Filed under: Sports/GTs
What Dave Hill meant to the Corvette
While Erin was correct in stating that Dave Hill was the father of the Z06, I think it's safe to say that he was so much more. After all, the Vette might not have survived the 90s had it not been for Hill's leadership through the difficult birth of the fifth-generation model, as so thoroughly explained in the book "All Corvettes Are Red" (an absolute must-read for anyone who follows the auto industry).
Nearly as important as what Hill did inside the halls of GM is what he did at the track. Launching the first serious Corvette racing effort in three decades, Hill then applied that knowledge to the stunning 2002 Z06. Amazingly enough, that car saw several incremental improvements after only a single model year, leading to the '03 model which was capable of hanging with some of the world's best sports cars. All of that knowledge then went into making the base-model C6 such an amazing performance value. Quite frankly, evolution at this pace hadn't occurred for the Corvette since the days when the Rolling Stones looked young.
I had the opportunity to briefly meet Dave Hill in person after a SAE-sponsored presentation he gave at MTU in the late 90s, and the man possesses enthusiasm and passion for the Corvette thats just as great as his customers. Its the sort of attitude that car guys wish was present at all levels of an auto manufacturer.
In my opinion, his accomplishments with the last two generations of Corvette - especially on the racetrack - put Hill in the same league as the great Zora Arkus-Duntov. A strong statement, but I think the results speak for themselves.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ajay 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
I think Dave rocks too! GM needs more people like him!
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Sid Ghosh 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
The Corvette Z06 is an amazing, amazing machine.
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Scott 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Eric, what were you doing at that MTU speech? Did you go to school there? Unless Dave has given that speech multiple times, I was at the same speech! I went to MTU but then transferred in 2000.
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Eric Bryant 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Scott,
I was a student when Dave came up to speak, which was during the winter of '98-'99. It's possible that he's visited multiple times, considering that he's an MTU grad.
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mr 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
"What Dave Hill meant?" Has he left the program? Is he dead?
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mr 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Okay, so the vital piece of information that the blog entry omits entirely is that Dave Hill is retiring.
http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm6958_20051027.htm
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Jaymez 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
The Corvette died in '72. Real Corvettes have steel bumpers.
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John 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Corvettes lost their sense of balance and grace when they switched from 6 to 8 cylinder engines.
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whofan 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
This car represents the "excellents " GM talks about in its commercials. Its a small sample of what could and what should be. Thank god someone kept it alive. Camaro,Belair,chevelle are all great names and cars that are gone. Thank god they brought back the Impala. GM needs to stay true to its heritage. They do build good cars but they mess with the names and change what an implied name means. Toyota Nova of the 80`s is an example. They kept the Corvette true to its roots with modern refinement.
"Corvettes lost their sense of balance and grace when they switched from 6 to 8 cylinder engines".
I don`t understand what this statement means. The first Corvettes were concept cars that GM decided to build. I don`t think at the time they tought it would be the success it turned out to be. At the time the V8 wasn`t looked at as the altimate performance engine.It was a work horse for the large family sedan or truck.Except for the hot rodders with the Ford flat head. The first corvettes were beautiful but It was the V8 that defined the car and its performance. My preferance is the 1963 split window Stingray 327. Todays Corvette is better in every way than it has ever been. It looked sad in the late 70`s with the 150 hp engine.
GM needs more Dave Hills.
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Keith 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Dave Hill was essential to success of the C5 and C6 Corvettes. Corvette owners embraced him as one of their own. Nearly every major decision he made during the development of these two generations was made not only with the thought of how it would impact current and future Corvette owners, but also how it would conform to the history of this great model. Not an easy feat on either account. Dave will be missed...
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Michael Krauss 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
My C6 is an incredible feat of styling and engineering. I defy naysayers to drive it, and to learn of the development process spearheaded by Dave Hill, and not come away appreciative of this man's incredible contribution to the American auto industry.
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