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CORVETTE RESEARCH
Corvette MSRP by Year, All Years: What Every Corvette Cost New
The price of every Corvette when it was new, model year by model year from 1953 to 2027: the base coupe and convertible, the most expensive model each year, what the base price is in todays dollars, what each year bought per horsepower, the milestones, the option and package prices through the years.
Quick Nav: Overview · The Story · By Generation · Base Price Chart · Top Model Chart · Per Horsepower · In Today’s Dollars · 2027 Lineup · Every Year · Milestones · Options · Pricing Posts · Market · FAQs
The Basics
First to Latest: $3,498 (1953) to $73,495 (2027 Stingray 1LT coupe); the most expensive, the 2027 ZR1X 3LZ convertible at $248,395
In Today’s Money: The 1953 car is about $43,200 in 2026 dollars, the 1963 Sting Ray coupe $45,900, the 1984 C4 $69,200, the 1997 C5 $77,100, the 2020 C8 $76,500: in real terms the base Corvette has cost between about $35,000 and $85,000 for seventy years, with the late-1980s C4s the dearest and the 1954–57 cars the cheapest
The Milestones: $5,000 in 1970; $10,000 in 1979; $20,000 in 1984; $30,000 (convertible) in 1986; $50,000 (ZR-1) in 1990 and (base coupe) in 2012; $100,000 (ZR1) in 2009; $200,000 (ZR1X) in 2026
The Only Cut: 1954, from $3,498 to $2,774, to clear the unsold first-year cars; every other year held or rose, with the 1970s (×3.5 from 1970 to 1982) and 2020–27 (+22 percent) the steepest climbs
Per Horsepower: From $23 per base horsepower in 1953 to $109 in 1997 and $137 in 2027; the cheapest horsepower was 1955–57 and 1966–67 (about $14–15 per hp, gross) and the dearest 1991 ($132) and 2023–26 ($134–147)
How to Read It: Prices are Chevrolet’s list prices for the base coupe (or the only body) and convertible; destination is included from 1997 where the year page says so; 2026-dollar figures use the CPI-U with 2025–26 estimated
Related Pages: Every year page (every option’s price that year), the RPO codes library, the production numbers, Corvettes Compared, the buyer’s guides and the for-sale coverage for what they cost now
The Overview
A Corvette has cost roughly the same thing for seventy years, if you count in today’s money: the 1953 car’s $3,498 is about $43,200 in 2026 dollars, the 1963 Sting Ray coupe’s $4,257 about $45,900, the 1984 C4’s $21,800 about $69,200, the 1997 C5’s $37,495 about $77,100 and the 2020 C8’s $59,995 about $76,500, against $73,495 for a 2027 Stingray. What changed is what the money buys (150 horsepower then, 535 now) and what sits above the base car: nothing in 1953, a $58,995 ZR-1 in 1990, a $103,300 ZR1 in 2009 and a $248,395 ZR1X in 2027.
The sticker’s history has three steep stretches. The 1970s, when inflation took the coupe from $5,192 in 1970 to $18,290 in 1982 with no more power to show for it; the C4 launch, when the all-new 1984 car cost $21,800 against the last C3’s $18,290 and the returning 1986 convertible became the first Corvette over $30,000; and the C8 years, when the mid-engine car’s $59,995 of 2020 became $73,495 by 2027 and the models above it multiplied, the Z06 past $100,000, the ZR1 past $175,000 and the ZR1X past $200,000. In between, the C5, C6 and C7 held their base prices nearly flat in real terms for twenty-three years.
Below: the base coupe and convertible for every model year with the most expensive Corvette of that year, the 2026-dollar equivalent and the price per horsepower; charts of the sticker as listed and adjusted, of the top model’s price and of dollars per horsepower; what a base Corvette cost in today’s money by generation; the milestones; the option and package prices through the years, from $484 fuel injection to $8,995 Z07; the 2027 lineup; and the questions people ask. Each year page carries every option’s price for its year.
The Price of a Corvette, 1953–2027: The Story
How the sticker moved, era by era.
1953–62: $3,498, a Price Cut, and the Fuelie Premium
The 1953 Corvette listed at $3,498, about a third more than a Bel Air convertible, and every one was built the same way, so the as-delivered price was $3,513. It did not sell, and for 1954 Chevrolet cut the base to $2,774, the only price cut in the car’s history; the 1955 V-8 car was $2,909. The 1956 body took it back to $3,120 and the C1 climbed to $4,038 by 1962, with the fuel-injected engines the costly option, $484.20 from 1957, so that a 1962 fuelie listed at $4,522. In 2026 dollars the C1 ran from about $34,000 (1954) to $44,000 (1962).
