The 2007 Corvette

The Overview

The third C6 was the one Chevrolet left alone. The 2007 coupe and convertible carried over with an “ENGINE” legend on the start button, steering-wheel audio controls and three more decibels for the Bose system, a glovebox a little bigger without the airbag switch housing, Atomic Orange Metallic replacing Daytona Sunset Orange as a $750 Tintcoat, two-tone seats ($695) in Ebony with Cobalt Red, Light Cashmere or Light Titanium with embroidered crossed flags for the coupe and convertible, RPO D30 ($590) to override Chevrolet’s recommended color combinations, and the convertible’s power top folded into a 3LT group that rose to $5,540. The mechanical change was that Magnetic Selective Ride Control (F55, now $1,995) brought the Z51’s 13.4-inch cross-drilled brakes with it, so 19,342 cars had the J55 brakes. Chrome wheels, new in 2006, went on 19,850 coupes and convertibles, more than polished and painted wheels together, and 22,422 of the 32,402 non-Z06 cars were paddle-shift automatics.

The Z06 was unchanged mechanically, its 505-hp LS7, aluminum frame and 3,132 pounds intact, with solid rather than outlined Z06 embroidery on the headrests, Z06 chrome wheels (Q76, 2,698) joining polished and gray, and a price that went from $66,465 at announcement to $70,000 on July 26, 2006; 8,159 were built, the most of any C6 Z06 year. Chevrolet introduced two specials at the Chicago Auto Show on February 1, 2007. The Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06 (RPO Z33, $77,500) honored the Canadian who had joined Corvette Racing in 1999, won Le Mans in 2001 and 2002 and three ALMS GTS titles: Arctic White, the only white Z06 that year, with red hash stripes on the front fenders in the manner of his race cars and the 1996 Grand Sport, a maple leaf in the graphics, Ebony leather with red inserts, a red armrest and lower door panels, tech-pattern trim on the console and a numbered dash plaque signed by Fellows, the first factory-autographed Corvette; 399 built, 300 for the United States, 33 for Canada and 66 for other markets, each listed on the site’s Z33 VIN post. Fellows himself raced a white C6.R with the same hashes at Mosport that August.

The Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Replica (Z4Z, $66,995 with the six-speed, $1,250 more with the automatic) reproduced the Atomic Orange convertible that Patrick Dempsey drove to start the 91st 500 on May 27, 2007, the Corvette’s ninth and Chevrolet’s 18th: gold ribbon graphics flowing from the fender vents, Indianapolis 500 door shields and fender badges, the Z06 spoiler, Sterling Silver split-spoke wheels previewing the 2008 design (P4A), Ebony seats with embroidered 500 logos and Atomic Orange trim plates, console pods and engine covers, on a 3LT Z51 convertible; 500 built, the first pace-car replica since 1998. Corvettes also paced the Daytona 500 (Cal Ripken Jr. driving), the Budweiser Shootout and the Brickyard 400 (a Z06), and 250 Victory Edition coupes and convertibles in Black or Velocity Yellow went to Europe. Corvette Racing won every ALMS GT1 round and the manufacturers’, team and drivers’ titles (Johnny O’Connell and Jan Magnussen) but lost Le Mans to the Aston Martin DBR9. Production rose to 40,561, 21,484 coupes, 10,918 convertibles and 8,159 Z06s, the most since 1984, and in December GM confirmed that the supercharged Blue Devil would arrive as the 2009 ZR1. In 2026 the 2007 Z06 sold at auction for $36,500 to $77,500 by mileage, the Ron Fellows cars for $49,500 and $55,000 against a $53,765 benchmark, and the coupe and convertible for $17,750 to $33,000.

The 2007 Corvette Story

After the introduction of the sixth-generation coupe and convertible in 2005, and the return of the Z06 Coupe in 2006, the 2007 Corvette arrived virtually unchanged from these earlier two model years. Although GM had begun development of additional, more radical refinements for the Corvette – including an as-yet-to-be-named supercharged prototype due as a 2009 model – the 2007 model carried forward the same power and technology advancements that had already become synonymous with the C6 model.

