Digital snippets…

Posted on November 14, 2014 by digitaldtour

With life and work placing an ever-increasing demand upon my spare time, I’ve found myself with less time to devote to my blog. So in an effort to continue providing content to those of you who have been kind enough to become followers and /or subscribers of my blog, I will be altering my format slightly. These changes should get me back on track to providing a greater frequency of blog posts.

So here goes…

In previous posts I’ve written about how external influences can affect one’s photographic inspiration, be it from weather, temperature, lighting, a particular event or even participation in a weekend car show. In many cases the experience, as well as the perceptions during an event can blur. It’s only when uploading the imagery onto the computer and beginning my post production work, that these patterns and the influences become apparent.

Over the past several months, I’ve experienced this phenomenon multiple times, and the following digital snippets represent the end results of my photographic observations.

Hopefully, my first experiment has not been a total train wreck, and to my kind followers / subscribers, you have found these images to be worthy of your time.

Please stay tuned for my next installment…

(All photos by the author)

The Heartbeat of America and the quest to Find New Roads…

Posted on November 12, 2013 by digitaldtour

“Find New Roads” is the latest slogan from Chevrolet, as part of their marketing campaign for 2013. And that’s exactly what a handful of 2014 C7 Corvette Stingrays did on Saturday, November 2.

Since the end of August, those in attendance at cars&coffee/Irvine have been treated to random, up close viewings of the brand new C7 Corvette, and on the morning of November 2, all present were treated to the largest gathering of 2014 Corvette Stingrays to date, and in previously unseen colors.

First up was this 2014 C7 coupe in Blade Silver, as seen below.

A shock of color; the black interior accented by a pair of red seats, center console panels and door trim…

Next in line was this beautiful black on black, 2014 Corvette coupe.

For 2014 the real thing; a front hood with louvers that are fully functional.

Polarized light captured and refracted within the top of the headlight lens (below).

$2014 Black on black Corvette Sting Ray_ polarized light refractions visible on the headlight lens_cars&coffee/irvine_November 2, 2013$

The last of the trio of brand news Corvettes was this eye-popping, Velocity Yellow Stingray coupe.

The new Stingray badge, found on the front fenders, positioned just behind each diagonal vent (see above and below).

Ironically, parked a short distance away from this trio, was another 2014 Corvette Stingray. This particular C7 was wrapped in Torch red, and equipped with the Z-51 performance package. Included in this package are 19″ front and 20″ rear, 5 – split spoke wheels, which on this car had been finished in black (one of only three finishes available from Chevrolet), all wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport ZP rubber.

Another example of the optional, two-toned interiors available.

The owners tribute to Chief Engineer and the recognized godfather of the Corvette: Zora Arkus-Duntov.

The 6.2 liter, 460 horsepower LT1, complete with an extensive list of the Z51 Performance package whistles and bells, including dry sump lubrication.

Holding to the mornings Corvette theme, and parked across the row from the trio of 2014 Corvettes, was an early sibling in the form of a 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Split Window coupe. Dressed in Sebring Silver and sporting an early fuel injected motor.

The trendsetting interior, circa 1963…

and state of the art, Corvette fuel injected motor from 1963 as seen below.

Another of the classic details found on the 1963 Sting Ray; faux, front hood louvers.

The source of inspiration for the 2014 C7 front fender vents?

The unmistakable lines of the 1963 Corvette, Split window coupe.

Continuing the Chevrolet theme for the morning, was this beautiful example of a Tri-5 Bel-Air coupe. And parked in close proximity, was a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle with styling and design inspiration taken directly from the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.

I was surprised to learn that this custom-built Harley Davidson with Bel Air overlay, and parked before me had been built in Europe, by the company Luporacing (based in France). For information about Luporacing, or to view the progress /build photos of this motorcycle (“HD Bel Air”), please refer to the following link (for luporacing.com).

So taking a cue from Chevrolet, and regardless of whether you ride a motorcycle or drive a car, a challenge has been made: “Find New Roads”. I suspect that the owners of the 2014 Corvettes identified above are already way ahead of the rest of us…

(All photos by the author)

What’s blue or black and wears a split window out back?

Posted on September 26, 2013 by digitaldtour

What color is that? Prior to the sun coming up, by all accounts it appeared to be black. However as the sun began to rise, there was a faint glint of blue that could be perceived. Or was it just the early morning sky reflecting off of the pristine bodywork?

Depending on the model year, if this had been 1951, the vehicle in question could have been be a split window Volkswagen Beetle (as seen below).

However, in this case the subject just happened to be a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, a.k.a. the split window coupe. A unique design feature available for only one year, and it just happens to be one of my all time favorite Corvettes.

So with the sun finally coming up, i could clearly see that this 1963 Sting Ray was in fact Daytona Blue and not the alternative, which in 1963 would have been Tuxedo Black. So now it was time to get serious and record my chance encounter with this stunning split window coupe…

These very cool knock-off wheels were offered as an option (P 48) for 1963. However, after doing some research, I learned that back in 1963 Chevrolet did not deliver any of their optional, knock off wheels on the Corvette, due to quality issues. So I suspect that these wheels were likely sourced from a later model Corvette.

The classic 1963 Sting Ray contours; split rear windows and the raised, central spine detail that bisects the roof and continues down the back of the car, all blending seamlessly into the rear bodywork.

A stepping stone in the evolution of Corvette interiors, circa 1963. Design elements found in the 1963 interior continued to evolve, and their influences can still be found in Chevrolet’s latest offering for 2014, in their new Corvette Stingray.

Front hood reflections and the unique, dual faux grills.

As cool as the 2014 Corvette Stingray is, when all is said and done, it’s going to be hard to beat an original, and especially a 1963 split window.

(All photos by the author)

“Little Red Corvette”, a.k.a. the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray making its debut at Cars&Coffee / Irvine…

Posted on August 25, 2013 by digitaldtour

This past Saturday morning saw the debut of a brilliant red, 2014 Corvette Stingray at cars&coffee / Irvine. Once the driver had successfully backed his Corvette into the parking space and exited the car, the gathering crowd rushed in to get a closer look. Judging by the size and excitement of the quickly growing sea of bodies, it appears that Chevrolet has hit a home run with the new Stingray. The only negative feedback overheard was what has already been seen in print – “the tail lights look too much like those found on the new Camaro”, and the two-toned interior with its splash of color “lacking visual continuity”.

Due to the ever growing crowd pushing in around the Corvette, I decided to continue on my rounds through the parking lot, with the intent to return a little later once the crowds thinned out, in an attempt to get an unobstructed view of the Stingray.

Upon my return, I arrived just in time to catch the front hood and rear decklid opened, revealing some hidden details…

and shortly after, the Stingray all buttoned up.

The driver then returned to his car in preparation to depart. Once behind the wheel, and with a turn of the key, the motor roared to life with a smooth yet throaty idle, and a moment later, the boomerang shaped, LED running lights made their presence known.

After letting the engine idle for several minutes, presumably to get the operating temperatures up to spec, the driver put the car in gear and with several blips of the throttle, the Stingray accelerated off, to enjoy another of our warm, sunny Southern California mornings.

I wonder how long before we’ll see another 2014 Stingray at cars&coffee? And what do you think? Is the new 2014 Corvette Stingray a worthy successor to the C6?

(All photos by the author)

digitaldtour

A photographic journey through the Southern California car culture

Category Archives: Chevrolet

Digital snippets…

The Heartbeat of America and the quest to Find New Roads…

What’s blue or black and wears a split window out back?

“Little Red Corvette”, a.k.a. the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray making its debut at Cars&Coffee / Irvine…