Corvette Repair, Service, & Maintenance

Corvette Models We Maintain, Service, and Repair

We know that finding a service tech with the training to handle certain models presents a challenge. At Legends Luxury Auto Repair, we accept that challenge. If Corvette makes it, we service it. We have worked on pretty much every generation and model.

My name is Danny Smith, and my family has been involved in the automotive industry, right here in the Valley, since 1915. With that kind of background, it should come as no surprise that owning and operating my own repair shop was a lifelong dream. In 2013, after spending 24 years working for the same Cadillac dealership, my dream came true. I opened Legends Luxury Auto Repair with my wife, Kathryn.

When I first started, I graduated from the General Motors Technician Auto Service Educational Program. Since then, I’ve earned other certifications, including GM Master certified, XLR Master certified, and ASE Advanced certified technician.

Legends Luxury Auto Repair Qualifications

If you drive a Corvette, you obviously want the best. You don’t just want anyone working on your Vette. You want someone you trust, and expect that person to have the experience and training to handle any problem and do the work right the first time.

At Legends Luxury Auto Repair, we understand that, to you, your car is more than a way to get from Point A to Point B. That’s why we hire only the best service technicians. Our team has over 50 years of experience and top certifications, including:

• ASE Advanced Certified Technician
• GM Master Certified
• XLR Master Certified

For professional, friendly, and knowledgeable service, look no further than Legends Luxury Auto. The moment you walk through our door, you’ll know you found the right place.

Regular Corvette Maintenance

The best way to keep your Vette purring is to treat it well. That means regular maintenance, including oil changes, tire rotation, battery, and brakes. Maintenance schedules vary by model, year, and driving conditions, so talk to your Chevrolet Certified Service expert about the optimum schedule to keep your Corvette running at optimum levels.

Newer models include top-of-the-line built-in technologies, such as the Oil Life System (OLS) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), both designed to alert you to potential issues before they become problems. With classic models, you need to be a bit more proactive. Keeping a maintenance log helps you stay on top of regular maintenance needs.

Oil Changes: Most of us grew up in a world where the 3,000-mile rule was a given. With older models, this rule still applies. However, all Seventh Generation and some Sixth Generation models require less frequent oil changes. Check your owner’s manual for recommendations specific to your vehicle. Models equipped with OLS let you know that it’s time for an oil change when the OLS light comes on. Of course, periodically checking your oil level is always a good idea.

Brake Service: Your brakes come with a built-in warning system. When your brake pad width drops to 2 mm, you hear a whistle, squeal, chirp, or grinding noise whenever you brake. The goal isn’t to annoy you during rush hour traffic; it’s to inspire you to head to Legends Luxury Auto Repair to get your brakes serviced.

Batteries: Arizona’s intense summer heat does a real number on your battery. The best way to monitor battery life is through a real load test. Including battery testing as part of your regular maintenance significantly reduces the odds you’ll turn the key and hear “click, click, click” instead of the engine roaring to life.

Tire Rotation: In addition to maintaining proper tire pressure, regular tire rotation ensures even wear and maximum tire life. The goal is having your tires rotated every 7,500 miles. If you have one of the newer models, you may be able to line up your oil changes and tire rotations. With older models, you can rotate the tires every other oil change.

Custom Accessories For Your Corvette

A Brief History of the Corvette

General Motors introduced the Chevrolet Corvette in 1953 during the GM Motorama. Named after a small warship called a corvette, that first generation, a C1 convertible, generated a level of interest that inspired GM to begin production on a version available to the public. That first year, General Motors created 300 hand-built models, all in Polo White.

Production jumped ten-fold the following year, available in Sportsman Red, Pennant Blue, Black, and the original Polo White. Sales were slow, so the GM slowed production in 1955 to 700 models. The 1956 model saw a revamp of the face and side coves, along with the loss of the original tail fins, but also some sweet technical adds, like power windows and a state-of-the-art radio. The following year, 1957, saw the introduction of the first mass-produced engine with a fuel injection system, which Chevrolet turned into an advertising campaign. Changes, both aesthetic and technical, continued throughout the first generation.

