Corvette Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter to Retire
Five men, heroes all to the automotive culture in general and the Corvette community in particular: Zora Arkus-Duntov, Dave McLellan, Dave Hill, Tom Wallace, and Tadge Juechter.
The Chevrolet Corvette has only had five chief engineers, and Tadge Juechter, the current one, announced his retirement today. It will take place later this summer.
Juechter, 63, will leave behind a 43-year career working for General Motors. He started with GM in 1977, at the Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant.
He transferred to Corvette in 1993. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime to work at this company, leading the men and women who have brought to life one of the most iconic and recognizable vehicles in recent American history,” Juechter said in a statement. “Their tenacity and ability to push what is possible with every variant and generation of Corvette was inspiring to see. I know the future of the nameplate is in the right hands.”
Juechter worked for chief engineers Dave Hill and Tom Wallace before being named to the job himself. Juechter did not bring as strong of a motorsports background to the job as some of the chief engineers he succeeded, but he’s responsible for the biggest change in Corvette history—moving the platform from front-engine to mid-engine—and seamlessly dovetailing that into the Corvette C8.R mid-engine race car.
After launching the C5 and C6, Juechter was appointed to what he described as “the promotion of a lifetime,” as executive chief engineer for Corvette. In this role, he led the development of the 7th- and mid-engine 8th- generation cars, including the Corvette E-Ray hybrid.
“His most recent involvement will be reflected in the upcoming ZR1, which Chevy teased earlier this month and is expected to be revealed this summer,” said Chevrolet, but you can be certain that when the C9 Corvette debuts, it will have Juechter’s fingerprints on it.
Chevrolet has not named Juechter’s successor, and it may be a bit complicated, as Josh Holder was named Corvette chief engineer in 2020, while the retiring Juechter is, as mentioned above, executive chief engineer. Whether Holder gets Juechter’s job, and his title, remains to be seen.
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Dave Hill started the most respected era of the Corvette and Tadge and Tom carried it on. I am sure the team is in good hands.
Tadge did a great job. I am sorry to see him go!
I’ve known Tadge for over 35 years. There is absolutely no doubt that he knows how to engineer a great road car. But even though Tadge didn’t have the racing background as other Chief Engineers as mentioned above, he completely understood the engineering, the executive support, the sacrifices, and the capital required to make the Corvette as exceptional as it is on the track. I can’t remember 1 time he denied me any support I requested when it came to track requests, and believe me, I asked for a lot. His intelligence intimidated me, but his personality eliminated that intimidation. If there was ever an icon that chief engineers should look up to to emulate, that person would be Tadge Juechter.
Jim you should know him better than anyone. We. Miss your lap records too. Hope your retirement has been going well.
I don’t think the Eray is a “plug-in hybrid”
Good eye, Paul. I’ve corrected that. Thanks. -E
He has had a successful carer with Chevrolet’s most iconic car. I’m sure the next guy will be a good choice, they seem to pick an enthusiast for the chief Corvette guy. Congrats to Tadge!
My husband had an early Corvette when we were dating in 1960. It was white with red upholstery. Beautiful car and made my friends envious! I knew Dave McClelland by having his son in class. He was able to go with his father to the large auto shows.
Hagerty currently immures our 1970 Mercury Monterey Convertible. I’ve never seen another one.