As much as everyone geeked out at the debut of the C5 Corvette in 1997, the hysteria seemed to grab another gear in 2001 when the Z06 was debuted. The public knew that there was some sort of awesome version of the Corvette coming but the company did a good job keeping the wraps on it until they unleashed the thing. The result was excitement and positivity across the board. The Z06 was immediately hailed a s budget super car killer and a machine that could punch well above its financial weight class and take on the world’s best machines while in many cases beating them.
The car was rocking an LS6 engine that seems quaint by today’s standards but back then was definitely a snarling beast. The already well sorted C5 chassis was enhanced by an improved FE4 suspension package, and weight was cleaved off the car wherever possible. Hell, the only option you would get with a Z06 was a CD changer. That’s how much they wanted to keep the car light on its feet.
One of the other factors we always look at with Corvettes is their aging. These Z06 models aged really well. The styling is still cool, the performance is still thrilling, and the prices, while on the rise, are insanely reasonable for these cars. As C4s begin their rocket rise in the markets, the C5s are poised to be the next bargain if they already aren’t!
Score a Z06 and have big fun!
