The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is finally here, but only if you’re one of the lucky few who managed to take delivery of the all-new, mid-engine sports car before GM factories, including the GM Bowling Green plant that makes the Corvette, were idled as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The short-lived C8 production (for now) means that the mid-engine beast is a very rare-ticket item, with less than 3,000 produced as of this writing. What is much more plentiful, however, is the last-generation Corvette C7. Production of the last front-engined Corvette ceased several months ago to make room for the C8. And now, GM is slowly beginning to discontinue the various accessories for the front-engined Vette, such as the various C7 Corvette roof options.
C7 Corvette Z06 with body-color roof
GM Authority noticed that the three roof panel options previously offered by GM are no longer available in the Chevrolet Accessories catalog. The three roof panel options include:
- Body-color roof panel
- Visible carbon-fiber roof panel with body-color surround (~$2,500 option)
- Transparent roof panel with body-color surround (~$2,100 option)
C7 Corvette Stingray with carbon-fiber roof
The body-color panel was included as standard on C7 Corvette Coupe models, the carbon-fiber roof panel provides a visible texture on the central roof panel, while the transparent roof offers occupants ample viewing of the sky above. The transparent panel was also tinted, ensuring that occupants won’t get scorched if the sun happens to be directly overhead.
C7 Corvette Stingray with transparent roof
When the C7 was still in production, Chevy offered the three panels in bundles, much like it currently does for the C8. For those who purchase an additional roof panel, Chevrolet can also sell you a black storage bag with the Corvette Crossed Flags Logo. Though the individual roof panel options are no longer available, the bag is still offered for $130 (GM part number 23148691).
C7 Corvette Stingray with transparent roof
Like on the C8, all three panels are removable on the C7 Coupe, which means owners can switch to unlimited headroom with an open targa top design at the drop of a hat, so to speak.
To us, the transparent roof option is the coolest of the three, though it does have a few drawbacks. For starters, there’s the price: the accessory was priced at a whopping $2,100, which certainly ain’t chump change. There’s also privacy issues for those that don’t like the idea of folks peering down into the cabin on the road or in parking lots. Finally, we hear there’s increased road noise inside the cabin with this piece. That said, those drawbacks could be worth it for Corvette C7 owners that want as much natural light and upward visibility as possible, but without the “in-the-elements” feeling of an open targa top.
If you’re a C7 owner and want one of the three roof options, you might get lucky as a few dealers and GM parts resellers still have units in stock, though that won’t last forever.
C8 Corvette Stingray with carbon-fiber roof
Meanwhile, Chevy is offering all three of the aforementioned Corvette roof panels as an option on the all-new mid-engine C8 Corvette. The body-color panel is standard, the transparent panel is a $995 option, and the carbon-fiber panel is a pricier $2,495 option.
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Comments
Alex Luft has written and article about two things: the exhaustion with no renewal of GM genuine Chevrolet and Corvette accessories for the C7, including the popular enough 3-roof option; advantages of each type explained or alluded to.
The second thing is the opening two sentences: essentially, the C8 is here; production stopped for the virus; just under 3,000 unites were made to the moment of production stop (a few chassis numbers or cars under construction will fall under, “Continuation rules,” I would surmise. This article is not an announcement by GM, Chevrolet, Corvette or Bowling Green. But then someone who founded GM Authority is not the President of the company. Does he know something about the GM decision to stop further 2020 production and tool up the differences for 2021 production? I can’t say what it means, but rather simply bring the obvious to the attention of Corvette-content readers. AF
Alex Luft’s article I understand and it makes sense – C7 parts are being wound down.
Alex Ford’s comment, however, I do not understand at all and it makes zero sense. He can read the title of an author and summarize it… so at least he’s got that down.
I have my C8 order in. When it will come is a mystery and my BMW lease expires in less than a month.
Alex – nobody ever said that the C8 has been discontinued. You are dead wrong about that.
What I did write is that production was idled over COVID-19.
Production will pick back up once the virus subsides or plants can operate safely using other methods.
The whole C8 thing has been a fiasco from GM. I too have a dealer order that was within allocation when ordered. Now however, Who knows? I for one am growing very weary of this big mess with the C8. There is just so much hype the world can stand over the building of less than 3000 cars regardless of what they are. No one can tell you anything at the dealership or management. The excitement for me is fast wearing off and I’ve not seen the reason for GM to try to maintain any. How many others of potential buyers must feel the same way?
Doubt there are many people out there crying unless they are completely lost in the notion that there is a pandemic going.. not to mention production stops on a car that should be limited in numbers anyway considering the revolutionary new design and engineering.
BP-So at the present, one comment said he can’t find out anything. Yet in this article, I quote the author and then ask the question, why hasn’t GM simply made the announcement. I point out the same thing BP said and that is that parts are winding down. BP says my comment makes zero sense. Once Again, the author suggests that 2020 production is over with the quoted sentences. Thus if I make no sense, then neither does the author. Thew question is, why won’t GM make and announcement. The other item that became clear within the past week. A number of C8’s are available at dealerships with many of them at inflated prices. So for those who couldn’t get their car, why not browse the Internet and see if one like you want to build is available. AF
What are you even talking about?
C8 production did not end. Nobody ever said that.
Production of all GM products in North America, including the C8, was idled over this thing you may have heard of called COVID-19.
Production will pick back up once the virus subsides… or until they figure out how to run the plants without putting workers at risk.
That is all.
What I find is that people do not read the other person’s comments properly. In fact, apparently they don’t read their own comments and stories properly. In case you misunderstood their are fine details of production. This must be very emotional because to look at your response is not to understand what I said. Yes, I agree that you did not say that C8 production had ended. You did not. I also agree that we all know that production has been temporarily halted. But beyond that, unless there was an error, GM people announced that 2020 c8 Convertible production was going to be rolled over into 2021 production as a 2021 in the Convertible Model. I observed that in two places: GM Authority and the second in an article on the Internet actually entitled: “C8 Convertible production for 2020 ended.” Further, I commented in several places that C8 Coupe production would likely start in July. I just don’t know the date. Lastly, I suggested that it would be better for the Company not to keep producing 2020 Coupes past July 24 or so and that the plant should then gear up for 2021 production to start by August 1, a traditional date for the new model year to start. If GM were to push 2020 production further, they might just squeeze themselves into the wrong place for the 2021 production. Please pay attention.