1963–67: The Sting Ray, Among the Cheapest Corvettes in Real Terms
The Sting Ray coupe cost $4,257 in 1963 and $4,389 in 1967, the convertible $200 less, and in 2026 dollars those are about $46,000 and $43,000, among the cheapest Corvettes ever in real terms; only the 1954–57 cars were lower. The options were where the money went: the Z06 package at $1,818.45, the big-blocks from $181 (L36) to $437 (L71), the L88 at $947.90, air conditioning at $421.80. A 1967 L88 coupe listed at $5,337.
1968–82: Fifteen Years of Inflation
The Shark started at $4,663 in 1968 and ended at $18,290 in 1982, with the $22,538 Collector Edition above it: the price nearly quadrupled over fifteen years while the horsepower fell from 435 to 200. The milestones came fast, $5,000 in 1970 (when the ZR1 package cost $968.95 and the 1969 ZL1 had been a $10,048 car), $10,000 in 1979, the record production year, $13,140 in 1980 rising to $14,345 during the year, and $16,259 in 1981, the first Bowling Green car. In 2026 dollars the C3 ran from about $40,000 (1974) to $63,000 (1982); the 1978 Pace Car replica at $13,653 was the first special edition sold at its own price.
1984–96: The C4, the Convertible and the King of the Hill
The all-new 1984 Corvette listed at $21,800 plus a mandatory $561.20 wheel package, $3,500 over the last C3, and rose to $37,225 by 1996 (the 1989 coupe’s $31,545 is about $84,000 in 2026 dollars, the dearest base Corvette ever in real terms); the convertible returned in 1986 at $32,032, the first Corvette over $30,000. Above them came the first truly expensive Corvettes: the Callaway Twin Turbo as a $19,995 (later $33,000) option, and the ZR-1, $58,995 in 1990 with the $27,016 package, $68,043 by 1995, nearly twice the coupe and, in the first year, sold at $20,000 to $40,000 over sticker. The 1996 Grand Sport was a $3,250 package plus the $1,450 LT4.
1997–2013: Twenty Years of Flat Real Prices
The C5 arrived at $37,495, $270 over the 1996 coupe, for an all-new car, and that was the pattern for three generations: the 2005 C6 at $44,245 cost $290 less than the last C5 coupe, and the 2014 C7 at $51,995 was $1,420 over the last C6. In 2026 dollars the base coupe stayed between about $70,000 and $79,000 from 1997 to 2019. The expensive Corvettes multiplied instead: the Z06 at $47,500 in 2001 and $65,800 in 2006 (the first regular model over $50,000 in 2002), the 2009 ZR1 at $103,300 plus a $1,700 gas-guzzler tax, the first Corvette over $100,000, and the editions, the Ron Fellows at $77,500, the 427 Limited Edition at $84,195, the Z06 Carbon at $90,960. The base coupe passed $50,000 in 2012.
2014–19: The C7
The C7 Stingray held between $51,995 and $56,590 for six years, the convertible $5,000 more, Z51 from $2,800; the Z06 ran $78,995 to $84,590 and the Grand Sport $66,445 to $70,590, with the Collector Edition at $80,190, the C7.R Edition at $112,395 and $117,490 and the Carbon 65 at $15,000 on top of a 3LT or 3LZ. The 2019 ZR1 at $119,995 (convertible $123,995) was the dearest front-engine Corvette.
2020–27: The Mid-Engine Years
The C8 Stingray launched at $59,995 with the $1,095 destination charge, $3,405 over the 2019 coupe, for a mid-engine car, and then rose every year: $1,000 in March 2021, $1,200 for 2022, two increases in 2023 to $65,595, $69,995 for 2024–25, $71,995 for 2026 and $73,495 for 2027, 22 percent in seven years, the steepest run since the 1970s. The models above it set every new record: the Z06 from $106,395 in 2023 (the first model below a ZR1 over $100,000), the E-Ray from $104,295 in 2024, the ZR1 from $174,995 in 2025 plus a $3,000 gas-guzzler tax, the ZR1X from $207,395 in 2026, the first Corvette over $200,000, and for 2027 a six-model range from $73,495 to $248,395, with the Grand Sport at $88,495 and the Grand Sport X at $112,195. Destination alone, $565 in 1997, is $2,495.
