Built with Germany's IVM to homologate a Le Mans GT2 racer, the C12 kept only the C5's door cuts and glass. Twenty were made at about $200,000 each, and the C12.R took pole at Le Mans in 2001.
C5 CORVETTE - 2000
The 2000 Corvette
The quiet year before the Z06: new forged thin-spoke wheels with a polished option, bigger Z51 bars, an LS1 recalibrated to California LEV, and the last 2,090 fixed-roof hardtops. On track, the 7.0-liter C5-R took its first wins at Texas and Petit Le Mans. 33,682 built, the C5’s best year.
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The Basics
Model & Gen: 2000 Corvette (C5)
Body Type: Two-door hatchback coupe with lift-off roof panel, two-door convertible, and the fixed-roof hardtop in its second and last year (six-speed and Z51 standard, black leather only)
VIN: 1G1YY?2G?Y5100001 – 1G1YY?2G?Y5133682 (hardtops 1G1YY12…, coupes 1G1YY22…, convertibles 1G1YY32…; one shared sequence)
Original Price: $39,475.00 coupe; $45,900.00 convertible; $38,900.00 hardtop
Colors: 10 (plus one export Platinum Power Purple): Torch Red, Black, Light Pewter, Millennium Yellow (new, $500), Magnetic Red ($500), Sebring Silver, Navy Blue, Arctic White, Dark Bowling Green (new), Nassau Blue; hardtops in five; interiors in Black, Light Gray, Light Oak and Torch Red (new)
Engine: 346 ci (5.7 L) LS1 all-aluminum V-8, 345 hp and 350 lb-ft, recalibrated to California LEV standards with platinum plugs
Transmission: 4L60-E four-speed automatic standard on coupe and convertible (20,362 cars); Borg-Warner T56 six-speed $815 (MN6), standard on the hardtop; 13,320 six-speeds in all
Units Produced: 33,682 (18,113 coupes + 13,479 convertibles + 2,090 hardtops)
The Overview
After three years of new bodies, 2000 was a year of detail. The standard five-spoke wheel was redesigned as a forged, flow-formed rim with thinner spokes, offered polished for $895 (RPO QF5), and proved so popular polished that in January 2000 Chevrolet switched the standard wheel to a painted casting from another supplier to free up polishing capacity; the Speedline magnesium wheels came down to $2,000. Millennium Yellow, a $500 tint-coat, and Dark Bowling Green Metallic joined the chart, Magnetic Red stayed at $500, Torch Red leather replaced Firethorn Red, and a single Platinum Power Purple car was built for export. The Z51 package got bigger front and rear stabilizer bars and revised damping, Real Time Damping new algorithms and softer jounce bumpers, the six-speed a stronger centering spring for its shifter, and the body new windshield seals and seat trim. The LS1 kept its 345 hp but was recalibrated through a new powertrain controller to meet California’s LEV standard everywhere, with 100,000-mile platinum plugs, and the passive keyless entry that had puzzled owners since 1993 gave way to a push-button fob, which let Chevrolet delete the passenger-door lock cylinder. Prices rose to $39,475 for the coupe, $45,900 for the convertible and $38,900 for the hardtop.
The hardtop returned for a second year, still six-speed, Z51 and black leather only, with five colors and its own short option list, and sold 2,090 against the convertible’s 13,479 and the coupe’s 18,113; it was the last fixed-roof coupe, because the 2001 Z06 would take the shell and the name. The Head-Up Display went into 26,482 cars, Active Handling into 22,668 (two in three) on its way to becoming standard, the telescoping column into 22,182 and Twilight Sentinel into 23,508, so the ordinary 2000 Corvette was the best-equipped C5 yet; the parcel net (AP9) and a lighting package were the hardtop’s only concessions to comfort. Chevrolet’s own figures stood at 4.72 seconds to 60 mph with the six-speed, 13.36 at 109.4, 172 mph and 0.93 g, and the magazines kept finding 4.8 and 13.3.
Corvette Racing’s second season made the year’s news. The C5-R’s 6.0-liter engine gave way to a 7.0-liter Katech V-8, and the cars finished third and fourth in GTS, 10th and 11th overall, at Le Mans in June behind the Vipers; on September 2 Ron Fellows and Andy Pilgrim won the GTS class at Texas Motor Speedway, the program’s first victory, and on September 30 the No. 4 car won GTS at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta with the No. 3 third. Production ended on June 26, 2000 at 33,682, 18,113 coupes, 13,479 convertibles and 2,090 hardtops, the most of any C5 year. Today the 2000 is the sweet spot of the LS1 C5s: the fob, the HUD and the forged wheels without first-year problems, at prices from $14,000 for a driver to $26,000–$31,000 for low-mileage six-speeds and convertibles in 2026, and the last 2,090 hardtops carry a small premium as the Z06’s understudy.
The 2000 Corvette Story
Since its inception in 1997, the C5 Corvette had proved to the world that it was not only a serious contender on the street but on the racetrack as well. The arrival of the new century – and the new millennium – did nothing to deter that opinion.
