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FROM THE VAULT: CHEVROLET TANDEM 2000 MAKES ITS DEBUT AT SEMA, 20 YEARS LATER(Chevrolet press release - 03 November 1999) |
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With apologies to the Beatles: It was 20 years ago today, we built a concept car at Chevrolet. It�s been going in and out of style, but it�s guaranteed to raise a smile. The Tandem 2000 presents an exciting opportunity to get inside the heads of concept car designers and engineers from two decades ago - and to get inside one of their products. In the late 1970s, the world was in the throes of an energy crisis, and GM�s Research and Design Staff developed the Tandem 2000 as an experimental exercise in lightweight, low-cost, high-mileage, commuter vehicles. With some radical styling thrown in for an exotic touch. |
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The Tandem 2000, which is its original name so it seems appropriate to finally take the wraps off it as the millennium nears, was conceived as a low-cost street version of a Formula One Grand Prix car. After its creation it did the focus group tour, and has been updated periodically over the years, but has never before appeared in public until the 1999 SEMA show. The seats are 1985 Corvette. The exterior mirrors are 1985 Camaro and Firebird. The dashboard and shifter assembly are Fiero. Much of its suspension parts are Fiero - other bits are handmade, as are some of the interior panels. So it shares some parts, but the Tandem 2000 was a unique application. It�s a rear-engined two-seater that stands just over four feet tall on a 114.7-inch wheelbase and weighs just 2478 pounds. Its steel-tube frame is handmade and buffeted by six crossmembers, with bending and torsion estimates placed at well above 30 Hz. The Tandem is powered by a 2.0-liter four from GM�s previous J-cars, mated to a fuel-sipping three-speed automatic. The small 10-gallon fuel tank is located in front of the engine behind the rear seat. The concept car is distinguished by its dark blue, one-piece fiberglass body shell, with two hatches for people and one rear hatch for the engine. If anything, it was the radical bodystyle of the Tandem 2000 that led some customer clinics to produce love-it-or-hate-it reactions. But a look back from the fresh perspective of a new millennium shows that Tandem 2000 was clearly a car and an idea ahead of its time. At the very least, there�s a lot to learn from such a vehicle, both in its own era�s context and in today�s context as well. Plus it�s fun to roll it out onto the show floor after all these years.
Weights/dimensions Overall Width- 58.8 in. Wheel Base- 114.7 in. Track- 59.8 in. Overall Length- 175in. Ground Clearance-5.5 in. Curb weight: 2428 lbs. Weight distribution: 61% front/39% rear LF- 464 lbs. RF- 453 lbs. LR- 758 lbs. RR- 753 lbs.
Chassis / suspension Front Suspension: SLA with hand-made lower tube arms with rod ends Upper arm, hand-made combination rocker to coil-over-shock Springs are coil-over-shock, Koni unit Spindles are Fiero Stabilizer bar is off the end of rocker with links, 0.5" diameter No rubber furnishings Rear Suspension: SLA with Fiero lower arm and cradle assemble Upper arm is hand-made combination rocker Spring is coil-over, Koni unit No rear stabilizer bar Spindle is Fiero Steering: Rack-and-pinion aftermarket, non-power Column is Fiero Steering wheel is Corvette (no air bag) Brakes: 9.5" front and rear disc Single-piston calipers Power brake booster, vacuum operated Chassis: Hand-made from 2" x 4" x .125 square steel tubing Front and rear sub frame made from 2" x 2" x .125 steel tubing 2 large major cross members 4 small cross members Estimate that bending and torsion is above 30 HZ No bumper structure
Engine / gearbox
Body Dark blue exterior color Two side-hinged hatches for entry/exit Rear hatch for engine Floor is .075 sheet aluminum Outside mirrors from 1985 F-car
Interior Seats are 1985 Corvette Dash is Fiero Shifter assembly is Fiero No audio system
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