What the Numbers Mean
Three things to keep in mind. Chevrolet’s list prices are what the year pages carry and what this page uses; transaction prices have run above them in the hot years (the 1990 ZR-1, the 2020 C8, the 2025 ZR1) and below them in the slow ones. Destination charges are included from 1997 where the year page says so, and the gas-guzzler tax is extra on the cars that carry it. And the 2026-dollar figures use the consumer price index, which measures groceries and rent, not sports cars; by that measure a base Corvette has cost between about $35,000 and $85,000 for seventy years, which is the most remarkable number on the page.
MORE: EVERY OPTION’S PRICE, BY YEAR / CORVETTES COMPARED: PERFORMANCE / THE HISTORY OF THE CORVETTE
Corvette Prices by Generation
The base price at the start and end of each generation, as listed and in 2026 dollars, the most expensive car of the generation and what moved the sticker.
MORE: PRODUCTION BY YEAR / THE SPECS BY YEAR
| GENERATION | YEARS | BASE PRICE, FIRST → LAST | IN 2026 DOLLARS | THE DEAREST CAR | WHAT MOVED IT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 Corvette | 1953–62 | $3,498 (1953) → $4,038 (1962) | $43,200 → $44,100 | 1962 fuelie, $4,522 | The 1954 price cut to $2,774; FI $484 from 1957 |
| C2 Corvette | 1963–67 | $4,257 → $4,389 coupe; $4,037 → $4,241 convertible | $45,900 → $43,400 | 1967 L88 coupe, $5,337 | Among the cheapest Corvettes ever in real terms; only the 1954–57 cars were lower |
| C3 Corvette | 1968–82 | $4,663 → $18,290 | $44,200 → $62,500 | 1969 ZL1, $10,048; 1982 Collector Edition, $22,538 | Prices quadrupled with 1970s inflation; the first $5,000 (1970), $10,000 (1979) and $15,000 (1981) Corvettes |
| C4 Corvette | 1984–96 | $21,800 → $37,225 coupe; $32,032 → $45,060 convertible | $69,200 → $78,300 | 1995 ZR-1, $68,043; Callaway B2K to $57,440 | The first $20,000 (1984) and $30,000 (1986 convertible) Corvettes; the ZR-1 at twice the coupe |
| C5 Corvette | 1997–2004 | $37,495 → $44,535 coupe; $44,425 → $51,535 convertible | $77,100 → $77,800 | 2004 Z06, $52,385 | An all-new car for $270 more than the old one; the Z06 the first over $50,000 (2002) |
| C6 Corvette | 2005–13 | $44,245 → $50,575 coupe; $52,245 → $55,575 convertible | $74,800 → $71,600 | 2013 ZR1, $112,575 | The first six-figure Corvette, the 2009 ZR1 at $103,300; the base coupe passed $50,000 in 2012 |
| C7 Corvette | 2014–19 | $51,995 → $56,590 coupe; $56,995 → $60,590 convertible | $72,500 → $73,000 | 2019 ZR1 convertible, $123,995 | Six years of small rises; the Z06 at $78,995–84,590, the Grand Sport at $66,445–70,590 |
| C8 Corvette | 2020– | $59,995 → $73,495 coupe; $67,495 → $80,495 convertible | $76,500 → $73,495 | 2027 ZR1X convertible 3LZ, $248,395 | Mid-engine for $59,995; the biggest rises since the 1970s (up 22 percent 2020–27); the first $100,000 base model (Z06, 2023) and $200,000 Corvette (ZR1X, 2026) |
Corvette Base Price by Year: As Listed and in 2026 Dollars
The red line is the sticker Chevrolet printed; the dashed line is the same sticker in 2026 dollars. The gap between them is inflation, and the dashed line’s flatness is the story: the base Corvette has cost between about $35,000 and $85,000 in today’s money since 1953, and the 2027 car sits where the 1997 C5 did.
The Most Expensive Corvette of Each Year
The dearest car Chevrolet sold each year against the base price: the ZL1 spike of 1969, the Callaway B2Ks of 1987–91, the ZR-1 of 1990–95, the Z06 and ZR1 of the C6 and C7, and the C8’s ZR1 and ZR1X, which took the top of the range from $120,000 to $248,000 in eight years.