While the 2000 C5 Corvette underwent little physical modification from that of its predecessor, it did receive some limited design changes as well as some unique enhancements that continued to perpetuate the car's popularity both on the track and at the dealership.
Corvette began the new millennium with continued momentum at the racetrack. While the C5-R had established itself as a contender at the racetrack during the 1999 racing season, Chevrolet decided to increase the car’s capabilities for the 2000 season. To start, Chevrolet replaced the race car's 6.0 liter engine with a 7.0 liter V-8, which resulted in a net increase of 20 horsepower for the 2000 C5-R. The car placed third and fourth in its class (10th and 11th overall) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, 2000.
In September of that same season, Corvette (and its drivers Ron Fellows and Andy Pilgrim) would gain its first victory in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
Production Corvettes did not receive any substantial mechanical changes for the 2000 model year, though a few enhancements were made. Perhaps the most notable of these involved the upgrades made to the Z51 Performance Handling Package. To start, the Z51 Package included larger stabilizer bars on both the front and rear of the car and the introduction of revised shock-absorbers damping. While these changes did not produce a notably stiffer ride, they did improve handling, especially in transient maneuvers, by increasing roll stiffness.
Most of the other mechanical improvements for the 2000 Corvette centered around drivability and ride stability as well. Engineering improvements were made to the Selective Real-Time Damping suspension. These changes largely involved the introduction of new or revised algorithms integrated with a re-designed (softer) jounce bumper for ride and handling improvements.
Did you know? Production of a single C5 Corvette takes 55 hours from start to finish. However, this is actually 15 hours less than the production of the C4 Corvette. This is due in large part to the fact that the C5 Corvette actually had fewer mechanical components than the earlier Corvette
Additionally, improvements were also made to the manual-transmission shifter. The tension of the spring that located the shifter between the first-second gear gate and the fifth-sixth gate in the manual transmission was increased to provide a better sense of gear location and selection.
Still other mechanical improvements included improved windshield seals, the introduction of dual-zone climate control, and changes to the seat belts, seat materials and seat construction.
Cosmetically, there were virtually no changes made to the car design, although there were some minor improvements made to the detailing on the car.
Most significant of these were the modifications made to the standard five-spoke aluminum wheels. The new wheels were now fully forged with a flow-formed rim for greater durability, even though the new wheels featured thinner spokes than their predecessors.
While the new “thin-spoke” design was standard, a polished version of the wheel was also made available to consumers under option RPO QF5 at an additional cost of $895.00. The popularity of this alternate polished wheel caused Chevrolet to announce in January, 2000 that a new, painted wheel from a different supplier would become standard to permit an increase in production of the polished wheel. This new standard wheel was similar in design, though it did feature slightly thicker spokes.
The proximity-based keyless entry system, which had proved to be perplexing to many consumers, was discontinued for 2000 in favor of a more conventional keyfob that utilized button controlled actuation. While the proximity controlled system had been around since its introduction in the 1993 Corvette, few consumers were saddened to see it replaced by this new, more conventional access-control system, which enabled drivers to lock and un-lock their cars with the press of a button.
As an added benefit of providing an easily usable keyless entry system, Chevrolet designers decided to eliminate the passenger side outside door lock, leaving the driver-side key cylinder as the only mechanical means of locking/unlocking the Corvette in the event of a dead battery.
RACING: After making its debut return to racing in 1999, the C5-R Corvette proved its mettle in the 2000 season by competing – and winning races – in the American Le Mans Series. First, on September 2, 2000, the No. 3 Corvette Racing's C5-R Corvette finished first in the GTS race class (and eighth overall) after qualifying/starting second and running a total of 116 laps. Next, on September 30, 2000, team Corvette Racing's car No. 4 finished first in the GTS class (and 9th overall) after completing 358 laps at Road Atlanta. Car No. 3 (also of Corvette Racing) finished 3rd in the GTS class (and 11th overall) at the same race.
To commemorate the arrival of the new millennium, Chevrolet offered two new paint colors for the 2000 model year – Millennium Yellow and Dark Bowling Green Metallic. Much like 1999’s Magnetic Red Metallic (which carried over into 2000), Millennium Yellow carried an additional cost of $500.00. The additional cost was not for the paint itself but for the special equipment and process required for producing a tinted clear coat that added visual depth to the paint's appearance.
Production Volumes
Prices for the Corvette increased only marginally for the 2000 model year. The Corvette coupe was now priced at $39,475 and accounted for a total of 18,113 units sold that year. The convertible price was increased to $45,900 and accounted for 13,479 units that year. By comparison, the FRC was priced lowest at $38,900, but only accounted for 2,090 units that year. While the Coupe, Convertible, and FRC Hardtop (Fixed Roof Coupe) all returned for the 2000 model year, it would mark the last year for the FRC Coupe. While some consumers claimed that the short-lived run of the FRC Corvette was the direct result of poor sales figures, the reality of the decision was somewhat more complex. While the hardtop Corvette promised increased performance, it offered little real performance improvement over the base model coupe. Still, while the improved suspension, steering and handling did provide consumers a superior driving experience in some respects, General Motors was about to change the face of the Corvette market forever by introducing a variant of the hardtop coupe that would be more powerful than almost any Corvette that had come before it.
