The 2021 Corvette received numerous small changes over the 2020 model year, including two new available exterior colors and a new interior color option. We covered these various changes extensively in a previous post, but there’s one difference between the 2021 and 2020 model year Corvette that has so far gone unnoticed by many.
The 2020 Corvette was supposed to receive a plaque on the standard 6.2L LT2 V8 engine that read “Chevrolet Tonawada” with the words “The Number 1 Team” emblazoned underneath, but an issue with the badge suppliers meant they were never installed on any 2020 Corvette models.
According to Corvette Forum poster Marc NY, Chevy has now resolved the vendor issue and all 2021 Corvette models will ship with the plaque installed.
These badges are a nod to the hardworking guys and girls at the GM Tonawanda Engine plant in Buffalo, New York, who build the powerful fifth-generation Small Block engine that is installed in the C8 Corvette. The original Corvette Forum poster says the new plaques are “on a rigid aluminum backing,” and are “much heavier and thicker than what the original Tonawanda Engine decals were because they were made on a very thin film.”
The Tonawanda plaque is located in the middle of one of the valve covers on the 6.2L LT2 V8 engine. The silver plaque features blue and red font and a red Chevrolet bowtie emblem. This plaque is actually a recreation of the engine build plaque that was featured on the valve covers of Tonawanda-built engines in some older Chevy models like the first-generation Camaro, which explains the throwback design.
GM did not say why the 2020 Corvette did not shop with the Tonawanda engine plaque, although rumors allege a problem with the badge adhesive made them hard to separate after they were shipped from the manufacturer.
The GM 6.2L LT2 V8 engine in the 2020 Corvette produces 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. When equipped with the optional Performance Exhaust, those figures climb to 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet.
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Comments
Loved this label on the chrome valve cover of my 1970 Chevelle SS396 that I stupidly sold in 1987 to buy a 79 vette that I still have. Bad case of vette fever I have regretted for many years.
I feel for you unless that chevelle was rusty you lost a lot of equity I guess you could LS or big block the vette and get your horses back
Naw, vette is matching #’s, one silver repaint. Only about a $60K mistake over time but who knew in 1987?
Wow, what a flash from the past. My buddy had a ’70 SS454 LS5 and I recall comparing his engine to my ’70 GS Stage 1. The Tonawanda sticker on his rocker cover really stood out and made me wonder where that was. Thank you Chevy and GMA for the memories.
That tag originated way back in the muscle-car era of the ’60s. I’m extremely pleased to see it still being used by the best engine-building factory on the planet. Way to go, Tonawanda; you are truly the “Number One Team.”
have not seen those since the old big block days too bad the covers are not painted classic orange why burgandy unless it varies depending on body color
I would be proud to display that label on my 2020 C8. Maybe they could be made available to 2020 owners?
at the parts counter at a price unless your sales manager likes you and gives you a freebee
Those were for Big Blocks only. Not for small blocks. Nice way to cheapen history.
Yea, I would feel much better knowing the valve cover had a sticker on it when the valve springs broke.
Small blocks were Flint, not Tonawanda. My 1967 Corvette 327 Flint.
They’d better install those stickers on the outside of the convertible models– I’m not undoing the 18 screws to lift the engine cover to show the public. I haven’t even seen the engine myself. 🙂
Why? what does it cost GM to create these badges? Seriously, make your vehicles competitive and exceptional and leave this crap to the JC Whitney catalog…. GM Sr Mgt is pathetic…