Of course, a new model year without any additions, improvements, or changes was unheard of. Even the most successful vehicle platforms - of which Corvette was definitely one – received minor tweaks and alterations, and the 2007 model was certainly no exception, although they were few and far between.

Further, most of the changes that were made to the 2007 model year were virtually invisible to the casual observer. They were intended to improve upon previous design elements, and most were functional – not aesthetic – in nature.

The 2007 Corvette’s interior probably received the largest number of improvements over the previous model year, though only a few were improvements that would help discern a 2007 model from earlier years.

For starters (no pun intended), the ignition button in all models now included the word “ENGINE” scripted on its surface. Steering wheel controls for volume, seek, and station presets were included in the steering wheel’s right-hand spoke for all Corvettes that came equipped with a Bose audio system. The Bose system itself received an enhancement that increased its maximum volume output by +3 decibels.

As previously stated, these particular changes were more functional than aesthetic. However, there was an option that had been so popular on the 2006 Z06 Coupe that it carried over – as a premium option – for the 2007 model year. Prior to 2007, the seats in the C6 Corvette were only available to consumers in a single color, except for those found in the 2006 Z06 Coupe.

For 2007, monochrome seats were still the standard option, but now consumers could purchase two-tone seats for their coupe or convertible in Ebony with Red, Ebony with Cashmere, and Ebony with Gray. The option cost an additional $695.00 and included the sixth-generation Corvette crossed-flags embroidered into the headrests. The two-tone seats also featured contrasting stitching.

The Z06 Corvette’s seat options remained the same as the 2006 model, with color choices that were available to consumers that included Ebony, Ebony with Red, or Ebony with Gray. As before, these choices were available to Z06 owners at no additional cost. One of the key differentiators between the 2006 and 2007 Z06s, however, was the fact that the newer model year featured solid emblem embroidering, versus the 2006 model which featured the Z06 emblem in an outline on the headrest.

Outwardly, the 2007 Corvette was virtually identical to the 2006 model year, although a new Atomic Orange Metallic paint color was introduced to replace the outgoing Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic. Unlike the Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic color however, the new Atomic Orange Metallic was only available to consumers at an additional cost of $750.00.

On convertibles, the retractable power top, which had previously been an extra cost option of $1,995.00 when ordered with the 3LT Equipment Group, was included with the 3LT Equipment group for the 2007 model year. However, the 3LT equipment group option also increased in price from $3,395.00 to $5,540.00. Also new for 2007, consumers now had the option to override the recommended color combinations when ordering a convertible. Listed as RPO D30, it allowed consumers to order their Corvette’s color scheme in virtually any color combination they wanted, if they were willing to pay the premium price of an additional $590.00.

Did you know? For the 2007 American Le Mans Series season, Ron Fellows adopted a new role as ambassador and technical advisor for GM racing, but still drove at a select number of endurance events. To acknowledge the special, limited-edition Z06 Corvette that had been named after him, Fellows debuted a C6.R at his home track in Mosport, Ontario sporting a special white paint scheme with red fender flashes – the same paint scheme used by GM on the Ron Fellows Edition Z06 Corvette. In the race that August, Fellows drove the No. 33 C6.R to 12th overall and third in the GT1 class.

Mechanically, the only notable change that was introduced in 2007 was the introduction of larger, cross-drilled brake rotors. These brake rotors were offered to those consumers who purchased the Magnetic Selective Ride Control option (RPO F55). For previous Corvettes, this brake package, sized between the base model and the Z06 brake systems, was included and only available when ordered as part of the Z51 performance package.

Beyond that, all of the Corvettes manufactured that year carried the same performance numbers as the previous production years. The base level coupe and convertible both came equipped with a 364 cubic inch/6.0 liter LS2 V-8 engine which produced 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The Z06, on the other hand, came equipped with the same 427 cubic inch/7.0 liter LS7 V-8 engine producing 505 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.

