The "barn find" original 1957 convertibles just don't exist any more, if they ever did. YES to all of these – except that, as I’ve said before, if you asked a dozen people, you’d get a dozen different answers. This is the Vette that wasn’t supposed to be. Mechanically, the 1979 Corvette was a far cry from its older, more powerful predecessors. Subaru originally said the owners were to blame for not properly maintaining their cars, but later admitted the problem was widespread. In 1978, Chevrolet introduced the incredibly popular black-and-silver Indy 500 Pace Car and Silver Anniversary editions. Harley Earl was in his final months running the GM Design department when it was time to redecorate the Corvette for 1958. Working with fiberglass is a specialized skill, and most amateurs just cannot do it. As an aficionado of all-things Corvette, it took me considerable time to assemble a “best of/worst of” list that I felt would do justice to my beloved sports car. The boxer engine design forces you to put in ten times the amount of effort as you would for an easy in-line four. That’s simply stunning overall performance for an entry-level Corvette. And, even though they were rated at 435 horsepower, they consistently hit 500 ponies on the dyno. From day one to the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and Corvette Grand Sport, the Vette truly has defined itself as “America’s Sports Car.” But first…when was the first year of the Corvette? Nine years after introducing the C6, Chevrolet ushered in the seventh-generation C7 Corvette in 2014. Every race run during this season was won either by the No. The 1970s were hell for American manufactures who were forced to bow to the almighty environmental laws aimed to reduce vehicle emissions. Another turd? By using LiveAbout, you accept our, How to Understand Used Car Salvage Titles, The Top 10 Questions to Ask a Used Car Dealer, Hertz Rent2Buy Program a New Way To Buy Used Cars, 10 Best and Worst Cities to Buy a Cheap Used Car. This is simply an astonishing value for one of the greatest sports cars of the 1990s. This newfound respect is likely to lead to increasing values in the near future — especially as kids who grew up with C4 posters on their walls find themselves with enough spare cash to make that childhood fantasy come true. In its 15th year of production, it had few fans left and open derision was the norm among enthusiasts. Some car “goo-roos” just have the wrong idea about the Corvette. Even with so many Corvettes to choose from, and even after researching and writing about some of the other Corvettes listed in this article, our selection for the number one “best” Corvette of all time was really pretty simple – and, for the Corvette enthusiasts reading this article – probably pretty obvious. Chevrolet only produced 21,513 of these amazing Corvettes, and while many are now part of private collections across the country and around the world, it is still possible to find one for sale from time to time. The 1954 Corvette, which was largely a carryover from the 1953 model year, came at a high sticker-price for its day. Hopefully it will become a collectors item someday as the first C6. The 350 cubic-inch, L83 engine produced an unimpressive 200 horsepower. There is really no right or wrong answer when it comes to which is the best year C6 Corvette to purchase. The Chevrolet Corvette (C6) is the sixth generation of the Corvette sports car that was produced by Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 2005 to 2013 model years. All rights reserved. Boo! Aesthetics? This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. You can buy a comparatively inexpensive Corvette, but if you don't love it, why bother? The hatchback’s (no convertible until 1998) big rear end also boasted impressive cargo space — in fact, at 25 cubic feet, more than you’d find in the trunk of a Cadillac DeVille. Here's Everything You Need to Know, The Best Way to Sell Your Car: Trade In vs. Carmax vs. Craigslist, Used Car Repairs: When to Fix It and When Not To, Buying a Car Out of State: When It Makes Sense and How to Do It, Which Toyota Land Cruiser Should I Buy? It is the first Corvette with exposed headlamps since the 1962 model. Car and Driver ran the '75 Corvette off against the ignoble Bricklin SV1 in its May 1975 issue and found Chevy's plastic car with the base 350 and three-speed automatic transmission took a brutal 7.7 seconds to waltz from zero to 60 mph and needed 16.1 seconds to run the quarter-mile at a lugubrious 87.4 mph. Since he was a boy, Scott has had a love affair with cars - and sports cars in particular. Then they added fake louvers on the hood and more chrome. Receive pricing updates, shopping tips & more! The very first generation of Chevrolet Corvette hit production on June 30th, 1953. The Exhaust Note? It would go down as one of the most sought after hard-top Vettes ever produced, because it is the only year the “split window” was made. In other words, you can plop a huge mofo between the front fenders, set the car up right with a decent rear end, smooth automatic transmission, exhaust and you’re good to go. There's only one thing that makes the 1995 Corvette pace car less hideous — and that is the 1998 Corvette Pace Car. Many fans think this era is the purest expression of a modern Corvette. 1975 Corvette Base Low-mile Lexus: 2004 LS 430 with 35k Miles, Last of the Rear Drive Volvos: 960 Sedan with 45k Miles, Scam Alert: Mercedes-Benz E300 Diesel with Odometer Rollback, 1983 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible with 29k Miles, 1999 BMW 528i Sedan with Manual Transmission, 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT with 19k Miles, What's the Best Cheap Porsche 911? The 1975 Corvette was almost destined to fail before it was ever introduced. More important than either of those is how the car has been treated. Some auto enthusiasts wrongly hail the 1953 Corvette to be the most flawed. But under the skin all was good, with a new, all-aluminum 5.7-liter, 345-hp “LS1” V8 as well as a new chassis with a rear-mounted transmission that contributed to more passenger room as well as much easier ingress/egress versus the C4. It depends on what they want to do with them—for instance, if you're planning to cut it up and make a custom or a race car. Both cars evolved from the C7 Corvette Stingray, which was introduced in 2014, and includes a carbon-fiber roof and hood, a dry-sump oil system, titanium intake valves, a hydroforme aluminum frame and composite floor panels (which offer both strength and lightweight design.). For starters, the car received almost immediate criticism for being far too “harsh-riding” during daily driving. And, to really make matters more interesting, the cubes were upped to 327. Some owners found themselves changing their transmission more often than their tyres! By comparison, the C4 is old enough to have a (growing) period appeal, while the C6 still looks sharp and modern. The C6 Corvette was the sixth generation of the Chevrolet Corvette and lasted from 2005 to 2013. To get the 6-speed manual in a new Z28, you had to opt for the extra package cost. To “celebrate” the departure of the third-generation Corvette, Chevrolet offered a final, commemorative “Collectors Edition” model. Even the lid on the center console was white. A: Absolutely, but it depends on how you want to play the value game. The Z06 option stiffened the suspension, tightened the ratios in the Muncie four-speed manual gearbox, beefed up the car’s stopping power with bigger drum brakes, and added a massive 36.5-gallon fuel tank to the car. Turbo was a two-speed Powerglide automatic were equally unimpressive to Corvette ’ s important to...., Buying guide: Pontiac Trans Am ( 1970-1981 ), Buying guide: Pontiac Trans Am ( 1970-1981,! 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