The 2000 C5-R Corvette was piloted by drivers Ron Fellows and Andy Pilgrim. Bowling Green built exactly one Platinum Power Purple Corvette in 2000, a coupe for export, and it shows on the plant’s color chart as code EXP with a count of 1. Rarer than the fifteen Aztec Golds of 1998, it is the only one-of-one factory color in C5 production, and the Torch Red interior that replaced Firethorn Red that year went into just 1,164 cars. The polished wheels were the opposite problem: so many buyers paid $895 for them that Chevrolet changed the standard wheel supplier in January 2000 to keep the polishing line clear.
DID YOU KNOW
Special & Limited Edition Models
The C5-R, in its first winning season, has its own section below. Also here: the Callaway C12 and the modified and racing 2000s on the site.
The Corvette C5-R in 2000: the first wins
Corvette Racing’s second season. Pratt & Miller’s C5-R swapped its 6.0-liter engine for a 7.0-liter Katech V-8 of about 620 hp, finished third and fourth in GTS (10th and 11th overall) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June behind the Vipers, and then started winning: Ron Fellows and Andy Pilgrim took the GTS class at Texas Motor Speedway on September 2, 2000, the program’s first victory, and the No. 4 car won GTS at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on September 30 with the No. 3 car third. The overall win at Daytona and the first Le Mans class win followed in 2001.
MORE: THE C5-R STORY
Price & Options
Core Features & Factory Options
Prices moved up a little for 2000: $39,475.00 for the coupe, $45,900.00 for the convertible and $38,900.00 for the hardtop (the figures $39,280, $45,705 and $38,705 that appear in some references are the early-year list prices before a $195 increase). 18,113 coupes, 13,479 convertibles and 2,090 hardtops were built, the convertible taking four cars in ten. The six-speed (MN6, $815.00) went into 13,320 cars, 2,090 of them hardtops where it was the only transmission, so 11,230 coupe and convertible buyers chose it against 20,362 automatics; 14,090 of the automatics had the $100.00 3.15:1 axle (G92).
The revised Z51 package ($350.00) went on 7,775 cars, Real Time Damping (F45, $1,695.00) on 6,724 coupes and convertibles, and the Active Handling System (JL4, $500.00) on 22,668 cars, two in three, in its last year as an option. The new polished wheels (QF5, $895.00) went on 15,204 cars, nearly half, and the Speedline magnesium wheels, cut to $2,000.00 (N73), on 2,652.
Millennium Yellow (79U, $500.00) was chosen for 3,578 cars and Magnetic Red (86U, $500.00) for 2,941. California emissions (YF5) became a no-cost item, taken on 3,628 cars.
The Head-Up Display (UV6, $375.00) went into 26,482 coupes and convertibles, the power telescoping column (N37, $350.00) into 22,182, Twilight Sentinel (T82, $60.00) into 23,508 and the Memory Package (AAB, $150.00) into 26,595. Sport seats (AQ9, now $700.00) went into 27,103 cars, the power passenger seat (AG2, $305.00) into 29,462 and dual-zone air (CJ2, $365.00) into 29,428; the CD player (UN0, $100.00) into 24,696 and the changer (U1S, $600.00) into 15,809. On the coupe, the glass roof (CC3, $650.00) went on 6,280 cars and the dual-roof package, up to $1,100.00 (C2L), on 5,605, leaving 6,213 with the body-color panel alone; 15,689 coupes took the luggage shade (D42, $50.00).
The hardtop’s list was the power driver seat (AG1, $305.00, 1,841 cars), the Bose package (UZ6, $820.00, 1,766), the lighting package (TR9, $95.00, 1,527), the parcel net (AP9, $15.00, 938), Active Handling (1,110), the CD changer (543) and moldings; the plant’s charts show a few hundred late hardtops with polished wheels, fog lamps, dual-zone air or the HUD. Floor mats (B34, $25.00) went into 33,188 cars, fog lamps (T96, $69.00) 31,992, moldings (B84, $75.00) 18,773 and the plate frame (V49, $15.00) 17,380.
A loaded F45 automatic coupe with the HUD, column, polished wheels and Millennium Yellow listed at about $49,000; a hardtop with the power seat, Bose and Active Handling at $40,525.
