The C7 Corvette Buyer’s Guide: 2014–2019 Stingray, Grand Sport, Z06 & ZR1

The Overview

For decades people have promised themselves a Corvette, and the mid-engine C8’s arrival in 2020 sent a new, younger audience into the market and kept the prices of the fifth, sixth and seventh generations higher than the bargain-hunters hoped. That is still true in 2026, and it is still a fine time to buy a C7: the oldest is twelve years old, most have been garaged and driven lightly, and a low-mileage seventh-generation Corvette costs a good deal more than a Mustang, Challenger or Camaro and delivers a great deal more car. Go drive one and the argument makes itself.

The C7 is the modern Corvette that has held its value best, and its market sorts by model and gearbox rather than by year: the ZR1 on top, manuals far above automatics; then the Carbon 65 and the Z06 C7.R Edition; then the Z06, with manuals and Z07 cars carrying the premium; then the Grand Sport and its Collector and Drivers Series editions; then the Stingray by trim, the 3LT Z51 manuals first. Because the C8 has no manual, every manual C7 is the last of its kind and the gap between manual and automatic prices has widened every year.

This guide is the roadmap: the six years and four models and what changed, the variants and the numbered editions, what each tier of the market costs from the results the site tracks, what moves the price, what the cars are like to drive and to own, the problems the generation has, the inspection step by step, how to verify a Z51, a Z07 and the editions, and the questions readers ask most. Whether you own a C7 already or are weighing one against something else (gasp), this is where to start; the year pages and the model pages go deeper on each car.

Why the C7 Is the Modern Corvette to Buy

Thinking of Buying a C7 Corvette? Here’s What You Need to Know

For decades, people across North America (and around the globe) have promised themselves that, at some point in their lives, they would own a Chevy Corvette. For some, Corvette ownership comes early in life. For others, it takes a lifetime to get there. However, once this goal is achieved, Corvette ownership becomes an indelible part of your life.Interest in Corvette ownership has surged recently, thanks in large part to the introduction of the mid-engine Corvette in 2020.

Chevrolet's flagship sports car had found a new, younger audience. It has also caused the prices of many of the older fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-generation Corvettes to remain a little more inflated than was the case a few years ago. While this might seem a deterrent to some would-be consumers - especially those that thought they might scoop up an older-generation Corvette at a deeply discounted rate - the reality is that this is still a GREAT time to consider Corvette ownership, especially if you've been considering one of the newer, seventh-generation Corvettes.

Consider this - the C7 Corvette was built from 2014 to 2019 - which means that the oldest example is just seven-year young. In many cases, Corvette owners treat their cars like garage queens. They pull them out, wash them, then put them away for safekeeping. This means that many of these Corvettes have far fewer than the standard miles for a car their age. Put that all together, and you're likely to find a newer, low-mileage, seventh-generation Corvette at a price point that is manageable for your individual budget. Yes, you'll potentially pay more than you would for a Mustang, Challenger or Camaro, but you are going to get a lot more car for the money too. Don't believe us? Go take one for a test drive and you'll see for yourself.

What follows below is a roadmap to help you navigate the marketplace of used Corvettes and, ideally, help you find your first (or next) seventh-generation Stingray. If you're still considering your options – maybe even considering something other than a Corvette (gasp!) for your driving fun – then we’ve found each other just in time! For everyone else – from current C7 owners to prospective first-time buyers, this C7 Corvette Buyers Guide is intended to provide some insight into the experience of Corvette ownership, and give you some valid reasons why a seventh-generation Corvette might be the perfect car for you!

On January 13, 2013, Chevrolet unveiled the new, seventh-generation Stingray to the world. The arrival of the C7 Corvette was the culmination of months of speculation by enthusiasts, car experts, critics, and countless fans, and was treated with more fanfare and pomp-and-circumstance than a Hollywood blockbuster movie debut.

Development of the seventh-generation Corvette began about a year after the introduction of the C6 model in 2005. Tom Peters, Chevrolet’s Design Director, had been tasked with improving upon the sixth-generation Corvette design which had already been considered such a resounding success the world over by car enthusiasts and critics alike. Working in conjunction with Tadge Juechter, Corvette’s Chief Engineer, the pair produced a vehicle that could challenge and beat the best the Germans and Italians could throw at it.