The second generation C2 spanned the years 1963 through 1967 and included the introduction of the Sting Ray. Designer Larry Shinoda took inspiration from a previous design by Peter Brock, Chuck Pohlmann, and Bill Mitchell called the Q Corvette. The C2 saw numerous changes and additions, including an optional big block engine and four-wheel disc brakes. The Grand Sport Corvette was built in response to Ford’s Shelby Cobra. With only five models created, these vehicles now exist in private collections, with one in the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum.

The third generation lasted from 1968 through 1982, with the C3 introducing the T-top. Corvette’s 25th anniversary occurred in 1978, marked by an anniversary edition and an Indy Pace Car replica, used as the pace car in the Indianapolis 500 that same year. Styling continued to change throughout the third generation and the 1970s witnessed the disappearance of chrome bumpers and wire spoke wheel covers.

Production was delayed a year due to quality issues and other delays, so the fourth generation was not introduced until 1984. The single surviving 1983 model now resides in Kentucky’s National Corvette Museum. The C4 brought with it a complete redesign, with numerous changes occurring throughout the fourth generation, including the introduction of an electronic dashboard and transmission changes to meet fuel economy standards.

The fifth generation’s C5 lasted from 1997 to 2004 and featured another complete redesign incorporating a slew of innovative ideas. In addition to improved quality and fuel economy, the C5 boasted 49/51 weight distribution, a new chassis design, a rear-mounted transmission, staggered tire size, and an aluminum engine. Industry pros praised the new designs and GM kept many of these changes in the C6 and C7 generations.

The sixth generation C6, lasting from 2005 through 2013, was a refining of the C5 rather than a redesign. Some cosmetic changes include a new headlight design and reduced exterior overhangs for a tighter profile. It also sported a shorter wheelbase due to changes to the transmission. The biggest changes, though, were to the vehicle’s interior and numerous engine options for different models.

The current generation is the C7, launched in 2014. GM began developing the C7 in 2007, intending to launch it in 2011 but delaying for three years due mostly to the economy at the time. The goal with the seventh generation is appealing to younger drivers through a combination of aesthetic and mechanical changes. GM also brought back the Stingray name (changed from the original Sting Ray) they last used in 1976.

Interesting Corvette Statistics

After over 65 years in production, the Chevrolet Corvette racked up its share of fun facts and statistics.

• In 1953, the first Corvette sold for $3,513. In 2017 dollars, that’s $32,051.56. Not too bad!
• That original Corvette model was light on options. Buyers could add an AM radio for $145 ($1,323 in 2017 money) and a heater for $91 ($830). Those prices didn’t age quite as well.
• Originally, the Corvette logo featured an American flag in addition to the checkered flag. Including Old Glory on a commercial product, however, is illegal, so designers replaced the American flag with the French fleur de lis and the famous Chevy bowtie.
• General Motors gifted the three astronauts piloting Mercury 7 with free, brand new 1960 Corvettes.
• Bill Mitchell, designer of the Sting Ray, took inspiration for his iconic design from a Mako Shark he caught during a deep-sea fishing trip.
• The first year Corvette offered customers a V8 engine option was 1955. After over 90 percent of customers selected the V8, Chevy began making every Vette with a V8 engine.
• Corvette production maxed out in 1979, when GM produced 53,807 units.
• From 1963 to 1967, Corvette offered a 36-gallon gas tank option!
• The 2014 Corvette Stingray lets you drive a whopping 53 mph – in reverse!
• The fastest Corvette in history is the 1968 LT-2, which reached zero to 60 in 2.8 seconds and traveled the quarter-mile in 10.86 seconds.
• One of the world’s most expensive cars is a red 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88, which sold at a 2014 auction for $3,850,000. Chevy made only 20 of these models, and only one red one.
• Chevy was an innovator when it comes to constructing vehicles with fiberglass. The industry still relied on steel in 1953, but Chevy pushed fiberglass for the Corvette, making it the “sports car of the future.”