CHEVROLET CAPTURES GT LE MANS MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP

The Chevrolet Corvette – America's Sports Car – has been voted the most iconic car of the past 75 years by a MotorTrend readers’ poll. Like America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys, it’s a title that’s never truly in jeopardy of being relinquished. But unlike the Cowboys, the Corvette has only continued to evolve and become more formidable with age. Courtesy of Bokman of Wellsville, let’s dive into the history of the Corvette, and explore why Chevy’s sports car still endures in the hearts of drivers everywhere three quarters of a century later. Birth of the C1 The first generation of Corvette – dubbed the C1 – debuted at the 1953 General Motors Motorama car show at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Though the car didn’t arrive fully formed as the world-beating vehicle we know today, it generated enough interest at the expo for mass production to begin in June of that year. The original Corvette was completely hand-built and used fiberglass bodywork. The 1953 model was commonly referred to as the “solid-axle” model, before its successor would add independent rear suspension. In all, 300 Corvette convertibles were produced for the 1953 model year – all in Polo White. The 1954 model year would add Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, and Black color options. As competitors and copycats (or both) began flooding the market, the 1955 Corvette model offered an optional V8 engine. The V8 enabled the Corvette to shave three full seconds off its 0-60 mph time and became the overwhelming preference for Corvette drivers. With the V8 in tow, sales numbers gradually began to rise. By the time the second generation (C2) of the Corvette arrived in 1963, complete with the new Sting Ray coupe redesign, the Corvette had become the posterchild for American automotive excellence. Becoming an Icon Despite its world-class handling, you don’t become the most iconic car of the greater portion of a century through performance and specs alone. The Corvette solidified its legendary status by becoming a fixture of American pop culture, frequently appearing in movies, television shows, songs, and more. The Corvette’s first major cameo came in 1960, on the popular TV show Route 66, sponsored by Chevrolet. It was the main characters’ car, and Chevy made sure that the car was replaced with the latest model at the start of each season. In 1962, Chevy gifted astronaut Alan Shepard a ‘62 Corvette upon his return to Earth. Soon, every astronaut at NASA wanted the same. In the decades since, the Corvette has become ubiquitous throughout pop culture. Prince sang about it on his 1983 hit “Little Red Corvette.” Sam Malone pined for one (and eventually had to find the right owner to sell to) on the smash hit sitcom Cheers in the 1980s. And just last year, Margot Robbie drove a modified first-generation Corvette model in 2023’s highest grossing movie, Barbie. And then there’s the world of auto racing. The Corvette Racing team has been completely dominant since its inception, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans nine times, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona four times, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and has claimed the top podium spot at countless more racing events. The Corvette has also won the Indy 500 a record 21 times. Become an Icon The Corvette, now in the midst of its eighth generation, is going stronger than ever. Introduced in 2019, the C8 dared to look forward by looking at the past, becoming the first rear mid-engine Corvette since the initial C1’s introduction in 1953. The base-model Stingray has become one of the most popular iterations of the Corvette yet – and thanks to the Corvette C8 E-Ray and its hybrid powertrain, the Corvette now has a blueprint in place to launch itself into the future. Get into Bokman of Wellsville today and see for yourself why America’s Sports Car is still the face of American automotive excellence all these years later. And make sure you make an appointment with our Service Department for all your spring maintenance needs. From tires to brakes to oil changes, we’ll make sure that your vehicle does what all Chevy vehicles do best: endure.

