mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Wire-Frame C5 Corvette Model Newest Attraction In National Corvette Museum

The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky has announced a new addition to the Driven by Design exhibit, hanging a wire-frame model of the C5 Corvette from the ceiling. The wire-frame model was used as a design tool to help visualize the vehicle body lines, and represents a crucial chapter in the Vette’s storied lineage, propelling the nameplate into the modern era. The National Corvette Museum is located in close proximity to the GM Bowling Green Plant in Kentucky, the latter of which has served as the exclusive producer of the Chevy Corvette since 1981.

The fifth-generation C5 Corvette.

The fifth-generation C5 first rolled out in 1997 as a pivotal reset for the marque. The era preceding its arrival was somewhat tumultuous for the brand, with declining sales casting a shadow over the Vette’s future. Determined to innovate their way out of the slump, GM engineers and designers set out to create a fresh generation that would lay down new benchmarks for quality and performance to reignite the passion for America’s sports car.

The development of the C5 began in the late ‘80s to early ‘90s, a challenging period for GM marked by financial constraints and internal corporate conflicts. Despite these hurdles, the team created a sports car that was almost entirely composed of newly designed components. Among the ideas that emerged during the engineering phase was a “backbone” chassis structure, rather than a traditional frame. The approach utilized two side rails bonded by cross members, with each rail shaped through a sophisticated hydroforming process. This manufacturing technique ensured uniformity across all C5 side rails, and was a notable deviation from the C4 that promised enhanced maneuverability and rigidity.

C5 wire-frame exhibit at the NCM

The backbone concept also necessitated a new body design. Inspiration for the exterior came from a blend of design sketches, feedback from enthusiasts, and rigorous aerodynamic testing. Among the influential ideas was John Cafaro’s “Black Car” concept, which infused the Vette with sleek lines reminiscent of a jet plane.

The wire-frame model at the National Corvette Museum was instrumental for the designers, allowing them to visualize and refine the vehicle body – an embodiment of the vision that would steer the brand into the new millennium.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more National Corvette Museum news, Chevy Corvette news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comment

  1. I hung red Xmas lights on my Massey Ferguson tractor last December. Just saying.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel