Buyers Guide

Interesting, Affordable, Hidden Gem Corvettes, Pt. 4: C5 2002-2004 Z06 Corvette

Is the C5 Z06 in the shadow of the C6 and C7 Z06 Corvettes? Chevrolet stunned everyone with a unique, “Performance-model Corvette”!

Scott Teeters··
Last updated:
2002-2004 Z06 Corvette
Image Credit: Illustration by K. Scott Teeters

This is the only of our six “under-appreciated Corvettes” series cars that was a purpose-built, separate, “performance” model Corvette. Not since the C4 ZR-1 went away after 1995 had there been a separate “performance” model Corvette. The C4 ZR-1 is still a jewel of a Corvette, but the RPO ZR-1 option was nearly as much as the base price of the base model Corvette Coupe!

The ZR-1’s LT5 maxed out at 405-horsepower from 1993 to 1995. The 2001 Z06’s LS6 was rated at 385-horsepower, then was bumped to 405-horsepower from 2002 to 2004. The later C5 Z06s packed the same punch as the exotic ZR-1, in a package that cost around $6,500 over base price. The base price of a 2001 Corvette was $40,475

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