World Series MVP C8 Vette Took a Little Trickery from GM

Little Trickery

By now, everyone knows that World Series MVP and Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg was gifted a brand new C8 Corvette at the series' conclusion. But what you may not know is that the red car presented to Strasburg on TV isn't his. In fact, there aren't a lot of preproduction models running around, so GM had to perform a little trickery to even make this appearance happen, as we learned in this recent Automobile piece. 

Photos: Chevrolet 

One of Few

Apparently, there are only three 2020 Corvettes being used by automotive journalists and GM marketing folks right now. Partly because, well, the automaker just wrapped up a lengthy strike. One of those was the Torch Red Z51 you saw on TV at the World Series, and it was actually the same car Motor Trend jumped when they were testing it.

Photos: Chevrolet

>>Join in the conversation on the C8's World Series appearance right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

Good Guess

So the question remains - how did GM know when or where either team was going to win the World Series? Did they simply ship the car to Houston and/or Washington D.C. just in case? Well, the answer is no. They actually had a Torch Red C8 in each city, ready and waiting to be shown with whoever won the series and the MVP award.

Photos: Chevrolet

>>Join in the conversation on the C8's World Series appearance right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

Show Boat

The Torch Red Corvette you saw on TV wasn't one of the journalist cars. In fact, it was what GM calls a "dynamically prepped" model. These cars exist purely for showing off and aren't used in any engineering or exercise. Much like the cars used in the car's original reveal, as well as tour stops around the country in the months since.  

Photos: Chevrolet 

>>Join in the conversation on the C8's World Series appearance right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

Static Machine

The Torch Red car we all saw on TV was one of just three dynamic models in GM's fleet, and the very same car that Motor Trend tested. The other car in Houston was a static model, which is capable of moving under its own power but it's likely more of an early build that GM wouldn't want anyone hammering on. 

Photos: Chevrolet

>>Join in the conversation on the C8's World Series appearance right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

No Preferential Treatment

So the only thing left to ask is, where the heck is Strasburg's car? Well, like everyone else waiting for a C8, he has to spec it out and let GM build it. He's free to order the car however he likes, and then he'll take delivery sometime early next year. What, you thought the World Series MVP was going to get some kind of preferential treatment? 

Photos: Chevrolet

>>Join in the conversation on the C8's World Series appearance right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

Sad Life

It's a fascinating story, really, and one that we're glad we got to hear. And as for that poor pre-production C8 Corvette, well, it's bound to live a sad life. After more hammering and testing, it'll likely wind up in the crusher with all the others. So perhaps the car is the one we should all really feel bad for!

Photos: Chevrolet 

>>Join in the conversation on the C8's World Series appearance right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

For help with service and maintenance on your car, check out the how to section of LS1Tech.com