It wasn't the postal worker, the cabbie or the diaper-bag-toting mom whose approving hollers surprised me. I heard all three (among a slew of others). I'd spent the better part of a week in a white Corvette 427 convertible — a sort of last hurrah before GM unveils a redesigned 'Vette for 2014. But it was the last observer, staring out the window of a passing SUV, who gave me pause. Or paws, as it were.

It was a dog.

Maybe he was eyeing every car, but I'd like to think he had eyes only for the 'Vette. Everyone loves the Chevy icon.

The surprisingly livable 2013 Chevrolet Corvette marks a fitting end to GM's sixth-generation icon: Enjoy the attention, grab a gear and let 'er rip — all shortcomings are forgiven.