98 Corvette Aztec Gold

Aztec Gold Car Number 5 out of 15 Made!

In 1998 GM experimented with a high metallic paint “Aztec Gold Metallic” for the 50^th Anniversary in 2003. GM first took 5 cars and painted them. Then Will Cooksey and his team noticed that in certain light and angles the car looks like a different color from neighboring body panel. Then Corvette took 5 more cars and some advice from DuPont and tried again. With the same results Will Cooksey had an expert from DuPont fly out and try again with 5 more. The first series was painted on 10/22/1997. The second series was painted on 11/17/1997. The final five were completed on 11/26/1997. The paint results on all 15 corvettes were the same. All the body panels where removed from the cars and inspected. Then panel-by-panel each corvette was hand assembled with the panels that closely matched. It is said that no 2 Aztec Gold corvettes look the same, but if you where not looking for the differences you would never see it. GM has a high standard for consistency, so the project was cancelled for “Aztec Gold”. All 15 prototypes cars were shipped to the GM Tech Center in Warren Michigan. There was a private auction only open to GM Executives and limited number of dealers. 3 Convertibles where made, 12 where coupes for a total of 15.

For people who understand the "Numbers" Click the link to see this car Decoded..

Click Here to see the Aztec Gold Data Sheet

Click Here to see the True Story of Aztec Gold

NOW AZTEC GOLD IN VETTE VUES MAGAZINE

1998 CORVETTE

AZTEC GOLD

IN 1997 GM EXPERIMENTED WITH AZTEC GOLD. THIS WAS GOING TO BE USED FOR CORVETTES 50^TH ANNIVERSARY. AS THE STORY GOES, THE BOWLING GREEN FOLKS BUILT FIVE IN A ROW. AFTER NOTICING SOME DIFFERECNCES THE TEAM STOPPED. THE PAINT EXPERT ENLISTED FROM DUPONT TO HELP ADJUSTED THE FORMULA, MADE FIVE MORE, AND TOOK ANOTHER FORMULA CHANGING BREAK. THEN BUILT THE FINAL FIVE.

ALL 3 SERIES OF FIVE PROTOTYPES WERE PAINTED (AZTEC GOLD PAINT CODE 58U) FOR TESTING AND EVAULATION.

THE FIRST SERIES WAS PAINTED ON 10/22/1997.

THE SECOND SERIES WAS COMPLETED ON 11/17/1997.

THE FINAL FIVE WERE COMPLETED ON 11/26/1997.

EVERY SERIES HAD A SLIGHT COLOR DIFFERENCE FROM EACH OTHER. EACH PANEL WAS LAID OUT AND THEN MATCH TOGETHER AND THEN MATED TO A CAR. IN ESSENCE EACH OF THESE CARS WAS HAND MADE.

THE WATER- BASED GOLD PAINT WAS JUST TOO UNPREDICTABLE. IT IS SAID THAT IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT IT, YOU WOULDN’T SEE IT. IT ONLY SHOWS UP FROM CERTAIN ANGLES AND IN JUST THE RIGHT LIGHT. GM HIGH QUALITY REQUIRES 100 PERCENT CONSISTENCY SO THE PROJECT WAS TERMINATED. ALL 15 PROTOTYPES CARS WERE SHIPPED TO THE GM TECH CENTER IN WARREN MICHIGAN. THERE WAS A PRIVATE AUCTION ONLY OPEN TO GM EXECUTIVES AND LIMITED NUMBER OF DEALERS.

THERE WERE ONLY 15 AZTEC GOLD PROTOTYPES CARS PRODUCED.

THIS CORVETTE IS 1 OF ONLY 12 AZTEC GOLD COUPES PRODUCED. THIS CAR IS NUMBER 5 THE LAST CAR PRODUCED IN THE 1 ST SERIES OF FIVE.

Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

5,665 cc 5.7 liters 8 V front longitudinal engine with 99 mm bore, 92 mm stroke, 10.1 compression ratio, light alloy block, light alloy head, overhead valve and two valves per cylinder
- Premium unleaded fuel

- Fuel economy EPA highway (l/100km): 9.4

- Multi-point injection fuel system

- 72 liter fuel tank

- Power: 257 kW , 345 HP @ 5,600 rpm; 350 ft lb , 475 Nm @ 4,400 rpm

Handling, Ride & Braking Standard Features

ABS
- 2.73:1 axle ratio

- Four disc brakes including four ventilated discs

- Electronic traction control via ABS

- Immobilizer

- Limited slip differential

- Wishbone front suspension with stabilizer bar independent with leaf springs , multi-link rear suspension with stabilizer bar independent with leaf springs

Exterior & Aerodynamics Standard Features

Front and rear body color bumpers
- Coefficient of drag: 0.29

- Softtop manual convertible roof with hard storage cover and glass rear window

- Day time running lights

- Driver and passenger power heated body color door mirrors

- External dimensions: overall length (mm): 4,564, overall width (mm): 1,869, overall height (mm): 1,212, wheelbase (mm): 2,654, front track (mm): 1,575, rear track (mm): 1,636 and curb to curb turning circle (mm): 12,192

- Mechanical foldable mirrors

- Conventional lens halogen bulb twin concealed headlights

- Heat reflective glass

- Luxury trim leather on gearknob

- Metallic paint , black paint , gloss paint

- Rear window

- Tinted glass

- Weights: gross vehicle weight rating (kg) 1,718 and curb weight (kg) 1,472

- Windshield wipers with variable intermittent wipe

Interior Standard Features

- Air conditioning

- Power antenna

- Remote control peripheral anti-theft protection

- Front ashtray

- Audio anti-theft protection:

- Stereo Bose audio system with AM/FM

- Cargo area light

- Cargo capacity: rear seat up; to lower window (liters): 394

- Front seats cigar lighter

- Clock

- Computer with average fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption and range for remaining fuel

- Dashboard and floor full console with covered storage box

- Delayed/fade courtesy lights in footwell

- Cruise control

- Front seats cup holders

- Door ajar warning

- Floor covering: carpet in passenger compartment and carpet in load area

- Driver and passenger front airbag

- Sports seat , sports seat

- 3-point reel front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat

- Front seat center armrest with integral box

- Lockable illuminated glove compartment

- Two head restraints on front seats

- Internal dimensions: front headroom (mm): 955, front hip room (mm): 1,377, front leg room (mm): 1,087 and front shoulder room (mm): 1,405

- Low fuel level warning

- Low washer fluid level warning

- Remote power locks

- Vehicle speed proportional power steering

- Front power windows with two one-touch

- Front reading lights

- Rear view mirror

- Electric remote trunk/hatch release

- Leather seat upholstery with additional vinyl

- Seating: two seats

- Four speakers

- Leather covered steering wheel

- Tachometer

- Driver and passenger illuminated vanity mirror

- Ventilation system with variable fan speeds and recirculation setting