MORE: PRICING, OPTIONS & COLORS / RPO CODES
| CODE | DESCRIPTION | QUANTITY | RETAIL PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1YY07 | Base Corvette Hatchback Coupe (345-hp LS1, 4L60-E automatic, body-color lift-off roof panel, leather seats, power driver seat, Delco cassette with Bose speakers, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, ABS and traction control, forged five-spoke wheels, run-flat tires) | 18,113 | $39,475.00 |
| 1YY37 | Base Corvette Hardtop (fixed-roof body with trunk; six-speed, 3.42 axle and Z51 standard; black leather manual seats, manual air, four-speaker radio; five colors; final year) | 2,090 | $38,900.00 |
| 1YY67 | Base Corvette Convertible (as coupe, with manual top, glass rear window and trunk) | 13,479 | $45,900.00 |
| AR9 | Base Seats, leather (standard; the only hardtop seat) | 4,104 | no charge |
| FE1 | Base Suspension (coupe, convertible; standard) | 24,159 | no charge |
| 79U | Millennium Yellow tint-coat paint (coupe, convertible) | 3,578 | $500.00 |
| 86U | Magnetic Red Metallic tint-coat paint (coupe, convertible) | 2,941 | $500.00 |
| AAB | Memory Package (coupe, convertible; requires CJ2) | 26,595 | $150.00 |
| AG1 | Six-Way Power Driver Seat (hardtop) | 1,841 | $305.00 |
| AG2 | Six-Way Power Passenger Seat (coupe, convertible) | 29,462 | $305.00 |
| AP9 | Parcel Net (hardtop) | 938 | $15.00 |
| AQ9 | Sport Seats, leather, with power bolsters and lumbar (coupe, convertible; requires AG2) | 27,103 | $700.00 |
| B34 | Front Floor Mats | 33,188 | $25.00 |
| B84 | Body Side Moldings | 18,773 | $75.00 |
| C2L | Dual Removable Roof Panels, body color and blue-tinted glass (coupe) | 5,605 | $1,100.00 |
| C60 | Manual Air Conditioning (standard) | 4,193 | no charge |
| CC3 | Removable Roof Panel, blue-tinted glass (coupe) | 6,280 | $650.00 |
| CF7 | Removable Roof Panel, body color (coupe, standard) | 6,213 | no charge |
| CJ2 | Electronic Dual-Zone Air Conditioning | 29,428 | $365.00 |
| D42 | Luggage Shade and Parcel Net (coupe) | 15,689 | $50.00 |
| F45 | Selective Real Time Damping (coupe, convertible; not with Z51) | 6,724 | $1,695.00 |
| G92 | Performance Axle Ratio, 3.15:1 (automatic only) | 14,090 | $100.00 |
| JL4 | Active Handling System | 22,668 | $500.00 |
| M30 | Four-Speed Automatic Transmission, 4L60-E (coupe, convertible; standard) | 20,362 | no charge |
| MN6 | Six-Speed Manual Transmission, Borg-Warner T56 (coupe, convertible; standard on hardtop, 2,090 of the total) | 13,320 | $815.00 |
| N37 | Power Telescoping Steering Column (coupe, convertible) | 22,182 | $350.00 |
| N73 | Magnesium Wheels, Speedline five-spoke | 2,652 | $2,000.00 |
| QF5 | Polished Aluminum Wheels (new) | 15,204 | $895.00 |
| T82 | Twilight Sentinel automatic headlamps (coupe, convertible) | 23,508 | $60.00 |
| T96 | Fog Lamps | 31,992 | $69.00 |
| TR9 | Lighting Package (hardtop) | 1,527 | $95.00 |
| U1S | Remote Compact 12-Disc CD Changer | 15,809 | $600.00 |
| UN0 | Delco AM/FM Stereo with CD (in place of cassette) | 24,696 | $100.00 |
| UV6 | Head-Up Display (coupe, convertible) | 26,482 | $375.00 |
| UZ6 | Bose Speaker Package (hardtop; standard on coupe and convertible) | 1,766 | $820.00 |
| V49 | Front License Plate Frame | 17,380 | $15.00 |
| YF5 | California Emissions (no charge from 2000) | 3,628 | no charge |
| Z51 | Performance Handling Package, with larger stabilizer bars and revised damping (coupe, convertible; standard on hardtop; not with F45) | 7,775 | $350.00 |
| CODE | EXTERIOR | COUPE | CONVERTIBLE | HARDTOP | TOTAL | INTERIOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Torch Red | 3,582 | 2,575 | 543 | 6,700 | Black, Light Gray, Light Oak (hardtop: Black) |
| 41 | Black | 2,856 | 2,462 | 489 | 5,807 | Black, Light Gray, Light Oak, Torch Red (hardtop: Black) |
| 11 | Light Pewter Metallic | 2,793 | 1,810 | 522 | 5,125 | Black, Light Gray, Torch Red (hardtop: Black) |
| 79 | Millennium Yellow tint coat (new, $500.00) | 1,932 | 1,646 | – | 3,578 | Black, Light Gray, Light Oak |
| 86 | Magnetic Red Metallic tint coat ($500.00) | 1,726 | 1,215 | – | 2,941 | Black, Light Gray, Light Oak |
| 13 | Sebring Silver Metallic | 1,543 | 1,240 | – | 2,783 | Black, Light Gray, Torch Red |
| 28 | Navy Blue Metallic | 1,362 | 892 | – | 2,254 | Black, Light Gray, Light Oak |
| 10 | Arctic White | 979 | 685 | 315 | 1,979 | Black, Light Gray, Light Oak, Torch Red (hardtop: Black) |
| 91 | Dark Bowling Green Metallic (new) | 886 | 777 | – | 1,663 | Black, Light Gray, Light Oak |
| 23 | Nassau Blue Metallic | 453 | 209 | 189 | 851 | Black, Light Gray, Light Oak (hardtop: Black) |
| EXP | Platinum Power Purple (one export car) | 1 | – | – | 1 | – |
Specifications & Performance
Engine & Transmission
The LS1 (RPO LS1, VIN code G) kept its 345 hp at 5,600 rpm and 350 lb-ft at 4,400 but was recalibrated through a revised powertrain control module to meet California’s LEV standard in every state, with platinum-tipped plugs on a 100,000-mile change interval: 346 cubic inches from a 3.90-inch bore and 3.62-inch stroke, a deep-skirt cast-aluminum block (castings 12560621 and 12562174 early in the year, 12560626 and 12559378 later) with cast-in liners and six-bolt mains, aluminum heads (12559853, then the 12564241 casting the 2001 LS1 would carry), two valves per cylinder on hydraulic roller lifters, a composite intake, sequential injection, coil-near-plug ignition and electronic throttle at 10.1:1 on premium fuel with a 6,000-rpm redline; engine suffixes were ZBF with the manual and ZBH with the automatic, all built in Romulus, Michigan.