The result is that the C7 Corvette Stingray was truly a departure from its predecessor. In fact, it only shares two parts with the previous-generation Corvette – the removable roof release lever and a filter in the air filtration system. The rest of the car was completely new – including the frame structure, chassis, powertrain, and an all-new interior and exterior design.

The reveal, and the car behind it

On January 13, 2013, the night before the Detroit show, Chevrolet unveiled the seventh-generation Corvette with more fanfare than a film premiere, and it was the car the months of speculation had promised. Development had begun about a year after the C6 arrived in 2005. Tom Peters’ exterior and Ryan Vaughan’s interior under Ed Welburn, with Tadge Juechter as chief engineer, produced a Corvette that shared two parts with the car it replaced, the roof-panel release lever and an air-filter element, and could run with the Germans and the Italians on their own terms.

The whole car was new

An aluminum frame built in-house at Bowling Green for every model, a carbon-fiber hood and roof panel, composite body panels bonded to the structure, aluminum double wishbones with composite leaf springs and optional Magnetic Ride, an electronic limited-slip differential, and the direct-injected Gen V LT1 small block with 455 horsepower, the most powerful standard Corvette engine to that point, behind the first seven-speed manual or an automatic in the rear transaxle. The interior finally answered the critics: a 360 mm wheel, GT or Competition Sport seats, a configurable cluster, an eight-inch MyLink touchscreen and a head-up display a generation beyond the C6’s.

Four cars from one platform

The Stingray came first, then the 650-horsepower Z06 in 2015 with the eight-speed automatic, the Grand Sport in 2017 with the Z06’s wide body and chassis on the LT1, and the 755-horsepower ZR1 in 2019, the fastest and most powerful front-engine Corvette ever built. Along the way came the C7.R Edition, the Grand Sport Collector Edition, the Carbon 65 and the Drivers Series, each with a numbered plaque, and a run of color-themed design packages. The same aluminum frame and the same cabin carry a $30,000 2014 coupe and a $300,000 manual ZTK ZR1, which is why the C7 market is a ladder of models rather than years.

The last of its kind, and still a used car

The C7 is the last front-engine Corvette and the last with a clutch pedal, and the market has noticed: manuals carry a premium that grows each year, the ZR1 trades above its sticker, the numbered editions have their own benchmarks. Yet the Stingray and the Grand Sport still sell as used cars, with no premium for any year, which makes a 2016–19 Stingray or a 2017–19 Grand Sport the best value in the modern Corvette market: 455 to 460 horsepower, a car that keeps up with anything on a back road, 29 mpg on the highway with the automatic, and parts at every Chevrolet dealer. Buy the right model for what you will do with it, and the rest of this guide is about finding a good one.

MORE: THE C7 HUB / THE C7 STINGRAY GUIDE / THE C7 GRAND SPORT GUIDE / THE C7 Z06 GUIDE / THE C7 ZR1 GUIDE

The Model-Year Changes in Detail, 2014–2019

The table gives the headlines; this is the detail a buyer uses at the viewing, because on a C7 the model year decides the gearbox, the infotainment, the Z06’s cooling and which editions exist, and the service parts label in the glovebox decides everything else. The year pages carry the full specifications, options, colors and production for each.

2014 Corvette

The 2014 Corvette Stingray was offered in both coupe and convertible trims. Each version of the car was offered in three trim levels - 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT. Additionally, all variants of the coupe and convertible were offered with the available Z51 Performance Package, which provided consumers with 19″ front and 20″ rear wheels, dry sump oil system, Electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD), slotted brake rotors, larger front brakes with Black calipers, specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars, performance gear ratios, differential and transmission cooling, and an Aero Package that reduces lift for high-speed stability.

All 2014 Corvettes were powered by a new LT1 small-block 6.2L V8 engine that offered advanced consumers advanced technologies including Direct Injection, Active Fuel Management, and Continuously Variable Valve Timing. It was the most powerful standard Corvette ever introduced by GM (to date). The LT1 produced an impressive 460 horsepower and 460 lb./ft. of torque, and provided consumers with 0-60 times of just 3.8 seconds.

