Corvette C6 Victory edition
Discussion
I’ve never done one of these before, but hopefully it will be of interest to a few people…
Back in 2017 I started a search for a new toy. Using Autotrader I entered my criteria as: V8, convertible, under £40k and began the search. I strayed off the criteria to test drive a Tamora, which I actually really liked, but was put off after waiting 15 minutes for it to be warmed up enough to drive! My search results were mostly F types and high mileage R8’s and the odd Corvette appeared.
I drove a couple of F types but didn’t buy one for some reason, can’t remember why, because I actually liked them…
Then one day I drove 250 miles to see a C6 corvette, which was lovely, but it was a dark red and it didn’t suit the car,so left and on the way home drove a Viper ( another departure from my criteria, but a worthy car). Couldn’t agree a price on the Viper and it was over budget by a way, so left it.
I’d kind of given up, when a C6 victory ed came up for sale at a new dealers about 40 miles away. As soon as I saw it I had to have it, and after a quick drive the deal was done….
Here she is and I’ll continue with my ownership experience shortly:
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gCVxoHe2.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/o1amgJ94" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/o1amgJ94.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/Z88B9snT" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Z88B9snT.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/tTYsJcmy" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/tTYsJcmy.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/1NjkvXse" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/1NjkvXse.jpg)
Back in 2017 I started a search for a new toy. Using Autotrader I entered my criteria as: V8, convertible, under £40k and began the search. I strayed off the criteria to test drive a Tamora, which I actually really liked, but was put off after waiting 15 minutes for it to be warmed up enough to drive! My search results were mostly F types and high mileage R8’s and the odd Corvette appeared.
I drove a couple of F types but didn’t buy one for some reason, can’t remember why, because I actually liked them…
Then one day I drove 250 miles to see a C6 corvette, which was lovely, but it was a dark red and it didn’t suit the car,so left and on the way home drove a Viper ( another departure from my criteria, but a worthy car). Couldn’t agree a price on the Viper and it was over budget by a way, so left it.
I’d kind of given up, when a C6 victory ed came up for sale at a new dealers about 40 miles away. As soon as I saw it I had to have it, and after a quick drive the deal was done….
Here she is and I’ll continue with my ownership experience shortly:
The car is a 2007, built to commemorate 5 Le Mans victories by Corvette. Only 250 were made, half yellow and half black, and all for the UK market (still a left hooker though). Mine is number 125 and came with a certificate and plaque explaining the Victory edition.
She had approximately 13k miles on the clock when I bought her, which I know isn’t a lot but I figured as she was 10 years old I would systematically change all the fluids. First up was the diff oil. The C6 has a propensity to get sticking clutch packs in the diff with old fluid, so I changed it, ran it for a week, and changed again just to make sure. Then I bought new axle nuts ( another known weakness of these cars) and replaced them using the correct loctite specified by GM. I’m lucky enough to travel for work, so managed to purchase the axle nuts for a couple of dollars in Houston.
That was it for the first year and I’ll continue later…
She had approximately 13k miles on the clock when I bought her, which I know isn’t a lot but I figured as she was 10 years old I would systematically change all the fluids. First up was the diff oil. The C6 has a propensity to get sticking clutch packs in the diff with old fluid, so I changed it, ran it for a week, and changed again just to make sure. Then I bought new axle nuts ( another known weakness of these cars) and replaced them using the correct loctite specified by GM. I’m lucky enough to travel for work, so managed to purchase the axle nuts for a couple of dollars in Houston.
That was it for the first year and I’ll continue later…
So, after a year it was time to try and find someone to service the Vette. I found a guy who specialised in American cars about half an hour from me, so she was booked in for an oil service, check over and gearbox oil replacement. All duly done for the princely sum of £400 ish. The only issue with the car was a slight oil weep from the sump pan (they all do that allegedly).
