rear-wheel-drive_layout
Don’t forget to look at the pictures and see where the engine sits relative to the front strut towers.
Lighten up there Grawdaddy, ask 10 car guys what mid engined is and 9 of em will say behind the driver, in front of the rear wheels is the traditional definition. A production corvette is front engine, rear drive, period.
“ask 10 car guys what mid engined is and 9 of em will say behind the driver”
Making up stats is doing a disservice to your case.
As stated, where the driver sits has no bearing on the status of a mid-engined car.
Not a stat Grawdaddy , an observation. I know a couple guys who own Corvettes and they certainly don’t call em mid engined, stats be damned. I can agree that technically you are correct, like I said in my first comment the engine does sit just behind the front wheels. I was never trying to prove a statistical point but its funny, if Corvettes were generally accepted as being mid engined, why would a 1985 model with an engine sitting under the rear hatch be of any interest?(rhetorical, you don’t have to answer). Anyway Sir, you may have the last word if you wish and I will always maintain that Corvettes are not true mid engined cars. I enjoy a good debate, great talkin to ya.
The Daytona Prototype is a Corvette, right?
But yeah, still a prototype.
The only real behind the driver mid engine corvette, not the one based on technicality, is the GTM from Factory Five. Too bad GM is too cheap and cannot get a hint from Factory Five design. Apparently, fitting golf bags and groceries in true mid engine car would be hard to accomplish.
Grawdaddy’s right, guys. The Corvette is still technically a mid-engined car, though just not in a way most people would relate.
A true mid engine design takes advantage of axle loading which is absent in Corvette type so called mid engine layout. The weight distribution is improved but the handling characteristics of a classic behind driver layout and axle loading are absent. You can stretch this definition only so far.
Forgot about the rear-mounted transmission, didn’t you? That novel little feature hasn’t hurt the Corvette’s weight distribution or its loading.
Front mid engines is good enough for me, most rear mid engined cars have short hoods and long rear ends like a Toyota Camry and I don’t like that
Jingle bells, Jingle bells…..