The rear transaxle carried the 4L60-E automatic (3.06, 1.63, 1.00, 0.70) on a 2.73:1 axle or the $100 3.15:1, or the $815 Borg-Warner T56 six-speed (2.66, 1.78, 1.30, 1.00, 0.74, 0.50) with CAGS, a firmer shifter centering spring and a 3.42:1 axle, standard on the hardtop. EPA figures were 17/25 mpg automatic and 18/28 manual.
Three bodies on the hydroformed frame: the coupe at 3,246 pounds and 0.29 Cd, the convertible at 3,248 and 0.32, the hardtop at 3,173 and 0.31. Suspension was the double-wishbone, composite-spring layout with base FE1, the revised Z51 (larger front and rear stabilizer bars, revised shock damping; standard on the hardtop) or F45 Real Time Damping with new control algorithms and softer jounce bumpers on the coupe and convertible, and the magnetic variable-effort steering with the optional power telescoping column.
Brakes were 12.8-inch vented front and 12.0-inch rear rotors with Bosch ABS and ASR, with Active Handling optional on every body. The new standard wheels were forged, flow-formed five-spokes with thinner spokes, 17 x 8.5 and 18 x 9.5 inches, in painted, polished ($895) or Speedline magnesium ($2,000) form, on Goodyear Eagle F1 GS Extended Mobility P245/45ZR17 and P275/40ZR18 run-flats with the tire-pressure monitor and no spare.
GM’s figures were unchanged at 4.72 seconds to 60 mph (5.05 automatic), 13.36 at 109.4 mph, 172 mph, 0.93 g and 125 feet from 60; the magazines’ 1999 hardtop and coupe tests (4.8 to 60, 13.2–13.3 in the quarter at 108–110 mph, 169–174 mph) carried over, the car being mechanically the same.
MORE: FULL SPECIFICATIONS / ENGINE
| SPEC | 2000 CORVETTE |
|---|---|
| Engine, LS1 (RPO LS1, standard) | 346 ci (5.7 L) Generation III small-block V-8, VIN G: 3.90 x 3.62 in, deep-skirt cast-aluminum block (12560621 / 12562174 early, 12560626 / 12559378 later) with cast-in iron liners and six-bolt main caps, aluminum heads 12559853 / 12564241, 2 valves per cylinder, hydraulic roller lifters, roller rockers, composite intake, coil-near-plug ignition, sequential injection, electronic throttle control, 10.1:1, premium fuel; LEV calibration and platinum plugs new for 2000; 345 hp @ 5,600 rpm, 350 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm; 6,000-rpm redline; suffix ZBF manual / ZBH automatic; built in Romulus, Michigan |
| Transmission | Rear-mounted transaxle via aluminum torque tube, limited-slip differential: 4L60-E four-speed automatic standard on coupe and convertible (RPO M30, 20,362 cars), ratios 3.06, 1.63, 1.00, 0.70; Borg-Warner T56 six-speed manual (RPO MN6, $815.00 on coupe and convertible, standard on the hardtop; 13,320 cars) with CAGS and a firmer centering spring, ratios 2.66, 1.78, 1.30, 1.00, 0.74, 0.50 |
| Axle ratio | 2.73:1 automatic (6,272 cars), 3.15:1 with RPO G92 ($100.00; 14,090 cars); 3.42:1 manual (13,259 cars) |
| Bodies | Hatchback coupe with lift-off roof panel (Cd 0.29); convertible with manual top, glass rear window and trunk (Cd 0.32); fixed-roof hardtop on the convertible body with bonded composite roof and trunk (Cd 0.31), final year |
| Suspension | Double wishbones front and rear, forged/cast aluminum arms, transverse composite leaf springs, monotube shocks; FE1 base on coupe and convertible (24,159 cars), Z51 Performance Handling with larger front and rear stabilizer bars and revised damping ($350.00 on coupe and convertible, standard on hardtop; 7,775 cars), F45 Selective Real Time Damping with revised algorithms and softer jounce bumpers ($1,695.00, coupe and convertible; 6,724 cars) |
| Brakes, traction & stability control | Four-wheel vented discs, 12.8-in front and 12.0-in rear, Bosch ABS with ASR standard; Active Handling System (RPO JL4, $500.00; 22,668 cars) with competition mode |
| Steering | Rack and pinion, speed-sensitive magnetic variable-effort power assist; manual tilt, power telescoping column optional (RPO N37, $350.00; 22,182 cars) |