MORE: THE ZR1 GUIDE / THE Z06 GUIDE
Dollars per Horsepower by Year
Base price divided by the base engine’s rated horsepower. The cheapest horsepower Chevrolet ever sold was the 1955–57 V-8s and the 300-hp 327 of 1966–67, about $14–15 a horsepower (gross); the dearest were the 1991 car ($132) and the 2023–26 cars ($134–147); the 2027’s $137 buys 535 of them.
MORE: CORVETTES COMPARED
What a Base Corvette Cost, in 2026 Dollars
The first car of each generation, with the 1954 price cut, the last C1 and C3 and the 1989 C4, base price converted to 2026 dollars. The 1954–57 cars were the cheapest Corvettes in real terms and the late-1980s C4s the dearest; the 2027 Stingray sits almost exactly where the 1997 C5 and the 2019 C7 did.
The 2027 Corvette Lineup by Price
Ten price points from the Stingray 1LT coupe to the ZR1X 3LZ convertible, destination included, gas-guzzler tax extra on the Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X.
MORE: THE 2027 CORVETTE
Corvette MSRP by Year, All Years: The Full Table
Every model year with the base coupe (or the only body), the convertible, the most expensive model or edition that year with its price, the base price in 2026 dollars, the base price per horsepower and what moved the sticker. Each year links to its research page, which lists every option and its price for that year.
| YEAR | BASE PRICE | CONVERTIBLE | MOST EXPENSIVE THAT YEAR | BASE IN 2026 $ | $ PER HP | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | $3,498 | convertible only | — | $43,200 | $23 | Convertible only; Powerglide and the Blue Flame six; $3,498 base, $3,513 as every car was equipped |
| 1954 | $2,774 | convertible only | — | $34,000 | $18 | Price cut to $2,774 base ($3,254 as delivered) to move the unsold 1953s and 1954s |
| 1955 | $2,909 | convertible only | — | $35,800 | $15 | $2,909 with the new 265 V-8; $2,774 for the last sixes |
| 1956 | $3,120 | convertible only | — | $37,900 | $15 | New body; $3,467 typical as equipped |
| 1957 | $3,176 | convertible only | 283/283 Fuelie: $3,660 | $37,300 | $14 | Fuel injection $484.20, the four-speed $188.30 |
| 1958 | $3,591 | convertible only | — | $41,000 | $16 | Quad headlights, more chrome, 200 pounds more |
| 1959 | $3,875 | convertible only | — | $43,900 | $17 | |
| 1960 | $3,875 | convertible only | — | $43,200 | $17 | Unchanged; the first 10,000-car year |
| 1961 | $3,934 | convertible only | — | $43,400 | $17 | The ducktail |
| 1962 | $4,038 | convertible only | 327/360 Fuelie: $4,522 | $44,100 | $16 | The last C1; fuel injection $484.20 |
| 1963 | $4,257 | $4,037 | Z06 coupe: $6,075 | $45,900 | $17 | The first coupe; RPO Z06 $1,818.45 |
| 1964 | $4,252 | $4,037 | — | $45,300 | $17 | |
| 1965 | $4,321 | $4,106 | 396/425 L78 coupe: $4,614 | $45,300 | $17 | The first big-block, $292.70; four-wheel discs standard |
| 1966 | $4,295 | $4,084 | 427/425 L72 coupe: $4,607 | $43,700 | $14 | The 427 L72 $312.85 |
| 1967 | $4,389 | $4,241 | L88 coupe: $5,337 | $43,400 | $15 | RPO L88 $947.90; the L71 Tri-Power $437.10 |
| 1968 | $4,663 | $4,320 | L88 coupe: $5,611 | $44,200 | $16 | The new body; L88 $947.90 |
| 1969 | $4,781 | $4,438 | ZL1 coupe: $10,048 | $43,000 | $16 | RPO ZL1 $4,718.35 on top of the car and its mandatory options; L88 $1,032.15 |
| 1970 | $5,192 | $4,849 | ZR1 coupe: $6,161 | $44,200 | $17 | The first base coupe over $5,000; RPO ZR1 $968.95; the LT-1 $447.60 |
