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This was a very pleasant surprise in more ways than one. 2002 was the first year for this Corvette color, Electron Blue. It carried over into 2003 but was replaced by LeMans Blue in 2004 to commemorate the C-5R race car’s successes. LeMans Blue was the color they raced in for a short period of time; their victories were more numerous in yellow clothing so they reverted back to that. I’m glad Dean of Dad’s C.A.T.S. commissioned FM to do this model. It’s a more electrifying shade of blue than the somewhat darker LeMans Blue. I’m also very pleased that he had other changes made as well.
FM has enjoyed a long lifeline of C5 images and has been making them in various iterations since the first year of the generation, 1997. They ceased, of course, with the last of the breed, the 2004 and FM has made at least one of each model year except for the 2000 and 2001 Corvettes. The Callaway C12 is a 2000 but shouldn’t count as a stock-issue car. They have made precious few improvements to the C5 image and really did not need to. But Dean has asked FM to make a couple of modifications and they have done so splendidly. The addition here of the red/black interior, dubbed ‘mod red’ by Vette aficionados, was never more appreciated than in the Electron Blue Corvette. It really sets off the model. FM got the emblems right too, black with the red, black and white crossed flags. I was pleased to see that the bright, shiny Z06 wheels were not merely carried over from the 2004 Commemorative model. These are polished aluminum, not the grey wheels that we are used to seeing as standard issue on the Z06 cars and that is actually a good thing since they are not at all good looking. These are. Dean also made sure that the passenger’s side key lock on the door was removed; the 1:1’s do not have them. I mentioned this in prior C5 reviews.
The engine has the correct red fuel injection rail covers and the proper engine bay labeling. There is now one less missing link to the complete C5 line-up and this one is an absolute gem. Of course this is a critical addition to the Corvette collector’s trophy room, a must have if there ever was one.
Commissioned by Dad's C.A.T.S., the model may be ordered by emailing dadscats@aol.com or calling (828) 698-7525. The issue price is $135.
(11/25/2005)
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