Most of us have seen the commercial for the new Fiat Abarth 500, which is more than slightly risque. But now comes a video - not a real commercial! - from Fratres Films that more accurately describes the way Corvette owners feel about their cars. This one's still pretty racy, so viewer discretion is advised - not safe for work - your mileage may vary.

Best wishes to all for a happy Corvette new year!

Most of us Corvette owners spend a lot of time thinking about our bodywork - all that fine fiberglass with its sinuous, muscular bulges and curves. And we spend time on the engine, brakes, interior and suspension as well - but there's a critical part of every Corvette that often gets neglected, and that's the car's frame.

At restoration time - or after any accident - one of the things you want to be sure to include on your to-do list is to check your Corvette's frame for straightness and level. Especially with older cars, crash damage can be lurking far below those pretty fenders. If your Corvette has an unexplained pull to one side, or seems to take corners better in one direction than the other, that's another clue that your car's frame may not be on the straight and level with you.

Luckily, a good body shop can check your car's frame for straightness and true. Many modern alignment shops can detect frame damage, too, if they use the latest in laser-based alignment tools. Read on for more information about frame damage and what you can do about it.

One task that every vintage Corvette owner will have to perform sooner or later is a carpet replacement.

I won't lie to you - it's a terrible job. The old carpet is always dusty and frequently it's moldy and stinky. You have to work with knives and it's easy to slip and cut yourself. And carpet kits never seem to fit as well as the original carpet did. But the results when you do it right are nothing short of amazing. Your Corvette will look much newer (at least on the inside) and it will get back a measure of that new car smell that everyone loves. Replacing the carpet is also a good chance to put down some sound-deadening material and heat shielding if your exhaust has been cooking your heels like a V8-powered barbecue.

So if you know this task is in your future, Read on for the complete step-by-step instructions on replacing your Corvette's carpet. The process is pretty much the same for all years, but we did this project on a lovely '69 coupe. You'll be hearing more about this car in the future, so stay tuned!

This video is amazing - watch as GM engineer Tom Norkiewicz puts the C6 Corvette through its paces at the GM Desert Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona. Norkiewicz has 22 years experience, mostly at the Desert Proving Ground, where he helps develop the ride control systems for GM vehicles. How would you like that for a job? Sign me up! Norkiewicz gets to drive Corvettes to the limit of their ample capabilities year-round.

Santa, I know what I want in my stocking this year!