| Interior | Twin-cove cockpit, analog gauges, Head-Up Display optional (RPO UV6, $375.00; 26,482 cars); leather seats in Black, Light Gray, Light Oak or Torch Red (new; sport seats AQ9 $700.00; hardtop AR9 base seats, manual, black); Delco cassette with Bose speakers (hardtop four-speaker), CD UN0 $100.00, changer U1S $600.00; push-button remote keyless entry (new, replacing the passive system; passenger-door lock cylinder deleted); dual airbags; manual air (dual-zone CJ2 $365.00) |
| Wheels & tires | New forged, flow-formed five-spoke aluminum 17 x 8.5 front, 18 x 9.5 rear, painted (standard; supplier changed January 2000), high-polished (RPO QF5, $895.00; 15,204 cars) or Speedline magnesium (RPO N73, $2,000.00; 2,652 cars); Goodyear Eagle F1 GS Extended Mobility P245/45ZR17 / P275/40ZR18 run-flats, tire-pressure monitor, no spare |
| Fuel tank | 19.1 gal, twin composite tanks |
| Wheelbase | 104.5 in |
| Overall length / width / height | 179.7 / 73.6 / 47.7 in (47.8 convertible) |
| Track, front / rear | 62.0 / 62.1 in |
| Curb weight | 3,246 lb coupe, 3,248 lb convertible, 3,173 lb hardtop |
| 0–60 mph | 4.72 sec manual, 5.05 automatic (GM); 4.8 (Motor Trend, Car and Driver, 1999 tests of the unchanged car) |
| Quarter mile | 13.36 sec @ 109.4 mph (GM); 13.2–13.3 @ 108–110 (magazines) |
| Top speed | 172 mph (GM); 173.6 mph (Motor Trend, hardtop) |
| Braking / lateral acceleration | 125 ft from 60 mph, 0.93 g (GM); 116 ft and 0.90 g (Motor Trend) |
| Fuel economy (EPA) | 17 / 25 mpg automatic; 18 / 28 mpg manual |
| Production | 33,682: 18,113 coupes, 13,479 convertibles, 2,090 hardtops; VIN sequence 100001–133682; production ended June 26, 2000 |
| Assembly | Bowling Green, Kentucky; engines from Romulus, Michigan |
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
33,682 (18,113 coupes + 13,479 convertibles + 2,090 hardtops) Cars, 1G1YY?2G?Y5100001 TO 1G1YY?2G?Y5133682 (hardtops 1G1YY12…, coupes 1G1YY22…, convertibles 1G1YY32…; one shared sequence)
The 2000 VIN reads 1G1YY12G?Y51xxxxx for a hardtop, 1G1YY22G?Y51xxxxx for a coupe and 1G1YY32G?Y51xxxxx for a convertible: 1 for the United States, G for General Motors, 1 for Chevrolet, Y for the Corvette car line, Y for the Corvette series, the body in the sixth position (1 hardtop, 2 coupe, 3 convertible), 2 for active manual belts with driver and passenger airbags, G for the 5.7-liter LS1, a check digit in the ninth position, Y for the 2000 model year and 5 for Bowling Green, Kentucky. All three bodies share one sequence from 100001 to 133682, one number for each of the 33,682 cars, with the pilot and prototype cars numbered inside the series as in 1999. A hardtop is identified by the 1 in the sixth position, the same code the 2001 Z06 would carry with an S in the eighth. For cars built for export the VIN was stamped on the frame rail rather than on a dash plate.
The engine carries the suffix ZBF (six-speed) or ZBH (automatic) and a partial VIN, stamped or laser-etched on the rear of the left cylinder head or the front of the left oil-pan rail, on 12560621 or 12562174 blocks early in the year and 12560626 or 12559378 later, with 12559853 or 12564241 heads; the six-speed and the 4L60-E carry a VIN derivative as well. The VIN plate is on the left windshield pillar, repeated on the driver’s door certification label and the service parts identification label in the console, which lists the car’s RPOs: on a hardtop expect 1YY37, MM6, GU6, FE3 and AR9; on any 2000 the label settles claims of F45, Z51, JL4, UV6, N37, QF5, N73 and the $500 paints, and a Millennium Yellow car must show 79U. Paint codes are 10, 11, 13, 23, 28, 41, 70, 79, 86 and 91; interior trims 19I black, 92I light gray, 67I light oak and 70I Torch Red; convertible tops 41T black, 67T light oak and 16T white.