I then changed the stereo for something a bit better with blue tooth. It’s got the Bose system so special adapters are needed as I think each speaker has its own little amp. I found a company online called Crutchfields and their website was really easy to use, so purchased a nice JVC unit and picked it up from Houston again. Bit of a faff getting the old unit out and the new one in, but done in day. I’d been fitting it on the driveway and as things cooled down I put the roof back on to stay a little warmer but didn’t latch it. Completely forgot and when I took her out the next day the roof flew off. Luckily it missed the rear wing and also no one was behind me. I did feel a bit of a plank having to stop and collect my roof from the middle of the road! There wasn’t too much damage so I decided to change colour from yellow to black, and it really suits it.
Drop links came next…quoted £300 for a set by Ian Allen, so again I sourced some from the states for about $70. Easy job to change those.
Had a few years of trouble free motoring with annual oil services and then the car started squeeking. After looking online I figured it might be the harmonic balancer, so took it to my guy who confirmed it was. Also the car was starting to smell of burning oil when hot, so I had the garage take off the sump pan whilst the harmonic balancer was being done and re seal it. Turned out my front pads were very low too, so that was done and I faced the first bill over £500 since ownership started. The job took longer than necessary due to customs impounding some parts for a while, but after about 3 weeks of no Vette in the middle of a beautiful summer she was back in great health.
Fast forward to this winter just gone and I decided to heat proof the transmission tunnel and also put some sound deadening material under the carpets.
I then changed the stereo for something a bit better with blue tooth. It’s got the Bose system so special adapters are needed as I think each speaker has its own little amp. I found a company online called Crutchfields and their website was really easy to use, so purchased a nice JVC unit and picked it up from Houston again. Bit of a faff getting the old unit out and the new one in, but done in day. I’d been fitting it on the driveway and as things cooled down I put the roof back on to stay a little warmer but didn’t latch it. Completely forgot and when I took her out the next day the roof flew off. Luckily it missed the rear wing and also no one was behind me. I did feel a bit of a plank having to stop and collect my roof from the middle of the road! There wasn’t too much damage so I decided to change colour from yellow to black, and it really suits it.
Drop links came next…quoted £300 for a set by Ian Allen, so again I sourced some from the states for about $70. Easy job to change those.
Had a few years of trouble free motoring with annual oil services and then the car started squeeking. After looking online I figured it might be the harmonic balancer, so took it to my guy who confirmed it was. Also the car was starting to smell of burning oil when hot, so I had the garage take off the sump pan whilst the harmonic balancer was being done and re seal it. Turned out my front pads were very low too, so that was done and I faced the first bill over £500 since ownership started. The job took longer than necessary due to customs impounding some parts for a while, but after about 3 weeks of no Vette in the middle of a beautiful summer she was back in great health.
Fast forward to this winter just gone and I decided to heat proof the transmission tunnel and also put some sound deadening material under the carpets.
Edited by wraggy on Saturday 22 April 18:51
Fellow C6 man here. I do like a yellow one, in fact my search 12 years ago was for a yellow one, a search I failed in and that was whilst living Stateside! Those noisy yellow cars at Le Mans were really quite the thing at the time!!
I always refer to mine as the 'thinking mans TVR'. I reckon you made the right choice
I have nearly joined the Flying Roof Brigade twice also but thankfully noticed at the last minute! There but for the grace of God go I etc.
I always refer to mine as the 'thinking mans TVR'. I reckon you made the right choice
I have nearly joined the Flying Roof Brigade twice also but thankfully noticed at the last minute! There but for the grace of God go I etc.
MrNoisy said:
Fellow C6 man here. I do like a yellow one, in fact my search 12 years ago was for a yellow one, a search I failed in and that was whilst living Stateside! Those noisy yellow cars at Le Mans were really quite the thing at the time!!
I always refer to mine as the 'thinking mans TVR'. I reckon you made the right choice
I have nearly joined the Flying Roof Brigade twice also but thankfully noticed at the last minute! There but for the grace of God go I etc.