| 1971 | $5,496 | $5,259 | ZR2 coupe: $7,243 | $44,800 | $20 | RPO ZR2 $1,747; the 454 LS6 $1,221 |
| 1972 | $5,533 | $5,296 | — | $43,700 | $28 | The last ZR1 package, $1,010.05 |
| 1973 | $5,562 | $5,399 | — | $41,300 | $29 | The urethane nose |
| 1974 | $6,002 | $5,766 | — | $40,200 | $31 | The last big-block (LS4, $250) and the last convertible until 1986 |
| 1975 | $6,810 | $6,550 | — | $41,800 | $41 | The last convertible of the C3 ($6,550) |
| 1976 | $7,605 | none offered | — | $44,100 | $42 | Coupe only through 1985 |
| 1977 | $8,648 | none offered | — | $47,100 | $48 | |
| 1978 | $9,351 | none offered | Indy Pace Car replica: $13,653 | $47,300 | $51 | The 25th anniversary; the Pace Car replica, 6,502 sold |
| 1979 | $10,220 | none offered | — | $46,500 | $52 | The first Corvette over $10,000 and the all-time production record, 53,807 |
| 1980 | $13,140 | none offered | — | $52,600 | $69 | $13,140 at introduction, $14,345 by the end of the year |
| 1981 | $16,259 | none offered | — | $59,000 | $86 | The first Bowling Green year |
| 1982 | $18,290 | none offered | Collector Edition: $22,538 | $62,500 | $91 | The last C3; the Collector Edition hatchback |
| 1984 | $21,800 | none offered | — | $69,200 | $106 | The first C4; $21,800 plus the mandatory $561.20 16-inch wheel package; the first over $20,000 |
| 1985 | $24,403 | none offered | — | $74,800 | $106 | Tuned-Port Injection |
| 1986 | $27,027 | $32,032 | — | $81,400 | $118 | The convertible returns at $32,032, the first Corvette past $30,000 |
| 1987 | $27,999 | $33,172 | Callaway Twin Turbo (B2K): $47,994 | $81,300 | $117 | RPO B2K $19,995 on top of the car |
| 1988 | $29,489 | $34,820 | Callaway Twin Turbo (B2K): $55,384 | $82,300 | $120 | 35th Anniversary package $4,795; B2K $25,895 |
| 1989 | $31,545 | $36,785 | Callaway Twin Turbo (B2K): $57,440 | $84,000 | $129 | ZF six-speed; convertible hardtop $1,995 |
| 1990 | $31,979 | $37,264 | ZR-1: $58,995 | $80,700 | $131 | The ZR-1, $27,016 over the coupe; dealers charged $20,000–40,000 over that |
| 1991 | $32,455 | $38,770 | ZR-1: $64,138 | $78,600 | $132 | ZR-1 package to $31,683; the last Callaway B2K, $33,000 |
| 1992 | $33,635 | $40,145 | ZR-1: $65,318 | $79,100 | $112 | The 300-hp LT1 at no extra cost |
| 1993 | $34,595 | $41,195 | ZR-1: $66,278 | $79,000 | $115 | 40th Anniversary package $1,455 |
| 1994 | $36,185 | $42,960 | ZR-1: $67,443 | $80,600 | $121 | |
| 1995 | $36,785 | $43,665 | ZR-1: $68,043 | $79,700 | $123 | The last ZR-1; Pace Car Replica convertible $46,481 |
| 1996 | $37,225 | $45,060 | Grand Sport coupe: $40,475 | $78,300 | $124 | Grand Sport package $3,250 (coupe) / $2,880 (convertible) plus the $1,450 LT4; Collector Edition $1,250 |
| 1997 | $37,495 | — | — | $77,100 | $109 | The all-new C5 for $270 more than a 1996 coupe; $38,060 with destination |
| 1998 | $37,495 | $44,425 | Pace Car Replica convertible: $49,464 | $75,900 | $109 | Pace Car Replica package $5,039 |
| 1999 | $39,171 | $45,579 | — | $77,600 | $114 | The $38,777 hardtop; prices now include the $580 destination charge |
| 2000 | $39,475 | $45,900 | — | $75,600 | $114 | Hardtop $38,900 |
| 2001 | $40,475 | $47,000 | Z06: $47,500 | $75,400 | $116 | The Z06 arrives at $47,500, $500 over the convertible |
| 2002 | $41,450 | $47,975 | Z06: $50,150 | $76,000 | $118 | The 405-hp Z06; the first Corvette over $50,000 |
| 2003 | $43,895 | $50,370 | Z06: $51,155 | $78,700 | $125 | 50th Anniversary package $5,000 |