The redesigned interior featured one of the most cutting-edge cockpits ever devised for a Corvette. Consumers could select standard GT seats for all-around comfort and support or optional Competition Sport seats for more aggressive support on the track. The car also featured a smaller, 360mm steering wheel that was designed for optimal feel during performance driving. Perhaps the most notable upgrades to the interior were the introduction of some truly remarkable technologies throughout. The 2014 Corvette included the Chevrolet MyLink system which fully integrated information from several Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, as well as access to USB ports, SD cards, MP3 players, and an audio input jack. An 8″ LCD central display touch-screen (that lowers for device storage and allows access to a USB port inside) provided access to third-party music services such as Pandora. The car also featured a highly customizable instrument cluster, and an available Head-Up Display that was a huge leap ahead of the HUD offered in the fifth- and sixth-generation Corvettes.

2015 Corvette

For its sophomore year, Chevrolet rolled out a considerable number of enhancements to the Stingray, including an all-new transmission, two new design packages, and a Z06 Corvette variant that would surpass any Corvette that had come before it in both power and performance. Two new and distinctive design packages were also introduced - the Atlantic and Pacific Design Packages. Each package was unique from the other and showed the personalization range of the Corvette Stingray. At one end of the spectrum, the Corvette could be configured as a luxury sports GT car (the Atlantic Design Package) or as a high-performance motorsport car (the Pacific Design Package.)

The most notable improvement available to the 2015 Corvette was the introduction of an all-new eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission. This transmission, which replaced the six-speed automatic featured in the 2014 model, was offered on both the Corvette Stingray as well as the 2015 Z06 coupes and convertibles. The transmission, dubbed the Hydra-Matic 8L90, was developed and built by General Motors, and delivers world-class shift times that rival the best dual-clutch designs anywhere in the world.

Moving to the interior of the car, the other significant technology advancement on the 2015 Corvette was the introduction of an optional Performance Data Recorder, a feature that came bundled with the navigation system (RPO IO6). The Performance Data Recorder – or PDR – enabled users to record high-definition video, with telemetry overlays, of their driving experiences both on and off the track. The PDR was developed for Corvette in conjunction with Cosworth, the motorsports-engineering company that supplies the Corvette Racing team’s data acquisition and telemetry electronics system.

While all the enhancements to the 2015 Corvette Stingray coupe and convertible models helped to further advance the car’s perception on the marketplace as a performance vehicle, Chevrolet also unveiled an all-new Z06 model for the 2015 lineup that was more powerful than any production Corvette that had come before it.

At the heart of the 2015 Corvette Z06 was a new LT4 supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine. The LT4 was SAE-certified at 650 horsepower (485 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 650-lb-ft of torque (881 Nm) at 3,600 rpm. This certified performance rating identified the Z06 Corvette as not only the most powerful production car ever built by General Motors but also one of the most powerful production cars available in the United States. The 2015 Corvette Z06 produced some truly staggering performance numbers, including:

0-60 mph acceleration in 2.95 seconds with the eight-speed automatic and 3.2 seconds with the seven-speed manual transmission.

Quarter-mile times of 10.95 seconds at 127 mph with the eight-speed and 11.2 seconds at 127 mph with the seven-speed transmission.

Lateral acceleration of 1.2 g.

60-0 mph braking in only 99.6 feet – the best of any production car tested by General Motors.

It was also the first Z06 since 1963 to be offered as either a coupe or a convertible.

2016 Corvette

The 2016 Corvette Stingray was the first in the seventh-generation lineup not to include a special edition version. Instead, Chevrolet introduced three all-new, color-themed design packages for the 2016 model year. Finished in either Twilight Blue, Spice Red or Jet Black Suede, the special color-themed design packages offered consumers a custom-tailored appearance package that helped to elevate the Stingray’s presence both on the street and on the track. Additionally, each of the customized appearance packages reflected the different roles the Corvette represented in different customer experiences – from high-performance driving to grand touring cruising.

The 2016 Corvette Stingray’s most noteworthy advancements included the introduction of a front curb view parking camera which was offered on all 2LT/3LT and 2LZ/3LZ (Z06) models. This camera, while a minor enhancement to the aesthetic of the car itself, provided drivers with visibility to high-curbs and other obstructions that are known to “bite” the front end of this low-riding Corvette Stingray. It also featured a smartphone projection technology as part of the Stingray’s new MyLink system. This new smartphone technology interface enabled drivers to display content from their Apple iPhone (for iPhone 5 or later models) and select Android phones on the Corvette’s eight-inch, multicolor center-console display screen. The Apple/Android CarPlay feature enabled users to utilize their phone, text messages, maps, music, and compatible third-party apps.