I’ve owned a yellow car before and just love them. I always refer to mine as the 'thinking mans TVR'. I reckon you made the right choice
I have nearly joined the Flying Roof Brigade twice also but thankfully noticed at the last minute! There but for the grace of God go I etc.
You might upset some people with the “thinking man’s TVR”
The roof is easily done as I tend to leave it off most of the time…
I looked at your profile, and see yours is Z51…forgot to mention but so is mine. Happy motoring
I'd never heard of a Victory edition before, looks stunning in that colour. Super low mileage as well!
Sorry to hear you joined the "flying roof club" (it's a thing, Google it
) I'm sure you'll never do it again now but they do sell some hangers for the front latches that are supposed to remind you if you haven't secured it.
Heatproofing the tunnel is a great shout, it makes a massive difference.
Looking forward to hearing more about it.
Sorry to hear you joined the "flying roof club" (it's a thing, Google it
) I'm sure you'll never do it again now but they do sell some hangers for the front latches that are supposed to remind you if you haven't secured it. Heatproofing the tunnel is a great shout, it makes a massive difference.
Looking forward to hearing more about it.
So I forgot to mention earlier, these came with the Z51 package. If I can remember correctly this comprises of larger anti roll bars, larger ventilated brake discs and a diff oil cooler. Hopefully someone will correct me if that’s incorrect.
When I was searching I really wanted a manual, but after seeing this I wasn’t bothered it was an auto. Luckily too, because as times gone on my left knee is deteriorating to a point where if I drive a manual for more than a couple of hours I get terrible pain. Something to do with breaking my shin back in 2012 probably and the presence of 2 titanium rods. Either that or old age and poor form in the gym
When I was searching I really wanted a manual, but after seeing this I wasn’t bothered it was an auto. Luckily too, because as times gone on my left knee is deteriorating to a point where if I drive a manual for more than a couple of hours I get terrible pain. Something to do with breaking my shin back in 2012 probably and the presence of 2 titanium rods. Either that or old age and poor form in the gym
Z51 package is Larger/wider discs as you say, larger ARB front and rear, different Spring rates. It also added coolers for Engine oil, Power steering and gearbox on the Manual but i'd wager the Auto already has a cooler anyway. The Diff cooler only gets added on the Z06 and is a costly/difficult upgrade.
Additionally, in manual land, the gears are all a little shorter than the none Z51 car but again, as an Auto I doubt it. It was a crazy cheap package at something like $1500!
The upgrade path for base-Z51-Z06 is easy and cheap as chips. Whilst still in the states I swapped out my Z51 springs for stiffer Z06 one's which had been taken off by a punter at 10 miles old as he was putting coilovers on a track build - they were like $200 lol. I upgraded to the jonnie o connell stage 1 ARBs and shocks which is the biggest change I have noticed in all the mods I have done although I am on the cusp of coilovers now as my car only really sees track duty now.
If you track the car even moderately hard you soon exceed the additional cooling and braking that the Z51 package offers anyway...
Additionally, in manual land, the gears are all a little shorter than the none Z51 car but again, as an Auto I doubt it. It was a crazy cheap package at something like $1500!
The upgrade path for base-Z51-Z06 is easy and cheap as chips. Whilst still in the states I swapped out my Z51 springs for stiffer Z06 one's which had been taken off by a punter at 10 miles old as he was putting coilovers on a track build - they were like $200 lol. I upgraded to the jonnie o connell stage 1 ARBs and shocks which is the biggest change I have noticed in all the mods I have done although I am on the cusp of coilovers now as my car only really sees track duty now.
If you track the car even moderately hard you soon exceed the additional cooling and braking that the Z51 package offers anyway...
matrignano said:
Why is the boot so shallow?
Corvette has a transaxle, there is a massive transmission and differential underneath along with two exhaust silencers. It is still plenty big enough, we have gone on long weekend camping trips with everything in the boot required 
Edited by MrNoisy on Monday 24th April 17:41
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