| 2004 | $44,535 | $51,535 | Z06: $52,385 | $77,800 | $127 | Commemorative Edition $3,700 / $4,335 (Z06) |
| 2005 | $44,245 | $52,245 | — | $74,800 | $111 | The C6 for $290 less than the last C5 coupe, with $800 destination included |
| 2006 | $44,600 | $52,335 | Z06: $65,800 | $73,000 | $112 | The 505-hp Z06 |
| 2007 | $44,970 | $52,910 | Z06 Ron Fellows Edition: $77,500 | $71,600 | $112 | Z06 to $70,000 from July 2006; Pace Car replica $66,995 |
| 2008 | $45,995 | $54,335 | Z06 427 Limited Edition: $84,195 | $70,500 | $107 | Z06 $71,000; Pace Car replica $59,090 / $68,160 |
| 2009 | $47,895 | $52,550 | ZR1: $103,300 | $73,700 | $111 | The first Corvette over $100,000 (plus a $1,700 gas-guzzler tax); Z06 $73,255; a new 1LT convertible at $52,550 |
| 2010 | $49,880 | $54,530 | ZR1: $107,830 | $75,500 | $116 | Grand Sport $55,720 / $59,530; Z06 $75,235 |
| 2011 | $49,900 | $54,550 | ZR1: $110,750 | $73,200 | $116 | Z06 Carbon Limited Edition $90,960 |
| 2012 | $50,500 | $55,500 | ZR1: $112,500 | $72,600 | $117 | The first base coupe over $50,000; Grand Sport $56,900 / $60,500; Z06 $76,500 |
| 2013 | $50,575 | $55,575 | ZR1: $112,575 | $71,600 | $118 | The last C6; 427 Convertible $76,900 |
| 2014 | $51,995 | $56,995 | Premiere Edition convertible: $77,450 | $72,500 | $114 | The C7 Stingray; Z51 $2,800 |
| 2015 | $54,995 | $59,995 | Z06 convertible: $83,995 | $76,600 | $121 | Z06 coupe $78,995; Z07 $7,995 |
| 2016 | $56,395 | $60,395 | Z06 C7.R Edition convertible: $117,490 | $77,500 | $124 | Z06 $80,395 / $84,395 |
| 2017 | $56,445 | $60,445 | Z06 convertible: $84,445 | $76,000 | $124 | Grand Sport $66,445 / $70,445; Grand Sport Collector Edition $80,190 / $84,190 |
| 2018 | $56,490 | $60,490 | Carbon 65 Z06 convertible: $108,435 | $74,200 | $124 | Carbon 65 Edition $15,000 on a 3LT/3LZ |
| 2019 | $56,590 | $60,590 | ZR1 convertible: $123,995 | $73,000 | $124 | ZR1 coupe $119,995; the last front-engine year |
| 2020 | $59,995 | $67,495 | Convertible 3LT: $78,945 | $76,500 | $122 | The mid-engine C8 at $59,995 (1LT coupe, $1,095 destination included); Z51 $5,000 |
| 2021 | $59,995 | $67,495 | Convertible 3LT: $78,945 | $73,100 | $122 | Up $1,000 for orders from March 1, 2021; Z51 $5,995 |
| 2022 | $62,195 | $69,695 | Convertible 3LT: $81,145 | $70,100 | $127 | Up $1,200; Z51 $6,345; IMSA GTLM Championship Edition $6,595 |
| 2023 | $65,595 | $73,095 | Z06 convertible 3LZ: $127,245 | $71,000 | $134 | Z06 from $106,395 (1LZ coupe); Stingray up twice during the year from $62,295 at launch; 70th Anniversary $5,995 |
| 2024 | $69,995 | $76,995 | Z06 coupe 3LZ: $125,345 | $73,600 | $143 | E-Ray from $104,295; Z06 from $111,795 |
| 2025 | $69,995 | $76,995 | ZR1 convertible 3LZ: $195,995 | $71,700 | $143 | The ZR1 from $174,995 plus a $3,000 gas-guzzler tax; E-Ray $108,595; Z06 $113,795 |
| 2026 | $71,995 | $78,995 | ZR1X convertible 3LZ: $228,395 | $72,000 | $147 | The ZR1X from $207,395; ZR1 $182,395; Z06 $119,695 (gas-guzzler tax now applied); E-Ray $110,595 |
| 2027 | $73,495 | $80,495 | ZR1X convertible 3LZ: $248,395 | $73,500 | $137 | Grand Sport from $88,495, Grand Sport X $112,195, Z06 $121,395, ZR1 $197,195, ZR1X $227,395; destination $2,495 |
| YEAR | PRICE | THE MILESTONE |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | $3,498 | The first Corvette; about a third more than a Chevrolet Bel Air convertible |
| 1954 | $2,774 | The only price cut in Corvette history, to clear the unsold cars |
