With Viper splitting from Dodge, should Corvette have separated from Chevy?

[Rob]

RICK KRANZ
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

With Viper splitting from Dodge, should Corvette have separated from Chevy?

February 24, 2012 - 3:16 pm ET

Viper without Dodge is similar to Corvette without Chevrolet, isn't it?

Last year Chrysler Group surprised Dodge enthusiasts by announcing that Viper no longer would be marketed under the Dodge brand.

This strategy reminds me of a plan General Motors seriously considered about a decade ago.

Full Story: With Viper splitting from Dodge, should Corvette have separated from Chevy?

"Chrysler's Viper plan reminds me of a conversation I had in 2001 with Ron Zarrella, who was then president of GM North America.

Zarrella said GM was giving serious attention to expanding the Corvette model line to two separate, distinct models. A car with a six-figure price tag and unique body panels was under consideration. The car's engine would have had considerably higher horsepower than the "regular" Corvette. This "super" Corvette would have little in common with its weaker brother.

But the shocker was that GM was studying the pros and cons of separating Corvette from Chevrolet and creating a separate brand, a separate franchise."

[LoyalSince72]

I recommended this to Dave McClellan in 1989. Corvette is now sold by Chevy dealers who sell te a year, know nothing about the product and have sales people who KNOW NOTHING about the product or it's heritage. By separating it from Chevrolet, Corvette could SELECT dealers who would stock, train on and support the product. Better dealers would increase the value of the franchise & insure MORE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF SERVICE between dealers. GM, the dealers and the customers would benefit greatly.

[douglasamariani]

Chevrolet salesmen should learn about the cars their selling or they should not be allowed to sell them.

[USA1Z06]

I for one am proud of Chevy. Keep up the good work.

[Inline6]

The Corvette would not exist if it were not for being part of Chevrolet and GM. Costs would go through the roof if all of the R&D and tooling was paid for only by the Corvette. It would be at the Ferrari price point if it had to pay for all of its development. The Viper has nothing in common with the other Chrysler or Fiat products so it makes no difference if it is a separate standalone brand.

[Hexmate]

That would be tantamount to saying Chevrolet is no longer the performance brand that it represents in the racing world. The duplication of setting up a dealer network that can sell, service, and support Corvette is ridiculous. Corvette has been around for 60 years while Viper has been a brand associated with Dodge for one third of that time. Viper has never been more than a shadow of a sports car when it comes to sales along with the shaky quality, and the many other less than stellar attributes associated with the vehicle. Did you ever pack one up with your belongings and take a trip in it across country? Better yet, did you ever watch them build a Viper? The Viper sales volumes don’t even represent a threat to Corvette and Chevrolet. The value concept of Chevrolet and Corvette is still realistic because to obtain a vehicle with similar performance characteristics represents an investment of significantly more money. Breaking Corvette away from Chevrolet also impacts the rich history of the vehicle so all in all the idea doesn’t have much validity. Zarrella? Who dat? He doesn’t work there any more and that may be one of the reasons why he is gone.

[vette-c4]

RICK KRANZ
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

With Viper splitting from Dodge, should Corvette have separated from Chevy?

February 24, 2012 - 3:16 pm ET

Viper without Dodge is similar to Corvette without Chevrolet, isn't it?

Last year Chrysler Group surprised Dodge enthusiasts by announcing that Viper no longer would be marketed under the Dodge brand.

This strategy reminds me of a plan General Motors seriously considered about a decade ago.

Full Story: With Viper splitting from Dodge, should Corvette have separated from Chevy?

It is the chevrolet corvette, there would be no corvette if it was not for Chevy

[NORTY]

Having a dealership that knows it's product is good business. There is always going to be a "new" salesperson that doesn't know everything about every car on their lot. That would be impossible as models change specs and dealerships change sale staff.
Now, would I like a "specialist" that knows a particular model line? Hell yes. I've made it a point to learn more about Corvettes, (C6) and be the most up-to-date on TSB's, recalls, trends or whatever with regard to Corvette. Forums like this make that easy.

As far as Corvette "heretage" goes, that is an emotional thing that has zero value. A salesperson doesn't need to know that in 1967, GM offered 3 deuces (tri-power) on their 427BB Corvette that produced a "claimed 435HP." (Closer to 500, btw.)

So, would I like to see Corvette divorce from GM?

Yes, as it can be specialized. and

No, a new Co. won't have enough $$ to develope the car to the stage it is developed today.

[LoyalSince72]

A stand alone brand does not require standalone dealerships. You simply SELECT the dealers in each market that will be franchised based on their physical plant, willingness to commit staff & resources and their CSI scores. The brand wins, the good dealers win & THE CUSTOMERS WIN.

[ROCKETBLOCK]

Chevy has been synonymous with Corvette since the beginning. Viper wasn't around nearly that many years and could have been started without Dodge branding. Apples & Oranges. We've already lost the Oldsmobile and the Pontiac in GM.... don't screw around. If Corvette wasn't a Chevy with the bowtie it loses a lot of status and history. Also, when I travel with my Corvette I don't want to search around and hope there is a "Corvette" dealer if I need repairs.

I think that not only does Chevy gain from the association but so does Corvette!

[mylotcat]

At a purely analytical level it doesn't matter to me whether it becomes a separate brand or not. At an emotional level, however, I will never forget the impact a Chevrolet TV commercial announcing the new Stingray had on me back in the early 60s. I Knew that one day I had to own a Corvette. For me "Corvette" was, and I guess still is, synonymous with "Chevrolet" due to the long standing history, heritage, and legacy, far longer than Viper has/had with Dodge/Chrysler. It would be like saying, dare I use the word on this forum, separating the "Mustang" from "Ford." But you gotta love free market capitalism...

Dave

[USA1Z06]

I couldn't afford a Corvette if they went on their own. I can barely afford one now. I don't see any advantage to going it alone.

[Hustler]

I have been buying them since 1971 and the fact that I know more about the car than the person selling them to me, has never lead to a negative experience or outcome.

The Corvette is not the Viper and GM is not Fiat/Chrysler. The benefits that GM acquires from the engineering and brand awareness is enormous. Corvette benefits from the engineering, manufacturing and distribution of GM. I would predict a 100% price increase within a few years of the breakup. If that were to occur the sales numbers would enter into an unrecoverable tail spin and Corvette as we know it would be a smokin' hole. GM appears to be make some good decisions for now so I'm of the opinion that if it isn't broke........don't fix it!

[Marlar]

Corvette would not now exist with the backing of GM and Chevvy. Vette certified technicians are essential and promote the brand. I, like others, do not want to seek out a brand that I know will be serviced locally. For example, I could buy a Porche or some other Euro brand, but there are NO dealers/service centers neadby, thus I do not buy them.

I do agree that it is irritating when I know the product better than the sales people. I think that is a repairable situation.
And who cares what Viper does? Not me.....

[93LT1ZFZ07]

It would be a great way to end Corvette production. Dumb idea if you ask me.