Australia: The Pricey World of Right-Hand Drive Conversions

Car buyers in Australia and other RHD countries have long got the short end of the stick in terms of American muscle cars. The reason is quite simple: they drive on the "wrong" side of the road.

Most manufacturers are unwilling to do right-hand-drive conversions on what are essentially specialist models: cars like the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Viper, Ford Mustang and the like. There just aren't enough buyers to rationalize the cost.

Fortunately, a cottage industry (or rather a man-in-a-shed industry) has popped up offering RHD conversions of American muscle cars for eager buyers in countries like Australia, the UK and Japan.

In Australia, for instance, you can get just about anything from a AU$359,990 Corvette ZR-1 (or around three times as much as it does in the U.S.) to a AU$139,000 Chevrolet Camaro (or the same as an Audi S5 Cabrio in Australia).

Want a 2011 Mustang GT convertible? Be prepared to pony up AU$142,500 (the same as brand new Porsche Boxster Spyder) for that Pony. And it becomes even more laughable when you look at the U.S. prices for these same cars:

We do not claim to know the full details involved with importing a car and converting it to RHD, but it can't be so difficult as to demand the of a new entry-level Porsche 911...

So the next time you harrumph at some foreign nobody, whining about, "How good you bleedin' Yanks have got it" � spare a thought for the poor, cash-strapped Aussie... selling his 911 to buy a RHD Corvette ZR-1.

By Tristan Hankins

Here's where we found pricing information for the RHD conversions:

Corvette Clinic - makers of the RHD ZR-1
Mustang Australia - builders of RHD Mustangs
Performax - makers of the RHD Camaro and other cars

And Top Gear Australia magazine's August 2010 issue.

America's Sports Car: Corvette or Tesla

With the Independence Day holiday fresh in our minds, and our nation focused on the troubled and changing economic times, I thought it would be interesting to re-examine what we should consider to be America's sports car. Usually the Chevrolet Corvette immediately comes to mind when thinking of the quintessential American sports car.

Ever since the mid 1950's, the Corvette has symbolized what a classic American sports car should be. A two seater with a big engine up front, able to spin the rear wheels with just a foot on the floor. The Corvette has really come of age recently with the current Z06 model, and the introduction of the 200+ mph ZR1. These cars are lightweight and technically advanced, and worthy of the America's sports car crown.

But let's take a step back, and focus on the changing climate in America. With the auto industry in peril, and the world's focus shifting to more eco-friendly autos, perhaps there is another car to consider. A car from a new company that is working to become a new major player in America, and the world. Tesla Motors has emerged onto the automotive world scene with their Tesla Roadster, an all electric sports car that sprints to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.

The Tesla is an electric car based on the Lotus Elise, but with an electric motor. The Tesla is six times more efficient than the average sports car while producing only 10% of the pollution. Tesla Motors is based in California, and is starting to open dealerships all around the US, and the world. At $109,000 the Tesla is not cheap, but you won't need to buy any gas or oil to maintain the roadster. Besides, the Corvette ZR1 also will set you back about $100,000, and is much less efficient.

The next release from Tesla, the Model S is going to have all of the performance of the roadster, but it will be a more useable four seat luxury all electric car. Tesla is already taking orders for the Model S so we are just a couple of years away from perhaps the most revolutionary American car debut since the Chrysler minivan.

If the Model S is well received, and America (and the world) embraces the new technology by installing charging stations along our nations highways, it may just change the way we think about cars. Being a sports car guy, I have always been leery of new hybrid and energy efficient alternative forms of transportation. I was always worried that they would take the fun out of driving. After having been in the Tesla Roadster, I no longer fear the new technology. It is truly an amazingly fast car, and it makes absolutely no noise when underway.

The Tesla Model S is going to sell for around $50,000 after the federal tax credit of $7500. That's pretty much the same as your average high line luxury sedan. The standard Model S will reach 60 miles per hour in just 6 seconds, while an optional sport version will achieve 60 mph in under 5 seconds. The top speed for the Model S is 130 mph. The Model S costs around $5 to drive 230 miles.

If the Model S is constructed as well as the Tesla Roadster, and has even half of its performance abilities, than we just might have a new great American sports car that we can all be proud of. Perhaps the day will come in the future when we have an all electric Corvette. For now, I think America has two great sports cars to call its own, the Corvette and the Tesla Roadster!

2009 Corvette GT1 Championship Edition

The GT1 was produced in coupe, convertible, and Z06 models throughout the 2009 model year with little performance changes, but many graphic changes. A few of the details were fancier seats, GT1 logos everywhere, and a special engine cover.

