The mid-engine C8 Corvette is at home on the racetrack, offering impressive performance for relatively little outlay. However, one place the C8 Corvette is a bit less comfortable is on 10 inches of ice and snow, as demonstrated by this abandoned C8 Stingray in Montana.
Recently posted to subreddit r/Autos, this photo shows a brand-new C8 Corvette with the dealer plates still attached that was apparently abandoned on the side of the road following a massive snow storm. Although the mid-engine layout may have helped with traction, at least compared to a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive setup, there likely was insufficient ground clearance to traverse the snow and ice. Judging by the photo, it appears as though the Vette’s suspension was raised using the onboard lift system, but unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it was enough to successfully clear all that white stuff.
Per comments in the post, this C8 Corvette was likely abandoned in Montana, as indicated by the dealer plates, not to mention the white-covered landscape. Indeed, Montana in the winter probably isn’t the ideal environment for the new C8 Corvette, but maybe the owner just wanted to get it home to their garage to store it until springtime.
Of course, seeing a photo like this reminds us that GM is now considering development of a new all-electric Corvette crossover model to challenge rivals from Porsche, among others. The new all-electric Corvette crossover will likely be part of a new Corvette EV sub-brand, which will also include a new all-electric Corvette sedan model. And although it’s uncertain if a hypothetical Corvette crossover model would fare any better in conditions like this, it would certainly have a better shot at making it home than the C8 Corvette Stingray.
Would the hypothetical Corvette crossover make it?
As a reminder, the C8 Corvette Stingray features the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine for motivation, with the GM Y2 platform providing the bones. Production takes place at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
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Comments
Did somebody forget to tell the dimwit not to go in snow deeper than the front bumper. I bet it was a salesman showing off.
I drove a Porsche Boxster in New England winters for 20 years. I put snow tires on and the car would go anywhere the snow was less than 6 inches deep. More than that and the car stayed in the garage.
I get a kick out of people who read an article and then want to talk about themselves.
By stating that aren’t you talking about yourself? 😛
Grow up Mitch.
Are we going to see this story in the next episode of Yellowstone??… Just asking
Dumbass
It is widely Known that yellow corvettes have never been any good in the snow… that’s why I don’t own a corvette
But green Corvettes do just fine?
Unless you live in an area that it never snows, in areas that use salt, sport cars only should be put away for the year when the first salt hits the roadway and not brought out until the first good rain in spring.
We can only speculate why that car was out in that weather but I’m glad it wasn’t me haha!
HERE in Buffalo we say we need 3 good spring rains before we bring out the summer cars.
Do you need 3 good months to fix potholes first? Just asking as one formerly from Ashtabula!
BS! I drove a 04 GTO in Detroit for 5 years with not a problem. I once left Detroit towards Texas and before I got to Dearborn there were 13 wrecks, By Ann Arbor, 39. I had 4-wheel drive vehicles doing doughnuts in front of me on the loop in Indy. My 17.5-hour trip took a whopping 29 hours, but I made it safely. I did however wake up to a neighbor backing into the car, but it had no problems in Detroit winters. If our politicians would start enforcing rules and make people learn to drive instead of passing more frivolous unenforceable laws, we would be a lot better off, and people would drive responsibly!
Having three winters in a Fiero I can tell you the car will ride up like a toboggan.
FWD cars can do the same too. I used to watch them ride up on snow and lose traction all the time.
I’ve had 4 FWD cars and never had a problem in snow. I live in Quebec and we get lots of snow. Of course you need to know how to drive.
I’ve had 4 FWD cars. Never had a problem in snow. Here in Quebec we get lots. Of course you have to know how to drive.
When I was a kid I had the 1980 Citation 6 Cylinder and that car climbed Colorado’s mountain passes along with trucks easily and one time we had I think 24″ in a few hours and going home was a breeze. Thing plowed through the snow and wheels kept pulling past so many stuck vehicles on the freeway. The key is NEVER Stop just keep pushing it!!!
Haha…WTF! oh well, do dumb things…earn dumb prizes!
I bought a pickup from Denny Menholt a few years ago. Their a great dealer!
Who cares!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Glad to hear that!
Over the years I have driven Corvettes year around because they were my only car but they have to be prepared with good winter tires and a driver that knows how to drive.
You don’t live where it really snows or you drive very little.
Funny it looks like the same vet that was East at chappell Nebraska. During nap lizard
What is a nap lizard? Sounds like something you pick up at a rest stop/ truck stop? Lofl
This happened in western Nebraska, not Montana. My brother-in-law works for Nebraska Department of Roads and confirmed it with me this morning.
Denny Menholt Chevy is in Montana?