| 1970 | $5,192 | The first base Corvette over $5,000 |
| 1979 | $10,220 | The first over $10,000, in the record production year |
| 1981 | $16,259 | The first over $15,000, as inflation ran at double digits |
| 1984 | $21,800 | The first over $20,000, the C4 |
| 1986 | $32,032 | The first over $30,000, the returning convertible |
| 1990 | $58,995 | The ZR-1, the first Corvette over $50,000 and nearly twice the coupe |
| 2002 | $50,150 | The Z06, the first regular model over $50,000 |
| 2009 | $103,300 | The ZR1, the first Corvette over $100,000 |
| 2012 | $50,500 | The first base coupe over $50,000 |
| 2019 | $119,995 | The C7 ZR1, the dearest front-engine Corvette |
| 2020 | $59,995 | The mid-engine C8, $3,405 over the 2019 coupe |
| 2023 | $106,395 | The Z06, the first model below the ZR1 over $100,000 |
| 2025 | $174,995 | The C8 ZR1 |
| 2026 | $207,395 | The ZR1X, the first Corvette over $200,000; the Quail Silver edition $241,395 |
| 2027 | $73,495 | The base Stingray at $73,495; the range to $248,395 |
What the Options Cost: Packages and Premiums Through the Years
The prices that mattered, from fuel injection to the Z07, and what the fast Corvettes cost over the base car. The year pages and the RPO library have every code for every year.
| OPTION OR PACKAGE | PRICE | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel injection (1957–65) | $484.20 (1957) → $538 (1965) | The 283-hp and 360-hp fuelies; dropped after 1965 |
| Four-speed manual (1957–) | $188.30 (1957); $184.35 (1963) | The Borg-Warner T-10, then the Muncie |
| Big-block 427 (1966–69) | L36 $181.20 → L71 $437.10 | The Tri-Power L71; the L88 $947.90, the ZL1 $4,718.35 |
| RPO Z06 (1963) | $1,818.45 | Duntov’s racing package, with the 36-gallon tank |
| RPO ZR1 / ZR2 (1970–72) | $968.95 / $1,747 | The LT-1 and LS6 racing packages |
| Air conditioning (1963–) | $421.80 (1963); $412 (1972) | Standard from 1982 |
| Pace Car replica (1978) | $13,653 (the car) | $4,300 over a base coupe; 6,502 sold |
| Callaway Twin Turbo, RPO B2K (1987–91) | $19,995 → $33,000 | The only tuner car sold as a factory option |
| ZR-1 package (1990–95) | $27,016 → $31,683 → $31,258 | The LT5 and the wide body |
| Grand Sport, RPO Z16 (1996) | $3,250 coupe / $2,880 convertible | Plus the $1,450 LT4 |
| Z06 premium over the coupe (2001–19) | $7,025 (2001) → $21,200 (2006) → $24,000 (2019) | The Z06 from $47,500 to $80,590 |
| Z07 package | $9,495 (2011), $7,500 (2012–13), $7,995 (2015–19), $8,995 (2023–) | Carbon-ceramic brakes, Magnetic Ride, Cup tires, aero |
| Z51 (2014–) | $2,800 (2014) → $5,000 (2020) → $6,345 (2022–) | The performance package on the Stingray |
| ZR1 premium over the coupe (2009–19) | $55,405 (2009) → $63,405 (2019) | ZR1 from $103,300 to $119,995 |
| ZTK (2019, 2025–) | $2,995 (2019); $1,500 + $8,495 carbon aero (2025–) | The ZR1’s track package |
| Gas-guzzler tax | $1,700 (2009 ZR1) → $3,000 (2025 ZR1, 2026 Z06) | Added to the sticker on the thirstiest models |
| Destination charge | $565 (1997) → $995 (2014) → $1,095 (2020) → $2,495 (2027) | Included in the prices above from 1997 where the year page says so |
Corvette Pricing: Research by Generation
Everything tagged to pricing research across the eight generations, newest first.
What They Cost Now: The Market Reports
The site’s auction and market coverage, newest first: what each Corvette sells for today against what it cost new.
FAQs
How much did the first Corvette cost?
