General Motors will limit the sales of structural repair parts for the new mid-engine C8 Corvette to certified repair shops only, according to the automakers’ own TechLink website.
A Corvette Forum member recently stumbled upon an article posted to GM’s TechLink repairs website that indicates the automaker will only permit the sale of structural frame components to certified GM repair shops. That means that any Corvette C8 that requires structural repairs must be brought to a GM Collision Repair Network (CRN) or Cadillac Aluminum Repair Network (CARN) shop if the owner wishes to have it properly fixed.
“Structural repairs must be made by certified GM Collision Repair Network (CRN) or Cadillac Aluminum Repair Network (CARN) shops,” the TechLink article says. “Non-certified shops will not be permitted to receive the restricted structural part numbers from a GM dealership. The majority of the structural frame components for the C8 Corvette will be put on parts restriction.”
While this may be a bit frustrating for some Chevrolet enthusiasts, it’s nothing new in the world of aluminum-frame sports cars. The C8 Corvette uses an aluminum frame that features a mix of alloy structural components, which would make it hard for a small, non-certified body shop to carry out structural repairs – even if they were approved to receive the proper structural components. Considering the fact that even the base Corvette C8 can accelerate to highway speeds in less than 3.5 seconds, it stands to reason why GM would be apprehensive to allow any old body shop to make repairs to the vehicle.
Many Corvette Forum members were not surprised to learn that GM had taken such a route with the new mid-engine C8 Corvette. One member with a Lotus Evora as their avatar photo said “welcome to owning a mid-engine car,” and added that every MR car they have owned “had very similar restrictions on frame repair.” It’s also worth noting that this is not specific to mid-engine vehicles, with some Honda vehicles and other vehicles with an aluminum subframe having similar restrictions on frame repair.
As always, the best way to avoid having to make costly repairs to a C8 Corvette (or any vehicle) is to drive it as responsibly as possible and avoid having a crash or collision.
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Comments
One has to wonder whether General Motors CEO Mary Barra understand how to be successful as she worries that structural components used in the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette may find it’s way into other General Motors vehicles; but isn’t this a good thing that in the development of the C8 Corvette that the entire fleet improves and it also will mean better vehicles as well as possibility of a less expensive C8 Corvette.
This causes one to wonder how much of the C8 Corvette structural components can be used in other existing GM vehicles; thus, the challenge is to buy a C8 Corvette then take it apart to it’s basic structural components and see where they may fit in the GM fleet.
What in the world are you rambling about?
I believe you would be hard pressed to find and structure parts used in any other GM model.
The only thing they are doing here is assuring that the shops doing the work are suited to do a proper repair on the Aluminum structure.
This will protect owners and second owners from having or buying a car with a in correctly repaired car.
We have too many hacked up Vettes out there now.
What appears to be new in all of this is GM codifying the issue and restricting sales of certain part numbers, the same way Audi would only sell certain structural R8 components to shops it had certified. Some potential Corvette buyers will take this as GM restricting the consumer’s right to repair and bemoan increased insurance premiums, others will likely shrug and say, “Welcome to the all-aluminum, mid-engined life.”
Sounds like a good business opportunity for someone who can manufacture structural aluminum parts. make duplicates of some of the most likely structural parts to be damaged in an accident and sell them for a pretty nice profit. I’m sure some small shops would buy them and maybe even some owners who do their own work.
I would hope there is not a big market for Corvette frame parts…and if you do need them do you want your C8 repaired with aftermarket knock offs by an uncertified shop.Compared to the imports GM parts are reasonably priced so i cannot see much demand for repro parts for a low volume car.