Corvette Glossary Of Terms
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
T-Top
An automotive T-top (UK: T-bar) is an automobile roof with removable panels on either side of a rigid bar running from the center of one structural bar between pillars to the center of the next structural bar. The panels of a traditional T-top are usually made of auto grade safety glass.
The T-top was patented by Gordon Buehrig on June 5, 1951. It was used in the design of the unsuccessful TASCO sports car.
The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette coupe was the first U.S.-built production automobile to feature a T-top roof. This increased the popularity of the coupe, such that it outsold the convertible and later led to the discontinuation of the Corvette convertible after 1975 until it was revived in 1986. Post-C3 models were built with a targa top instead of a T-top.<
The T-top was made famous in the movie Smokey & the Bandit, mainly because the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am driven by Burt Reynolds in the movie was outfitted with a T-top. Information courtesy of Wikipedia. Corvsport Page References: C3 Overview, 1968 Overview.
Thompson, Dick
Dr. Dick Thompson (born in 1920 or 1921) is a retired American racecar driver. A Washington, D.C. dentist by trade, he is known as “The Flying Dentist”. He won numerous Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) championships and was inducted in the Corvette Hall of Fame. Thompson brought credibility to the Corvette as a world-class sports car. Active from the late 1950s until the 1970s, Thompson raced for several notable racers, including the factory Corvette team for John Fitch and Briggs Cunningham.
Thompson started racing in 1952 in one of the first 12 hour races at Sebring International Raceway. He drove to the track in his MG TD, and co-drove the car to an eighth place finish. He caught Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov’s eye in 1956, when Thompson was the only driver to compete in a production Corvette. He won the SCCA championship in his Corvette in 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961 and 1962 in Classes A, B and C. He was selected to test drive a new Corvette Grand Sport at Sebring in December 1962. In 1963, he drove a Corvette Grand Sport to victory at Watkins Glen International. He took third place that year at Daytona International Speedway and won the GT class in 1970.
Thompson used his knowledge of the Corvette to write The Corvette Guide in 1958. He never made enough money to cover more than his expenses. He had never quit his dentistry business, so he decided to concentrate on that business full-time. He has raced occasionally in events since his retirement. He lives in Wellington, Florida as of October 2007.
Dick Thompson was inducted in the Corvette Hall of Fame in 2000. Information courtesy of Wikipedia. Corvsport Page References: C2 Overview.
Tonneau
A hard or soft cover used to protect unoccupied passenger seats in a convertible, roadster, or for a pickup truck bed. Hard tonneau covers open by a hinging or folding mechanism while soft covers open by rolling up. These covers, made of leather or vinyl, cover the entire passenger compartment, and are zippered to enable the driver’s seating area to be uncovered, while the passenger seat and small rear storage space behind the seats remained covered. Tonneaus may be used in lieu of hard or soft convertible tops. Content courtesy of Wikipedia. Corvsport Page References: 1998 Overview.
Toray Composites America (TCA)
Toray Composites (America), Inc. , (TCA) was established as a Washington State corporation in May of 1992. Located on 25 acres in the Port of Tacoma’s Frederickson Industrial area, it is within 24 miles of scenic Mt. Rainier. TCA’s facilities include a prepreg production facility as well as a state-of-the-art Technical Center charged with research and development of new carbon composites applications. Content courtesy of Toray Composites America Website. Corvsport Page References: 2004 Overview.
Transaxle
A major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly. Content courtesy of Wikipedia. Corvsport Page References: C2 Overview.
TREMEC 7-Speed TR-6070 Manual Transmission
The seven-speed manual incorporates active rev-matching technology for upshifts and downshifts. This driver-selectable feature can be easily engaged or disengaged via paddles on the steering wheel. The seven-speed is used with a new dual-mass flywheel and dual-disc clutch, which deliver greater shift quality and feel through lower inertia. The transmission with the Z51 Performance Package includes specific close-ratio gearing for more aggressive driving. Content courtesy of Tremec.com. Corvsport Page Reference: C7 Corvette.
TREMEC T-56 Transmission
The T-56 six-speed manual transmission has been used in a wide range of vehicles from General Motors, Dodge, and Ford Motor Company. The transmission was originally designed and built by Borg-Warner for the Dodge Viper. Later, GM began using it in 1992 by pairing it with the Generation II and later engines. As of 1998, TREMEC began building the transmissions exclusively, though nothing changed internally from the Borg Warner design. The T-56 has been succeeded by the Tremec TR-6060 transmission in many former T-56 applications, as well as applications requiring greater strength than the T-56 could offer. Content courtesy of Wikipedia. Corvsport Page Reference: 2005 Corvette.
Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission
Turbo-Hydramatic is the registered tradename of a family of automatic transmissions developed and produced by General Motors. These transmissions mate a three-element torque converter to a Simpson planetary gear train, providing three forward speeds plus reverse.
The Turbo-Hydramatic (THM) series was developed to replace both the original Hydra-Matic models and the Buick Dynaflow. In its original incarnation as the Turbo-Hydramatic 400, it was first used in the 1964 model year in Cadillacs. The Buick version, which followed shortly thereafter, was known as the Super-Turbine 400. By 1973, THM units had replaced all of GM’s other automatic transmissions including Chevrolet’s Powerglide, Buick’s Super Turbine 300, and Oldsmobile’s Jetaway. Starting in the early 1980s, the Turbo-Hydramatic was gradually supplanted by four-speed automatics, some of which continue to use the “Hydramatic” trade name. Content courtesy of Wikipedia. Corvsport Page References: C2 Overview, 1968 Overview, 1970 Overview, 1974 Overview, 1976 Overview.
Twin Turbochargers
Twin-turbo refers to a turbocharged engine, in which two turbochargers compress the intake charge. There are two commonly used twin turbo configurations: parallel twin-turbo and sequential twin-turbo. A third kind of twin-turbocharging, staged turbocharging, is used in diesel automobile racing applications. Content courtesy of Wikipedia. Corvsport Page References: 1987 Overview.
