This Issue’s fascinating “exit interview” with Tadge Juechter, who retired last year after 18 years as chief engineer of Corvette and three decades birthing the C5 through C8 generations, is about 7000 words long, but editor-in-chief Larry Webster tells me that the original transcript after his 2.5-hour chat with Juechter was some 30,000 words (Here’s the wide-ranging interview in three segments: Part I, Part II, and Part III.—Ed.), and the conversation could easily have continued for several more hours. That’s a pretty clear indication of how much Corvette knowledge is packed into this man’s brain. Automotive engineers aren’t usually celebrated, but Tadge is an exception. If there were a Mount Rushmore of the most impactful automotive engineers in history, Tadge would stand a darned good chance of being on it.

He is that rare breed: the auto exec who is both passionate about building great cars and able to pull it off. There have never been enough of these types and probably never will be. Business is business, after all. Profits matter. Budgets aren’t unlimited. There’s never enough money to do everything you want. And there are always people who don’t share your vision. Building memorable cars often comes down to a balancing act between passion, persuasion, persistence, budgets, and an innate sense of what customers want.

Time and again throughout his career, Tadge threaded that needle, and we are ­forever in his debt. Mustang owners will quibble, for sure. But because of Tadge and the scores of engineers, designers, product planners, and line workers who worked on the brand since its launch in 1953, Corvette, over time, has become the quintessential American sports car. We simply don’t tire of it. Nearly two million have been built. The C2 (second generation, 1963–67 model years) is the most collectible model in the market. Nearly $83 million worth of Corvettes sold at auction in 2024 in North America, an increase of 15% over 2023.

What’s the secret sauce? Though the Corvette has had its ups and downs, it has become the ultimate expression of an American car at its best. It offers world-beating performance and engineering at a price no one can match. Then there’s the “feel” factor. Few cars give you that excited tickle in your stomach the way a Corvette does when you punch it. I’ve been smitten my whole life. As a kid, I dreamed of getting my hands on one. (Car magazines have a way of doing that to you. Have you noticed?) Eventually, I did, buying a black over tan 1963 Sting Ray Sports Coupe with a 327 small-block V-8, upgraded to 300 horsepower.

I cherish it. It was the first year of the Corvette’s second generation and thus benefited from the ministrations of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the iconoclast Russian engineer and former race car driver who served as the Corvette’s first chief engineer. On the plus side, the engine is surprisingly high revving, and that makes it a very snappy performer. On the downside, the Sting Ray doesn’t corner well, and the rear suspension, although an independent setup conceived by Arkus-Duntov, is wonky, making for a bit of a rough ride. The standout feature, of course, is the famous split-window design, which was created by Larry Shinoda under the direction of the swashbuckling GM styling chief Bill Mitchell. It was offered only in 1963 because people found it difficult to see out of, but I love it. It makes the car truly distinct.

Fast-forward to 2025. Tadge is just beginning to enjoy the fruits of his retirement, but exotic-car fans later this year will be able to enjoy his swan song, the C8 Corvette ZR1, which boasts an astronomical 1064 horsepower from its twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V-8. We are promised a top speed of over 230 mph, which is amazing but not surprising, given the man who led the machine’s engineering.

Congratulations, Tadge. You did good.

Until next time, keep on driving.