MORE: VIN DECODER / PRODUCTION
| POSITION | MEANING |
|---|---|
| 1G1 (First through Third) | Country, maker, make: 1 = built in the USA, G = General Motors, 1 = Chevrolet |
| Y (Fourth) | Car line: Y = Corvette |
| Y (Fifth) | Series: Y = Corvette |
| 1, 2 or 3 (Sixth) | Body: 1 = fixed-roof hardtop (final year); 2 = two-door hatchback coupe; 3 = two-door convertible |
| 2 (Seventh) | Restraint system: 2 = active manual belts with driver’s and passenger’s airbags |
| G (Eighth) | Engine: G = 346 ci (5.7 L) LS1, 345 hp; suffix ZBF manual, ZBH automatic |
| x (Ninth) | Check digit, calculated from the other sixteen characters |
| Y (Tenth) | Model year: Y = 2000 |
| 5 (Eleventh) | Assembly plant: 5 = Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| 100001–133682 (Twelfth through Seventeenth) | Production sequence number, one series for all three bodies, 33,682 numbers for 33,682 cars (pilot cars numbered within the series) |
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Ten colors: Torch Red (6,700), Black (5,807), Light Pewter (5,125), Millennium Yellow (3,578, new, $500), Magnetic Red (2,941, $500), Sebring Silver (2,783), Navy Blue (2,254), Arctic White (1,979), Dark Bowling Green (1,663, new) and Nassau Blue (851), plus one Platinum Power Purple export car; hardtops in white, pewter, Nassau Blue, black and Torch Red only. Interiors in Black (20,709), Light Oak (8,681), Light Gray (3,128) and Torch Red (1,164, new); tops in Black (9,115), Light Oak (3,762) and White (602).
Market & Buying Guide
For Sale & What They Bring
The 2000 is the LS1 C5 to buy if the badge does not matter: the forged wheels, the key fob, the HUD and the telescoping column on most cars, Active Handling on two in three, the LEV calibration and the second-year hardtop, with the 1997–98 teething behind it and none of the Z06’s premium. Values sit with the 1999s and a little under the 2001s, which have the 350-hp LS1 and standard Active Handling. The six-speed is the main premium, then the convertible over the coupe, F45 or Z51, the glass roof and the HUD; Millennium Yellow and Dark Bowling Green are the colors that get a second look, and a Yellow six-speed with the polished wheels is the 2000 that photographs. The 2,090 hardtops carry a small premium as the Z06’s understudy, more with the Z51 Bilsteins and brakes intact. Documentation matters more than usual this year because a Z06 look-alike built from a hardtop is common, and because the fob and the deleted passenger lock mean a dead-battery car can only be opened from the driver’s door.
Classic.com results from October 2025 to October 2026. A 4,000-mile automatic brought $30,800 at Mecum in September 2026, the top price for a standard car, and a 25,000-mile Lingenfelter twin-turbo six-speed $27,000 at Hagerty in October 2025. Low-mileage six-speeds: Bring a Trailer sold a 35,000-mile car for $26,000 in April and a 28,000-mile car for $25,750 in May, a dealer an 18,000-mile car for $22,950 in May, Hagerty a 49,000-mile car for $21,500 in June and Mecum Houston a 65,000-mile car for $22,000 in April. Automatics with 21,000 to 32,000 miles sold for $18,150 (Mecum Kissimmee) and $19,500 (GAA), and 50,000- to 65,000-mile cars for $14,300 to $19,250 (Bring a Trailer $18,000, $14,600 and $14,500 in October 2026; Mecum Kissimmee $19,250; Cars & Bids $14,700; GAA $14,500; Mecum Kansas City $14,300), with a 106,000-mile car at $12,650. No-sales were bid to $19,001 (5,000 miles, Hagerty), $18,000 and $17,750 (6,000-mile automatics on Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids), $14,750 (21,000 miles), $15,000 and $14,000 (64,000-mile six-speeds at Mecum), $13,751, $11,500 and $6,450; dealers asked $12,995 to $29,900 for ordinary cars and $35,000 for a 37,000-mile automatic. Auction figures are hammer prices; add the buyer’s premium when comparing with asking prices.
Verification: the console service parts label lists every RPO, and on a 2000 it is the quickest way to confirm the six-speed (MM6), F45, Z51, JL4, UV6, N37, QF5 or N73 and the tint-coat paints (79U Millennium Yellow, 86U Magnetic Red), since both colors have been repainted onto other cars. A hardtop shows 1YY37 and a 1 in the sixth VIN position with a G in the eighth; a Z06 has a 1 and an S. The forged thin-spoke wheels were replaced on many cars by Z06 or aftermarket wheels, so an original set with the 2000-only casting is worth noting, and polished wheels should be factory QF5 rather than a later polish. Build sheets and window stickers survive on many low-mileage cars; ask for them.
