Читать книгу Steve Magnante's 1001 Corvette Facts - Steve Magnante - Страница 6

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Magnante has been an automotive journalist since 1992 and an on-air member of the Barrett-Jackson collector-car-auction TV broadcast team since 2002. In both realms, Steve has been exposed to Corvettes of every description and value. He says, “The unique thing about Corvettes is the huge option list and ever-evolving platform. No other special-interest car has been offered with so many possible combinations of engine, transmission, exhaust system, suspension, brakes, interior trim, paint, wheels, and tires. But while the Fuelies, L88s, and ZR1s grab headlines, I’m equally excited by oddball stuff including a 1965 drum-brake-equipped Sting Ray, a Powerglide-equipped 427 big-block, the 1980 California-only 305 V-8 step-down option, any pre-1970 3-speed stick model, or the few preproduction test and prototype cars that escaped the crusher. They’re all weird and cool. The Corvette is the trivia fan’s dream car.”

Steve Magnante’s 1001 Corvette Facts follows Steve’s 1001 Muscle Car Facts (CarTech Books 2013) and 1001 Mustang Facts (CarTech Books 2017) and, like those well-reviewed works, is meant to inform, educate, and entertain. Steve also reminds readers that every one of the 1,001 facts contained within is just the tip of an iceberg of related information, saying, “I hope this book spurs curiosity and triggers readers to dig deeper into the fascinating world of the auto industry, vehicle design, and vehicle marketing in general.”

Speaking of digging deeper, as this book was being written, spy photos and information leaks surrounding the rumored C8 mid-engine Corvette program began to surface. Although the book’s production deadline precedes the official announcement of this mystery Vette by at least a year, ignoring what is likely to be the wildest Corvette ever wasn’t an option. Steve says, “Since the beginning, when General Motors used the code name ‘Opel’ to fool the magazine snoops into thinking the 1953 Corvette was an obscure foreign car, each new generation of Corvette has attracted speculation long before it materialized.” To address the mystery, Steve used his industry contacts and Internet scuttlebutt to unearth as many interesting tidbits as possible. How the actual C8 turns out remains to be seen.

Thus, some of the information presented in the final chapter is based on speculation and may be proven inaccurate by the passage of time. However, the rest of the book strives to be as correct as possible. Dig in, have fun, and enjoy Steve Magnante’s 1001 Corvette Facts.