The 2016 Z06 Corvette was the continued embodiment of track-ready, uncompromised high-performance driving and handling. Its return for the 2016 model year provided consumers with more options to personalize their cars. It would also finally pay homage to Corvette’s racing heritage with the introduction of a special, C7.R Edition model. It was specifically designed as a direct tribute to the Corvette Racing C7.R race cars. It represented the closest link between the racecar and the production model of any Corvette in the car’s sixty-three-year history.

The special edition package was offered in two color schemes, both paying homage to Corvette Racing’s signature yellow and black liveries. Each car featured a number of coordinated exterior and interior accents which included: A C7.R Edition graphics package, the Z07 Performance Package with Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, and Michelin PS Cup 2 tires, yellow brake calipers, black wheels with a yellow accent stripe, and Corvette Racing-logo center caps, a visible carbon fiber ground effects package, a new, visible carbon fiber hood section, grilles and vents finished in Spectra Gray Metallic, a Jet Black leather interior with sueded microfiber accents on the instrument panel and doors, sueded microfiber-trimmed Competition Sport Seats, steering wheel and shifter, yellow contrast stitching throughout the car’s interior, a Carbon Fiber interior trim package (high-gloss), Corvette Racing sill plates, and special indoor car cover with C7.R graphics.

Only 500 of the C7.R Edition Z06 Corvettes were built, and all 500 came equipped with the Z07 Performance Package, carbon-ceramic brakes, and a specially serialized vehicle identification number.

2017 Corvette

For the 2017 model year, Chevrolet unveiled its newest iteration of the Corvette Grand Sport at the Geneva Auto Show. Like the 2015 Corvette C7.R Pro race car, the new Grand Sport combined a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires, and a naturally aspirated engine. To enhance the Grand Sport’s capabilities, Corvette engineers utilized the chassis tuning, upgraded cooling systems, and the performance technologies previously developed for use in the Z06. The result is a Grand Sport Corvette that was truly derived from its race-car brethren. When equipped with the Z07 performance package, the 2017 C7 Grand Sport rivaled the performance of the previous generation’s ZR1 Corvette. In fact, the Z07 equipped Grand Sport ran just a second slower than the ZR1 at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds. In addition, the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport also featured an estimated 1.05g in cornering capability and an even greater cornering capability -1.2g – when equipped with the Z07 package.

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport was also offered to consumers in a special Collector’s Edition package. The Grand Sport Collector Edition Corvette featured an exclusive Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash-mark graphics, satin black, full-length stripes, black wheels, and a unique Tension Blue full leather and suede-wrapped interior.

While Chevrolet’s primary focus for the 2017 model year was the introduction of the Grand Sport to the Corvette stable, Chevrolet continued to offer all of the earlier models, including the base coupe and convertible and the Z06 coupe and convertible.

2018 Corvette

The 2018 Corvette Stingray included a Special Edition model that marked the 65th Anniversary of America’s Sports Car. Although rumors of a mid-engine Corvette were already becoming the dominant topic whenever the brand was mentioned, Chevrolet maintained its focus on the C7 Stingray platform with the introduction of the Carbon 65 Edition Corvette. The car, which was offered to consumers as either a Grand Sport 3LT or Z06 3LZ model, was specially designed to celebrate the history and heritage of Corvette since its introduction in 1953.

The Carbon 65 Edition Corvette blended visible carbon-fiber exterior elements – most notably, a new carbon-fiber rear spoiler and quarter ducts – with a new Ceramic Matrix Gray exterior color. On convertible models, the Cermaic Matrix Gray exterior was paired to a blue top. Each of the Carbon 65 Edition Corvettes received unique fender stripes and door graphics, special black wheels with special center caps and machined grooves paired with summer-only tires, blue brake calipers, visible carbon-fiber ground effects, visible carbon fiber on a section of the hood and roof (on coupe models) or tonneau inserts (on convertible models.) All variants of the Carbon 65 received new, visible carbon-fiber spoilers, special carbon flash badges, and outside mirrors, and Carbon 65 Edition sill plates. All 2018 Carbon 65 Grand Sport models were paired with a Cup-Style wheel while its Z06 counterpart received Blade Style Wheels.

