Ex-Holden chief engineer keen on Chevrolet Corvette

The Holden engineering legend who masterminded the final locally-built Commodore generation has welcomed confirmation the new Chevrolet Corvette C8 will come to Australia.

And Tony Hyde, a staunch Corvette fan with a C3 in his own garage, says he is likely to buy a C8 when they arrive here in late 2020 or early 2021.

“It does depend on price,” the former Holden engineering chief conceded. “But I’d say I am more in favour of buying one that not, let’s put it that way.

“I’m delighted it’s coming to Australia,” he added. “It’s great that GM in America has actually done a right-hand drive car and I think it will sell pretty well.

“It’s good for people like me who love Corvette, but maybe don’t want to go through the hassle and expense of converting a car locally.”

Hyde’s prediction of sales success seems to be smack on the money both here and internationally.

Hyde, who joined Holden in 1968 and retired in 2007, revealed to carsales.com.au that he got a sneak-peek of the new Corvette during a visit to General Motors in Detroit last year.

That viewing was facilitated by fellow Australian and GM global design boss Mike Simcoe, with whom Hyde worked on the legendary VT-VZ generation Commodore – including the Monaro and other spin-offs – and then the final billion-dollar VE-VF.

“It was a fibreglass full-size model,” revealed Hyde. “It looked good but the cars I’ve seen since during the launch stream and the photos in the paper look sensational.”

A passionate defender and fan of rear-wheel drive and V8 engines, Hyde has consistently made his disappointment clear about the closure of Holden’s Elizabeth plant and the end of the local Commodore.

But he is pleased GM has supported its Australian subsidiary by offering the Corvette ex-factory in right-hand drive.

“It’s good for Holden and it’s good for Holden dealers,” he said.

“It might signify that there are some other cars that are possibilities that are more mainstream.”

The only version of the Corvette officially unveiled so far is the Z51, which is powered by a 369kW 6.2-litre LT2 V8 attached to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Australian pricing has been mooted at around $150,000.

Hyde’s own love affair with Corvette began 12 months after he joined Holden when a C3 Corvette turned up at the company.

“It was 427 cubic-inch manual,” he recalls. “I had no idea why it was there but I saw it and just really loved it.”

Then, during a secondment to GM in the USA in the early 1970s, he had the chance to buy a 1969 427ci automatic.

Thanks to a favourable exchange rate he shipped it home to Australia when his US stint ended and had it converted to right-hand drive.

But needing the deposit for a family home the Corvette was sold for $5500.

“I made money out of it, but not as much as I wanted to in the grand dreams,” he said.

Years later he spotted his current 1976 small-block auto advertised in the paper and snapped it up. It had been imported privately into Australia and converted locally.

“I just love that bodyshape,” says Hyde. “That shape went from 1968 all the way through to 1982.

“We had other things at work through the years, but nothing ever grabbed my attention like that.”

Hyde, an ardent and talented golfer, has already approvingly noted the new C8 Corvette has the boot space to carry two golf bags.

There’s even Corvette-branded golf bag available.

“I’ve seen a picture of it with a golf bag in the back,” said Hyde. “I don’t know if that was Mike’s influence because it [boot space] was always a big deal at Holden.”