Chevrolet Corvette

Body panels are fiberglass on C1 to C3 and SMC composite from C4 onward, bonded to a steel or aluminum frame; composite takes no point load, so a hand or strap pressing the middle of a rear quarter flexes it and cracks paint along the bond line. C1 to C3 gelcoat crazes, and the C2 and C3 front valances are the lowest thing on the car. The C4's clamshell hood carries both front fender tops and hinges at the front — same rule as an E-Type: latched throughout, never a handhold. From the C5 on, the reinforced slots in the frame rails behind the front wheels and ahead of the rears are the correct anchor; they take a T-hook, and jack pucks fit the same slots so the pinch welds are not crushed. Nothing loads the control arms or the transverse composite leaf spring. Front lift on C7 and C8 raises the nose about 40 to 50 mm, is unavailable above roughly 24 mph or with a door or the hood open, and drops back on its own, so the order is doors shut, lift armed, drive on. The targa roof panel is stowed and latched rather than left loose in the cabin. A C8 Z06 is materially wider than a Stingray, and the mid-engine weight bias shifts axle loads both on the ramp and on the deck.