The Denny Menholt Chevrolet in Billilngs is. At least they think so.
Several people buy luxury sports cars from Montana and drive them back home because Montana doesn’t have state sales tax. So when you’re spending hundreds of thousands on a new car, it’s nice to avoid that extra tax.
That used to be true in California: people would buy in Oregon or Nevada to avoid the tax. It no longer happens because the DMV now charges sales tax at initial registration.
Denny Meinholt has dealerships in Montana and South Dakota, so that Corvette could have been driven from either state into Nebraska.
The driver has more dollars than sense.
Looks like this is a classic example of “More Money Than Brains”
Right. “If you’re so rich, why ain’t you smart?”
A CORVETTE IN THE SNOW?!?! WHAT THE….??? MORE SINCE LESS DOLLARS HES OBVIOUSLY A CAR DRIVER SO ITS SNOW. IM DUMB.
He might still be in it.
For sure if it was the ERAY, Mary and the group are going to KILL GM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If he would have made it he would have gone 8 ft to the right and gone around the only drift. There isn’t even snow on the road behind him.
I live I’m MI and can’t even get my 2500 HD out of my driveway this morning. 😢
I always say if you can’ afford a snow car you shouldn’t have a Vet ..
Hey,
Are we going to see this story in the next episode of YELLOWSTONE?
Another 2022 Darwin Award. A great example of a person with more money than common sense.
HOW TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only if the driver is still in it, frozen. It’s hard to win the Darwin Award and survive. Of course there was the story of the guy at the golf course and the ball washer…
Eventually, GM will most certainly make a jacked-up SUV-like version for truckies who like to drive in situations like this
Can’t wait until the E-Vette comes out.
That’s right, I can’t wait. I’m going out now and
getting a gas one while they are still available!!
🥶why would you do this to a Corvette it should be in a warm garage this time of year not in snow
I had a 70 Vet back in 71 an got caught in a snow storm late at night in New Mexico. I plowed a foot of snow by the time I found a place to stay. The guy at the desk had a hose and an outside hose bib with hot water. The owner always washed his car in winter to get the salt off. He helped me clean the snow and ice from the front then I ran the motor to dry thing off. Never had a issue plowing snow i was headed to Ohio and Michigan. The 70 was much higher!
ALL Social media sites cannot be trusted. There is absolutely no security on any of these Sites. Get a life and turn off World Wide Web (WWW)!
If you want to own and drive a Corvette in the Winter time….DON’T live in the “snow belt”
This is fake news. Dealers stopped putting those dealer plates on cars several years ago.
I can’t say that every dealer here does it but some dealers here in the Chicago area still put dealer plates on.
Can’t believe someone this dumb could even afford a Corvette!!!
If you give me the location coordinates I will retrieve it and……uh…..store it…..yeah that’s it….I will store it and have the owner pick it up in the Spring. Yeah…that’s the ticket.
Seems like there was a cleared area if you look at the image prior to this embankment. I’m sure the car was performing just fine in that setting, but probably ended up skidding into or accidentally landing in some uncleared snow as shown. Guessing they left it there to come back with a truck (you can see the tracks) and the snow melted then froze in place making it impossible to retrieve at that time. Probably took a picture just in case a claim needed to be filed.
Gee I don’t even like to take my caddilac xt4 in bad weather I take my old dodge truck. Lol
If you have to drive your Corvette, your Porsche or any sports car in the winter time then you probably can’t afford it. Those cars should be driven in the summertime only and put in the garage for storage during the winter so if you are driving them in winter you probably can’t afford it.
I drove one off of a cliff a few years back.
And you survived??? 😯😯 … I’m gonna assume that you had a ejection seat in it with a parachute. 🤣🤣 (wishful thinking) But really I’m glad you made it alive and live to tell us.
On my 2nd 2015 Zo6 in Kansas/under her blanket in my heated garage where it should be GM go-ahead and ruin an iconic American car making it an SUV SHAME ON GM
Since the water is frozen(snow) can I consider it a boat? I can claim salvage rights! Lofl
Someone should tie a christmas tree on top.
It is widely Known that yellow corvettes have never been any good in the snow… that’s why I don’t own a corvette
Yes Denny Menholt is in Billings MT. As a former employee and as a tow truck operater for 10 years that hauled and recovered cars in Montana that is not so far fetched as you might think.. But I can guarantee Hansers wrecking and towing is already recovered the car by now… Former manager and lead recovery tech Mountainside Towing and Recovery and also City Towing.
Since it is on frozen water, can I claim it is a boat-vette and recover it under laws of salvage of the seas?
