Tuners Just Built The Stick-Shift C8 Corvette Chevy Said Would Never Happen
When Chevrolet rolled out the C8 generation, it drew a hard line in the sand, insisting that the platform was built exclusively for a DCT, thereby leaving zero room for a traditional clutch pedal. Purists grumbled, but what could you do? Rowing your own gears has pretty much become a thing of the past.
Enter Peitz Performance Tunes, a shop that has pulled off what has so far been considered wishful thinking. Collaborating closely with component heavyweights, it managed to squeeze a Tremec TR-9060 six-speed manual transaxle into the C8 layout. Of course, shoehorning a manual gearbox into a car whose entire nervous system was coded for an automatic is a headache all by itself; the real nightmare lies in tricking the car's computers to cooperate with the Tremec.
Naturally, "curing" the C8's automatic-only ailment comes at a price. The complete turnkey conversion package is listed at $74,530. That's the same price as a brand-new Corvette Stingray coupe straight from the showroom floor, so is the Peitz stick-shift package (about $150,000 all in including the donor car) actually worth it? For the same money, one can get themselves into a 911 T with a 6-speed manual, but arguably the Porsche is less "special."