Ugly Corvettes or Art Cars in Disguise?

Ugly Corvettes or Art Cars in Disguise that is the question I have for you today. Over at Jalopnik
this Dragon Corvette is considered ugly but here its an art car in "process". Even though it was voted "single worst custom Corvette in history" it will find save haven here with the rest of us who took perfectly good cars and added "personal" touches. While I was out an about I found a few more corvettes that needed to come out of the rain.

Dragon Corvette - Budget Mod Art Car


Painted Corvette Art Car by Buckeye-Front


Painted Corvette by Buckeye Art Car-Side


Rocket Corvette - Super Mod


Red Bull Corvette-Super Mod


Ribbon Corvette - Super Mod


Penny Corvette Art Car

2010 Callaway Chevrolet Corvette SC580

Callaway Cars are on the new Callaway Chevrolet proud corvette SC580: class class-competing supercar against a fraction of the costs of its European collega' s to introduce. To hold to a design philosophy forged more than thirty years of the construction of " Powerful Engineered serious Fast" auto' s, the Callaway SC580 offer intimidating strength during reflecting refined manners: Low 11-seconden ET-mogelijkheid file properties perfect with no petrol mileage punish, one 3 years/36,000 miles of aandrijflijn guarantee and a scale to optional performances and aesthetic improvements.2010 CALLAWAY CORVETTE SC580 STANDARD EQUIPMENT:
� Roots-style Eaton CS2000 Supercharger, with polished finish
� Liquid-to-air intercooler, integral to intake manifold base (patent pending)
� Increased flow rate Fuel Injectors
� Body-color Injector Covers
� Electronic Fuel Pump Controller
� Callaway Double-D Stainless Steel Exhaust System
� Callaway Honker High Flow Intake System
� Callaway RTM Fiberglass Hood Bulge
� Callaway Door Sill Panels
� Callaway Embroidered Floor Mats
� Callaway Badging, Exterior and Interior, including Dash Plaque with engraved VIN
� Callaway Corvette Authenticity Documentation
� Callaway 3 year/36,000 mile limited powertrain warranty



Performance Specs
Maximum Power: 580 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Maximum Torque: 510 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Engine Speed: 6500 rpm
Top Speed: 204 mph
Fuel Economy: MT 15/25 mpg � AT 14/24 mpg

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:
� Callaway Short Throw Shifter
� Callaway Exhaust Tip Slats
� Hood Accent Color, C16 Hood or Carbon Fiber Hood Bulge
� Callaway 9-Spoke Alloy Wheels
� Callaway/Dymag Wheel & Tire Package
� Callaway LMGT Brake Packages
� Callaway Deutschleder Interior Group
� Callaway Sport Seats w/ Optional Harnesses
� Cast, Machined Valve Covers with Remote Ignition Coil Mounting
� Callaway/Eibach Multi-Pro Coil-Over Suspension

MSRP: 2010 Callaway Corvette SC580 Package $19,400

2009 Corvette GT1 Cars Images

2009 Corvette GT1



2009 Corvette GT1



2009 Corvette GT1



2009 Corvette GT1

corvette stingray

The Mosler MT900S

Okay this is not a widely produced car.
As a matter of fact, unless you are George Lucas (he took delivery of the first street legal one in December 2006), you may not have ever heard of it.
The MT900s is built by Mosler Automotive.
It's powered by a Corvette LS6 V8 with an Eaton supercharger, with a maximum boost pressure of 6.0 psi.
This gives the 346 inch engine 600 bhp and 557 foot pounds of torque.
In real time that allows the MT900S to get from 0 to 60 in about 3.1 seconds, 0 to 100 in 6.5 seconds and 0 to 150 in 13.8 seconds.
And it also enables the MT900S to blast through the traps at 135 mph in 11 seconds.
Base price is about $189,000.
Or you can add around $50,000 and opt for the MT900S Photon, which is 220 pounds lighter than the MT900s and has a few extra goodies.
And you know, the MT900 gets 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
Thats really not too shabby for a 600 horsepower car.
A Lamborghini Murcielago only gets 8 mpg city and 13 highway.

The World's Fastest Corvette

In a change from all the high dollar exotic cars I usually feature here, this is a high dollar exotic Chevrolet.
The Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 may be the fastest Corvette ever built.
The ZR1 is powered by a modified LS3 (the LS9) that produces 638 hp and 604 ft.lbs.of torque.
This is largely due to the sixth-generation Eaton TVS R2300 roots 4-lobe supercharger with an intercooler that's mated to the LS9.