The inspection list is the C5’s: the electronic column lock (recall 04V060) and its bypass, the battery tray and the PCM beneath it, the harmonic balancer, the rocker-arm needle bearings, warped front rotors and the wheel-speed, steering-position and EBCM faults behind ABS, traction and Active Handling lights; the HUD’s dimming, the fuel sender reading empty on high-sulfur fuel, the fuel-pump hum, window regulators, headlight bezel plugs, roof-panel creaks and split seat bolsters. On a 2000 add the key fobs themselves, which fail and are easily lost, and the fact that the passenger door has no key cylinder, so a dead battery means the driver’s door or the trunk release; on a convertible, the top’s rear seal and the trunk drains; on a hardtop, whether the Z51 Bilsteins and the original seats are still in it. The LS1 runs past 150,000 miles with oil changes, and a 2000 six-speed with the HUD, Active Handling and polished wheels is as complete as an LS1 C5 gets.
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FAQs
How many 2000 Corvettes were built?
Chevrolet built 33,682 Corvettes for 2000 at Bowling Green, Kentucky, the most of any C5 year: 18,113 hatchback coupes, 13,479 convertibles and 2,090 of the fixed-roof hardtops in their final year; production ended on June 26, 2000. 13,320 cars had the six-speed (every hardtop and 11,230 coupes and convertibles), 20,362 the automatic, 26,482 the Head-Up Display, 22,668 Active Handling, 22,182 the telescoping column, 15,204 the new polished wheels, 7,775 the Z51 package, 6,724 Real Time Damping, 3,578 Millennium Yellow paint, 2,941 Magnetic Red and 2,652 magnesium wheels; one Platinum Power Purple coupe was built for export.
How much is a 2000 Corvette worth today?
Between October 2025 and October 2026, Classic.com tracked 2000 Corvettes selling from $12,650 (106,000 miles) to $30,800 (a 4,000-mile automatic at Mecum), with most clean six-speeds between $21,500 and $26,000, clean automatics between $14,500 and $19,500, and high-mileage cars in the low teens; a 6,000-mile automatic was bid to $18,000 without selling, and dealers asked $13,000 to $35,000. The six-speed, mileage, the convertible and documentation set the price; the hardtop carries a small premium.
What engine did the 2000 Corvette have?
The LS1, unchanged in output at 345 hp at 5,600 rpm and 350 lb-ft at 4,400: 346 cubic inches (5.7 liters) of all-aluminum Generation III small-block with a 3.90 x 3.62-inch bore and stroke, 10.1:1 compression, sequential injection, coil-near-plug ignition and electronic throttle, built in Romulus, Michigan. For 2000 it was recalibrated to meet California’s LEV standard in every state and got platinum plugs on a 100,000-mile interval. It drove the rear-mounted 4L60-E automatic or the $815 Borg-Warner T56 six-speed, standard on the hardtop.
What colors did the 2000 Corvette come in?
Ten: Torch Red (6,700), Black (5,807), Light Pewter (5,125), Millennium Yellow (3,578, new, a $500 tint-coat), Magnetic Red (2,941, $500), Sebring Silver (2,783), Navy Blue (2,254), Arctic White (1,979), Dark Bowling Green (1,663, new) and Nassau Blue (851), plus a single Platinum Power Purple coupe built for export. Hardtops came only in white, pewter, Nassau Blue, black and Torch Red with black leather; the other bodies had Black, Light Gray, Light Oak or the new Torch Red interiors, and convertible tops were Black, Light Oak or White.
How much did the 2000 Corvette cost when new?
$39,475 for the coupe, $45,900 for the convertible and $38,900 for the hardtop. Real Time Damping was $1,695, the dual-roof package $1,100, polished wheels $895, magnesium wheels $2,000 (down from $3,000), the six-speed $815, sport seats $700, the glass roof $650, the CD changer $600, Active Handling $500, Millennium Yellow or Magnetic Red paint $500, the Head-Up Display $375, dual-zone air $365, the telescoping column $350, the Z51 package $350, a power seat $305, the Memory Package $150 and Twilight Sentinel $60; the hardtop’s Bose package was $820 and its lighting package $95.
What is a 2000 Corvette hardtop?
The second and last year of the fixed-roof coupe: the convertible body with a bonded composite roof and trunk, 3,173 pounds, 12 percent stiffer than the coupe, with the six-speed, the 3.42:1 axle and the Z51 suspension (now with bigger stabilizer bars) standard, in five colors with black leather base seats, manual air and a four-speaker radio, at $38,900. Its options were a power driver seat, Active Handling, the Bose package, the CD changer, a lighting package, a parcel net and moldings. 2,090 were built, the VIN carries a 1 in the sixth position, and for 2001 the body became the Z06.
What changed on the 2000 Corvette?
New forged, flow-formed five-spoke wheels with thinner spokes, offered polished for $895; a push-button key fob in place of the passive keyless entry, with the passenger-door lock cylinder deleted; Millennium Yellow and Dark Bowling Green paint and a Torch Red interior; larger stabilizer bars and revised damping for the Z51 package, new algorithms and softer jounce bumpers for F45, a firmer shifter spring for the six-speed; an LS1 recalibrated to California LEV with platinum plugs; new windshield seals, seat trim and belts; magnesium wheels cut to $2,000 and California emissions made free. On track, the C5-R got its 7.0-liter engine and its first wins.
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