$3,498 in 1953, or $3,513 as every car was delivered with its heater and radio, about $43,200 in 2026 dollars: a third more than a Bel Air convertible and more than a Jaguar XK120 roadster. Chevrolet cut the 1954 price to $2,774 to clear the unsold cars, the only price cut in the car’s history.
How much does a new Corvette cost in 2027?
From $73,495 for a Stingray 1LT coupe to $248,395 for a ZR1X 3LZ convertible, destination ($2,495) included: Stingray $73,495–92,245, Grand Sport $88,495–106,245, Grand Sport X $112,195–130,145, Z06 $121,395–141,945, ZR1 $197,195–218,195, ZR1X $227,395–248,395, with a $2,600–3,000 gas-guzzler tax on the Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X.
What was the Corvette’s price each year?
The full table above lists the base coupe and convertible for every model year from 1953 to 2027 with the dearest model each year and the 2026-dollar equivalent; each year links to its research page, which lists every option and its price. The short version: $3,498 (1953), $4,257 (1963), $4,663 (1968), $10,220 (1979), $21,800 (1984), $37,495 (1997), $44,245 (2005), $51,995 (2014), $59,995 (2020), $73,495 (2027).
How much is a 1953 Corvette worth now versus what it cost?
It cost $3,498, about $43,200 in today’s money; the surviving 1953s (300 were built) sell for several hundred thousand dollars, the best past half a million. The year page and the for-sale coverage have the current results.
What was the first Corvette to cost over $100,000?
The 2009 ZR1 at $103,300 plus a $1,700 gas-guzzler tax. The first regular model over $50,000 was the 2002 Z06 ($50,150; the 1990 ZR-1 had been $58,995), the first base coupe over $50,000 the 2012 ($50,500), the first model below a ZR1 over $100,000 the 2023 Z06 ($106,395) and the first Corvette over $200,000 the 2026 ZR1X ($207,395).
Has the Corvette gotten more expensive in real terms?
Less than it looks. In 2026 dollars the base car has cost between about $35,000 and $85,000 for seventy years: $43,200 for the 1953, $45,900 for the 1963 coupe, $69,200 for the 1984, $77,100 for the 1997, $76,500 for the 2020 and $73,495 for the 2027, about what the 1997 C5 and the 2019 C7 cost; the dearest in real terms were the 1986–89 C4s, at $81,000–84,000. What has grown is the range above the base car, from nothing to $248,395.
Why did Corvette prices jump in the 1970s?
Inflation. The coupe went from $5,192 in 1970 to $18,290 in 1982, 3.5 times, while the consumer price index rose 2.5 times and the car lost half its horsepower; emissions and safety equipment, the urethane bumpers and the move to Bowling Green added cost too. In 2026 dollars the C3 ran from about $40,000 to $63,000.
How much did the Z06, ZR1 and Grand Sport cost over a base Corvette?
The Z06: $7,025 over the 2001 coupe, $21,200 in 2006, $24,000 in 2019, $40,800 in 2023 and $47,900 in 2027. The ZR-1/ZR1: $27,016 in 1990, $55,405 in 2009, $63,405 in 2019, $105,000 in 2025 and $123,700 in 2027. The Grand Sport: a $3,250 package in 1996, $5,840 over the coupe in 2010, $10,000 in 2017 and $15,000 in 2027. The options table above has the packages.
Are the prices on this page what people actually paid?
They are Chevrolet’s list prices. In the hot years buyers paid over sticker (the 1990 ZR-1 by $20,000 to $40,000, the first C8s and 2025 ZR1s by five figures) and in the slow years dealers discounted; the market reports linked below follow transaction and auction prices. Destination charges are included from 1997 where the year page says so; the gas-guzzler tax is extra.
How are the 2026-dollar figures calculated?
By the consumer price index (CPI-U, annual averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with 2025 and 2026 estimated), using the model year as the calendar year. It is a general measure of prices, not of cars, so treat the adjusted figures as a scale rather than a valuation; the direction and the proportions are what matter.
Which year was the best Corvette value?
By price per horsepower, 1955–57 and 1966–67, when a V-8 Corvette cost about $14–15 per (gross) horsepower, and 1992, when the 300-hp LT1 came at no extra cost. By what the money bought, the 1997 C5 ($270 over the old car for an all-new one), the 2001 Z06 (the ZR-1’s pace for $47,500) and the 2020 C8 (a mid-engine car for $59,995) are the ones the market remembers; the buyer’s guides make the case for each generation.