A lot can happen in three months. It’s easy to forget the immense amount of momentum the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV had accrued before a software-related stop-sale in January put the brakes on things. Pre-orders were piling up for the much-anticipated electric SUV, and MotorTrend deemed it a cut above its closest competitors in the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y Long Range. Now, the Chevy Blazer is back to seize its electric throne, as General Motors announced Friday it is resuming sales. Not only have the software issues that prompted the stoppage been addressed, but the Blazer EV returns with a handful of new software features. To cap it off, the MotorTrend SUV of the Year also sports a new, lower price to commemorate its return. The 2024 Blazer EV, along with its full Chevy family, is waiting for you at Bokman of Wellsville. But first, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves why we were so amped for the Blazer in the first place. Fire Sale The 2024 Chevy Blazer EV replaces 2019’s revamped Blazer crossover (itself a revival of the boxy, off-road 1969 Blazer.) The newest Blazer certainly fits its moniker from an aesthetic standpoint, with fiery styling and the implied forward motion of its horizontal creases running down the profile. The EV is slightly shorter than the gas Blazer yet offers ample ground clearance. The Blazer EV returns with four trims, with even more iterations to follow down the line. The four current trims are the LT AWD, RS AWD, and RS RWD. As mentioned, each trim now boasts a lower price tag. The LT AWD now starts at $50,195 (down from its original price of $56,715). The RS AWD starts at $54,595 (down from $60,215) and the sporty RS RWD runs at $56,170 (originally $61,790). It should be noted that the price drop is in response not to the sales stoppage, but to comparable price slashes by its Ford, Nissan, and Tesla competitors. What isn’t changing is the Blazer EV’s industry-leading efficiency numbers. Its real-world range has clocked in at 239 miles – 23 more than its acclaimed rival, the dual-motor Hyundai Ioniq 5. And with a max charge rate of 190 kW, the Blazer EV is a fast-charging marvel. Software Upgrade Enabled The Blazer EV’s cabin was one of its immediate selling points, and it’s still easy to see why. The future is evident in every pixel of its massive 17.7-inch infotainment screen. An additional 11-inch digital display gauge rests beside it. Meanwhile, navigation, music, and other apps are all handled by the Google built-in system. The Blazer EV used its time off productively, implementing even more software features. New Blazer drivers are now treated to customizable, multi-colored ambient lighting, as well as updated graphics with battery percentage display. GM also assures that it has improved its quality testing and software processes to prevent software issues from hindering the Blazer moving forward. Blaze Your Own Path It’s appropriate that the Blazer EV’s return coincides with the start of baseball season. Back in January, the SUV seemed prime for a huge season, only to have to watch from the sidelines throughout spring training. Thankfully, it’s back right in time for family trips, spring break, and whatever else that 2024 has set in store. Make the switch to electric today when you inquire about the Blazer EV at Bokman of Wellsville, your home for all things Chevy. Explore alternate electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Bolt EV. At Bokman of Wellsville, we recognize our customers as the trailblazers of tomorrow – and we're here to make sure you have everything you need for your journey.

One of two things probably come to mind when longtime Corvette owners read the above headline: “way to state the obvious,” or “that’s an understatement.” Corvette purists have been aware of the luxury sports car's consistency for decades, and we now have fresh polling data to further support the stellar reputation of America's supercar. Consumer Reports surveyed its members about their car purchases in 2023, focusing on one key question: if you had to do it over again, would you buy or lease the same model? Several luxury and high-performance vehicles jostled for the top spot, but it was the Corvette that emerged as the clear, consensus favorite. (I Can Get) Satisfaction An overwhelming 93 percent of Corvette owners said they would definitely buy the car again, the highest mark in the Consumer Reports poll. By comparison, 88 percent of Rivian R1T owners said they would definitely buy it again – and Rivian’s electric pickup finished with the second-highest satisfaction score. Only 81 percent said they would re-purchase the Hyundai Ioniq 6, a mark still good enough to claim the list’s tenth spot. The entire Consumer Reports list was as follows: 1. Chevrolet Corvette (93% satisfaction score) 2. Rivian R1T (88%) 3. Mazda MX-5 Miata (88%) 4. Lexus NX Hybrid (87%) 5. BMW X5 (85%) 6. Rivian R1S (84%) 7. Ford Maverick Hybrid (83%) 8. Kia Telluride (82%) 9. Honda Pilot (82%) 10. Hyundai Ioniq 6 (81%) Unlocking a New Gear The Corvette’s continued popularity should come as no surprise. Last month, it was named to Car and Driver’s 10Best list for the 25th time (the second-most appearances ever, trailing only the Honda Accord). Yet even as the Corvette has become synonymous with consistency, it’s done anything but rest on its laurels. With the 2025 Corvette, Chevy will enter the sixth model year of the eight-generation Corvette (or Corvette C8). The 2024 base-level Stingray was the most powerful production model yet. Thanks to its LT2 V8 engine, which focuses its power on the rear wheels, it was able to rocket a quarter mile in just 11.2 seconds. The Stingray also boasts 495 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, and its 0-to-60-time clocks in at a mere 2.9 seconds. Step Into a Corvett e Whether you’re a longtime Corvette loyalist or simply someone who demands satisfaction, you'll find everything you're looking for at Bokman of Wellsville. If the Corvette isn't your style, we've got a wide range of new and pre-owned Chevy vehicles – such as MotorTrend’s 2024 Truck of the Year, the Chevy Colorado. No survey is needed after your trip to Bokman of Wellsville; when you drive off our lot, we make sure you're one hundred percent satisfied.