As standard, the C8 Corvette features a hardtop that can be removed rather easily and stored in the trunk similarly easy. Chevrolet, however, can do better with the hardtop convertible which features no fewer than six electric motors and a different design for the rear deck.
You’ve seen photos and videos of the HTC from the golden bowtie, but this time around, we’ll be taking a look at a Rapid Blue example of the breed with Carbon Flash-painted nacelles and roof. Filmed by Jeremy Welborn at Corvettes at Carlisle 2020, the bite-the-back-of-your-hand spec in the following video is matched with blue-and-black upholstery.
Fast-forward to the 09:45 mark, and you’ll also be treated to the top going up and down at the press of a button. Al, the owner, first demonstrates the hardtop convertible in the car, then Jeremy shows how the roof goes back down remotely. Using the key fob is rather simple: press the unlock button, then press and hold the top down button. That’s it!
When the rear deck is open, you can also admire the moving parts and mechanisms that make the roof go up or down as well as gear wheels, a honeycomb vent, and a removable panel that hides the LT2 small-block V8 from prying eyes. Checking and topping the oil is also done with the deck in this position, which is rather curious in comparison to the coupe.
As cool as it is, there are two downsides to buying the convertible over the removable hardtop. First of all, the pricing difference is outstanding at $67,795 compared to $59,995 including destination charge. Secondly, the C8 Corvette HTC is a little heavier at 3,647 pounds or 102 pounds more than the coupe, and therefore, not as agile.
The $7,500 question is, which of these two would you take home if you were in the market for a mid-engine sports car from Kentucky? Otherwise said, does the open-air driving experience differ that much from the removable hardtop to justify the pricing difference?
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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