More notable than any of the improvements made to the 2007 Corvette were the special edition models that were offered that year. In 1999, a driver by the name of Ron Fellows joined the Corvette Racing team. Over nearly a decade, he would prove to be one of the most successful drivers on the team, leading Corvette racing to GT class championships in the American Le Mans Series (2002, 2003 and 2004) and to victory lane (GTS class) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2001 and 2002). Because of his enormous success and immense popularity as a driver, Chevy decided to produce a limited edition Z06 in his honor. The car was officially called the “2007 Ron Fellows American Le Mans Series Grand Touring Class 1 Champion Corvette Z06,” though it became more commonly known simply as the “Ron Fellows Edition.”

The Ron Fellows Corvette came finished in Arctic White, and featured red hash stripes on the front fenders as an homage to Fellows’ earlier GT1 race car (which had featured similar sash stripes on its fenders) along with the 1996 Grand Sport Corvette. The car’s colors were also symbolic of Fellows’ home country of Canada. There was even a small Maple Leaf incorporated into the car’s graphics.

The interior of the Ron Fellows edition Corvette featured charcoal leather seats with red inserts, plus a red center armrest, lower door panels and a special dashboard treatment, with unique “tech pattern” carbon accents which were incorporated into the car’s center console.

The Ron Fellows special edition Z06 Corvette was considerably more expensive than other Z06 models that year, although it was mechanically identical to the regular Z06. It carried the hefty price tag of $77,500, which was more than $10,000 over the base Z06. However, only 399 of these special edition Corvettes were built (33 of which were shipped to Canada), making the car far more collectible.

In addition to the Ron Fellows Z06, another special-edition Corvette was introduced in 2007. This version was based on the Corvette Pace Car that was used at the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 driven by actor/racer Patrick Dempsey. The significance of this car was the fact that GM had not produced a pace car replica since the 1998 model year, even though the Corvette had paced the race four times since then (2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006).

Like the actual pace car, the replica was a convertible, sporting Atomic Orange paint, gold ribbon stripes and the appropriate Indianapolis 500 emblems, including a shield on each door. The car also featured other flourishes including silver-finished aluminum wheels and a uniquely trimmed interior with Indianapolis 500 logos embroidered into the seat backs. It also included Atomic orange inserts for the center console and shifter surrounds. Mechanically, all of the replicas issued that year were regular Corvette convertibles equipped with the Z51 Performance Package. They were offered to consumers with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.

The base price for the Indianapolis Pace Car Replica was listed at $66,995.00 ($530 more than the Z06’s launch price) with the six-speed manual, and $1,250 more with the paddle-shift automatic. Yet, as expensive as the car was, the 500 Indianapolis Pace Car replicas that were built in 2007 sold quickly to eager buyers who were anxious to get their hands on a unique and collectible Corvette.

By comparison, the standard coupe and convertible were almost a bargain at $44,970.00 and $52,910.00, both including the $825 destination charge. Despite the few changes, sales rose: for 2007 Chevrolet built 21,484 coupes, 10,918 convertibles (500 of them pace-car replicas) and 8,159 Z06s (399 of them Ron Fellows cars), 40,561 in all, the most since 1984. The Z06’s base price, $66,465 when announced in June 2006, went to $70,000 on July 26, 2006.

By the launch of the 2007 model year, there was already significant “buzz” about a super-Corvette that was under development by General Motors, though little information was available as to the exact nature of the car. Rumors surrounding the development of the car had been circulating since before the introduction of the C6 in 2005, but little was known about the project other than its codename, Blue Devil, and the belief that the engine would feature some type of supercharger technology. Automotive magazines around the globe published articles about the super-secret Corvette project, alluding to the very real possibility that this new Corvette would feature a production engine capable of producing as much as 650 horsepower.

In December 2007, GM confirmed that the “Blue Devil” would reach showrooms as the ZR1, a 2009 model due the following summer. Although it was still months away, this new super-Vette would further help solidify the Corvette as a world-class contender against some of the stoutest sports cars anywhere on the globe. Despite the head-spinning performance numbers produced by the 2007 C6 coupe, convertible, and especially the Z06, it appeared that the best was yet to come.