I’ve seen more 4×4’s off the side of the road, while driving my Fwd car right on by. In fact, I had an explorer pull a 360 in front of me, and slide off road just in time for me to miss hitting them. Driver skill plays just as much as the vehicle in getting through snow. I’ve gotten through some hairy situations with good ‘ol momentum with 2wd. 30 plus years driving in Wisconsin and Michigan, and still haven’t needed assistance to get where I’m going. Driver or car? You decide.
Sometimes the big wide tires float on top of the hard packed snow instead of digging in. Off road and all-terrain tires work much better than passenger tires but I’ve found that a narrower aggressive tire gives me better traction than the fat ones. That’s said I’ll take a 4WD over a 2wd in the snow every day of the week. They all stop the same though.
Owner will later sell said Vette and list it as “never seen snow”.
Mom always said , Don’t eat Yellow snow, and don’t drive yellow Corvettes!
Well folks this is a corvette and as all sports cars it’s ment to be driven on unobstructed surfaces. Like all things it’s designed to perform in its natural environment. If you want snow get a snow mobil
I can pick it up if they just need it removed..and they sign over to me…I know, silly to even say..lol
He clearly didn’t use the front end lift function…..
GM produced a rear engine GM vehicle that was likely better in snow than this C8 corvette, the Chevy Corvair. Not having AC and dehumidification I might encounter a glazed interior windshield but heater was better than a VW beetle.
Do not assume the Corvair was drastically heavier than Corvair as the motor (block) was aluminum. The Chevy Corvair had a similar weight distribution within 1% of the C8 Corvette.
In the 70s Car Driver magazine tested a variety of vehicle motor location platforms front engine, mid engine, to rear engine and found a rear engine rear drive (Corvair was not tested) was better in snow in a variety of tests on flat and uphill terrains than all the other platforms.
The fact that the driver parked the vehicle in a presumably safe spot is an indication that the operator realized the limitations of the car and chose to not risk damage the the vehicle. I applaud the driver.
I had a 1980, REAR WHEEL DRIVE, 301 Turbo, Pontiac Trans Am. I did manage to break the front spoiler a few times but never from the snow.
This car was tested to the extremes!!!!!
Pontiac would have been dam proud of their car knowing it went anywhere and everywhere
The dumb ass who left a new vet on the side of the road should have had to sit on an upside down bucket on the outside near his car and wait….and wait….
Until he finally has that moment in time and slowly starts nodding his head up and down.
Here in Indiana I just seen a C8 Corvette going down the road Thursday night just when the Snow Storm was blasting at us pretty hard. The driver I’m sure was crapping in his pants cuz he was sliding all over the place even though he was driving pretty slow. I was laughing and said Dummy you knew the storm was coming and yet you’re driving that…. I laughed all the way home. But I do hope that he made it safe though.
This was not in Montana this was in the Nebraska panhandle 8 miles east of Chappell on highway 30
Trust me I know I’m a plow driver
Maybe plow came later.. saw a full sized van on I-70 in St Louis 2006/7 get buried to its roof and set frozen to the median wall for 3 months. So this guy is lucky.
How on earth do they figure an electric version would have a better chance of making it home?
Why wouldn’t it? With proper snow tires its like any other car.
I drove my C8 through over a foot of snow for miles,even up hills. I passed many SUVs that were stranded. I pulled over and offered hot cocoa to several motorists stranded in their all wheel drives and 4x4s. I even pulled the smaller Subaru out of a ditch with a tow strap hooked under the frame. You just have to know how to drive in the snow!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Your full of it. the front splitter is 4″ off the ground and you were in 12″ off snow. I want some of what ever your taking!!!
It’s a joke. J wouldn’t take a Vette out in the rain much less a blizzard
Lol you guys are too easy!
As i live in Billings,MT I Can confirm that Denny Menholt Chevrolet is indeed our local Chevy dealer.
Hey,
Are we going to see this story in the next episode of YELLOWSTONE?
Why does that Corvette Crossover render have a set of exhaust outlets when it’s rumored to be all electric?
Back in the day……”outside of Columbus Ohio” I worked for Ohio Bell as a lineman. In the winter we’d get hit with some very heavy snow so I had snow tires with very small steel plugs in the tread put on! That (70) beetle-bug turned into a road tank…..it never failed getting me passed all the vehicles in the side road ditches to work!!!
Who’d of…..thunk?
Happy New Year to all of my GM friends
PS …was the driver of this Vett Jeffery Epstein, fleeing that jail cell from the (zzzzz) sleeping guards and no working security cameras?????
Tire studs. Helpful, though not legal in every state.
Unless the coroner lied about the body, Jeff died in his cell.
I personally drove past this stuck car, which was west of Ogallala Nebraska. Law enforcement cited him twice for being on a closed highway