What does all this mean in a straight line?
Try 0 to 60 in 3.43 seconds with an estimated top speed of 210 mph.
The Vette can blast through the quarter mile in 10.988 seconds, at 135 mph.
The cost on this little number?
About $115,000.
Not bad compared to some of the other cars we've had on here.

2009 Corvette ZR1

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Original post by CorvetteBlogger


Original post by CorvetteBlogger


Original post by Frode1973


Original post by CorvetteBlogger

Check out CorvetteGuys.com and their large inventory of Corvette Covers

Chevrolet Corvette 2009 Specification

Chevrolet Corvette 2008 Specification It iscomparatively small dishes, the system of twin-disc allows the inertia similar of disc to the Z06 Corvette, which has 290mm, system of simple-disc, contributing to the low effort of shift and providing the particularly soft effort of pedal of interlocking and light. In fact, the more powerful ZR1 has an effort of pedal similar to Z06.

The clutch of Chevrolet Corvette 2008 ZR1-specific in the transmission provides a stiff report/ratio First-speed which the assistances launch the car. The car the 'high speed of S is built in the sixth change speed-a Fifth-speed, the run-outs top-speed in the Corvette handbook-transmission and the Z06 Corvette. Speeds also are conceived to balance the execution with the improvement. The angles of the teeth of gears are optimized to provide the force and the calm one.


Writer 'note of S: The word is now outside on the Corvette baddest never to descend pike. While all information mentioned above is directly GM at December 20, 2007, we will have to await our turn to deliver to us thus we can test this animal for ourselves. Most probably, we will receive the call to examine it on a true way of race as we made for the release of C6 Z06, which with all fine practices would be the surest route for each one implied. Stay granted for later developments as they occur. We can hardly wait!

The official numbers of Corvette ZR1 are inside and they 'about the good. Very good:

1.  * $103.300 MSRP (load including $850 destinations)
2.   * economy of fuel EPA-envisaged road 14 of the city and 20
3.   * 0-60 M/H in 3.4 seconds
4.  * 0-100 M/H in 7.0 seconds
5.   * past time of 11.3 seconds Quarter-thousand to 131 M/H

Corvette ZR1 also has an high speed of 205 M/H (330 km/h), making him the fastest Corvette ever produced and arranging it among the total superb cars of the proportioned execution. None of these other superb cars, however, equalizes report/ratio of ZR1 the 'execution-by-dollar of S.

ZR1 is an incredible machine by any measurement, ED says Peper, North-American vice-president, Chevrolet. There 's simply no other vehicle in the world which completes a better work of execution, price and of economy of fuel of balancing.

Prospect for execution
Corvette ZR1 the 'execution of S 0-60 is the 0.3 second faster than the Corvette already-rapid Z06 and the execution 0-100-mph is almost a full faster second - 7 seconds against Z06 'the S 7.9 seconds. It is the execution with which is equal or better than the superb calculation of the costs of much of cars primarily more.

Has report/ratio favorable of power-with-weight gives to the ZR1 an advantage compared to competition and to the execution which must be tested to appreciate fully, to Tom says Wallace, chief engineer of Corvette. Naturally, on a racecourse, the drivers of the competitors of the 'cars can appreciate the ZR1 in a whole different way.

And the racecourse isn 't the only place where the ZR1 trumps its competitors of superb-car - it beats them with the pump with gas, too. According to fueleconomy.gov, cities EPA-evaluated of ZR1 'of S the 14 and 20 estimates of mileage of road beat 2008 competitors such as Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (road 11 villes/15); Lamborghini Murcielago (road 8 villes/13) and Aston Martin V8 advantageous (road 12 villes/19). They 'about competing with the viper of turning (road 13 villes/22) and Porsche 911 GT3 (road 15 villes/22).

Under the carbon-fibre cap
A new LS9 6.2L overfed small-blocks powers of engine the possibilities of execution of ZR1 'of S. Resisting and light weight exchanging the components supports the execution haut-T/MN, whereas new, superheater of sixth-generation (and to supplement the system of charge-cooling) assistance the large LS9 to make the power and couple through the range of T/MN. The engine hand-is assembled in the center of construction of GM 'of execution of S, in Wixom, Mich.

In addition to engine LS9, the ZR1 is a powerplant of technology, conceived with the light and single components which reinforce its execution with a feeling of confidant on a road or the course of road.