Moving to the car’s interior, each Carbon 65 Corvette received a Jet-Black suede-wrapped cockpit with special blue stitching, a carbon-fiber steering wheel rim,and gloss carbon-fiber interior trim elements along with Competition Sport seats.

A limited global production run of just 650 Carbon 65 Corvettes were manufactured in 2018 – 297 of which were Grand Sport models and the other 353 were Z06’s.

The 2018 Corvette Stingray coupe and convertible models now featured standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. These wheels were derived from the optional wheels that were previously included with the Z51 package. They replaced the standard 18-inch front/19-inch rear wheels previously included on earlier base model Corvette coupes, convertibles, and Grand Sports. In addition to upgrading the size of the standard wheels, Chevrolet offered consumers five new wheel design options, including both a “Torque” and “Motorsport” design. Additionally, Magnetic Ride Control was offered for the first time as a stand-alone option. Like the larger wheels, it had previously been bundled with the Z51 package.

The most visible changes for the 2018 Corvette Stingray came in the color choices offered. For 2018, Ceramic Matrix Gray replaced Sterling Blue for the exterior. A Spice-Red convertible top was offered and a Spice-Red interior was offered on all 3LT and 3LZ trim packages. A Jet Black suede-wrapped interior was offered and included a carbon rim steering wheel and gloss carbon-fiber interior trim elements. A new interior color stitching package was also offered which included either red, yellow or blue stitching on surfaces of the interior (when so ordered as part of the 3LT and 3LZ trim packages.)

2019 Corvette

The 2019 model year marked the final year of the seventh-generation Corvette Stingray (and all its higher-performance iterations.) It also welcomed the arrival of the ultimate rear-wheel drive Corvette – the seventh-generation, 755 horsepower ZR1. The 2019 Corvette ZR1 was developed with the intent of building a super-car iteration of the Corvette that pushed the limits of the brand to the highest power output, greatest track performance, and most advanced technology package in its sixty-six-year production history.

The 2019 ZR1 was powered by Chevrolet’s exclusive LT5 supercharged engine. Rated at an SAE-certified 755 horsepower (563 kW) and 715 lb-ft (969 Nm) of torque, the LT5 delivered the highest engine output ever for a Chevrolet production vehicle. This incredible performance output was achieved in large part because of the new, more-efficient inter-cooled supercharger system, which offered 52 percent more displacement than the aforementioned Zo6’s LT4 supercharger. Additionally, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 featured GM’s first-ever dual-fuel-injection system, which employed both primary direct injection and supplemental port injection.

The 2019 ZR1 elevated Corvette’s track capability by offering consumers two wind tunnel-developed aerodynamic packages, both of which helped distinguish the car as the fastest production Corvette to date. The first package – which featured the standard rear Low Wing – offered consumers the option to achieve the fastest speeds on the track. The optional High Wing offered consumers an available two-way-adjustable high-wing that produced maximum downforce on the track – about 60 percent more downforce than the 2019 Z06 with the available Z07 Performance Package. Both variants of the 2019 Corvette ZR1 also featured a Chevrolet first – a downforce-enhancing front underwing.

While there’s no question that the ZR1 was the center-piece of the 2019 Corvette model year, its arrival was still somewhat overshadowed by the certainty that GM was close to unveiling the eighth-generation, mid-engine Corvette! In fact, the ZR1’s introduction was the only appreciable change to the seventh-generation Corvette that year. The base models, the Grand Sports, and the Z06 Corvettes all returned for the final model year as well, but without any significant changes to any of these “lesser” models.

Chevrolet did introduce two new paint colors for the 2019 Corvette – Elkhart Lake Blue and Shadow Grey.

Additionally, for the 2019 running of the Indianapolis 500, Chevrolet announced that a Corvette Grand Sport Coupe would serve as the official pace car. The 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Pace Car was finished in Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat. It received unique GM-designed Indy 500 decals and silver racing stripes.

MORE: 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / THE C7 TIMELINE