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Chevrolet Corvette C5 - Price, Specs and 360° Interactive

Chevrolet Corvette C5 - 360° Interactive

Chevrolet Corvette C5 - Key Specifications

Chevrolet Corvette C5 Specifications

Specification	Details
Type	Sports Coupé / Convertible
Released At	1996 Detroit Auto Show
Built At	Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
Engine	5.7 L Naturally Aspirated V8 (LS1)
Position	Front-Engine, Longitudinal
Aspiration	Natural
Block Material	Aluminum Alloy
Valvetrain	OHV, 2 Valves per Cylinder
Fuel Feed	Sequential Multi-Port Fuel Injection
Displacement	5665 cc / 345 in³
Bore	99 mm / 3.90 in
Stroke	92 mm / 3.62 in
Compression	10.1:1
Power	257 kW / 345 hp
Specific Output	60.9 hp per liter
BHP/Weight	235 bhp per tonne
Torque	470 Nm / 347 lb-ft
Top Speed	282 km/h / 175 mph
0 – 60 mph	4.7 seconds
0 – 100 km/h	4.9 seconds
Body / Frame	Hydroformed Box Frame with Composite Body Panels
Driven Wheels	RWD (Rear-Wheel Drive)
Wheel Type	Alloy Wheels
Front Tires	245/45ZR17
Rear Tires	275/40ZR18
Front Brakes	Ventilated Discs with 2-Piston Calipers
Rear Brakes	Ventilated Discs with 2-Piston Calipers
Front Wheels	43.2 x 22.9 cm / 17 x 9 in
Rear Wheels	45.7 x 25.4 cm / 18 x 10 in
Front Suspension	Independent Short/Long Arm (SLA) with Transverse Leaf Spring
Rear Suspension	Independent Short/Long Arm (SLA) with Transverse Leaf Spring
Curb Weight	1460 kg / 3219 lbs
Weight Distribution	51 % Front / 49 % Rear
Wheelbase	2667 mm / 105.0 in
Length	4563 mm / 179.6 in
Width	1869 mm / 73.6 in
Height	1214 mm / 47.8 in
Transmission	6-Speed Manual / 4-Speed Automatic
Fuel Economy (Combined)	10.7 L/100 km or 22 mpg-US
Fuel Capacity	68 liters or 18 gallons

Some Interesting Chevrolet Corvette C5 Facts

Chevrolet Corvette C5 Price Specifications

First Corvette with the LS-Series Engine – The C5 introduced the legendary LS1 engine, a 5.7L V8 producing 345 hp (later increased to 350 hp in 2001), setting the foundation for future high-performance Corvettes.

First Corvette with a Transaxle Layout – Unlike previous generations, the C5 moved the transmission to the rear, creating a rear-mounted transaxle for better weight distribution (50/50 balance), greatly improving handling.

Designed to Be More Practical and Comfortable – The C5 was built as a true grand tourer, featuring a larger trunk, better fuel efficiency (up to 28 mpg highway), and a more refined interior compared to earlier Corvettes.

First Corvette with a Head-Up Display (HUD) – The C5 introduced an optional HUD, projecting speed, RPM, and other vital driving information onto the windshield for enhanced driver focus.

First Corvette with a Fixed-Roof Coupe (FRC) Variant – In 1999, Chevrolet introduced the Fixed-Roof Coupe (FRC), a stiffer, lightweight version that later evolved into the C5 Z06.

C5 Z06 – A Factory-Built Track Weapon – The C5 Z06 (2001-2004) featured an upgraded LS6 engine producing 385 hp (later 405 hp), lightweight wheels, stiffer suspension, and improved aerodynamics, making it the best-performing C5.

Improved Chassis and Aerodynamics – The C5’s hydroformed steel frame was 4.4 times stiffer than the previous C4, and its aerodynamic drag coefficient (0.29 Cd) was one of the lowest of any production car at the time.

First Corvette with a Titanium Exhaust (Z06 Model) – The C5 Z06 was the first production Corvette to feature a lightweight titanium exhaust, reducing weight while producing a more aggressive exhaust note.

Paved the Way for the Corvette Racing Program – The C5-R race car, based on the C5 chassis, dominated endurance racing, winning its class at Le Mans, Sebring, and Daytona, proving the Corvette’s capability on a global scale.

Replaced by the C6 in 2005 – The C5 Corvette was succeeded by the C6, which retained the LS engine concept but improved on design, technology, and performance, making it a more modern evolution of the Corvette legacy.

Chevrolet Corvette C5 Price

The C5 redefined American performance with its hydroformed chassis and LS1 V8—out-handling contemporary 911s while costing half as much. In the EU, manual coupes are now cult classics, while automatics (80% of imports) languish unsold. The rarest? 2004 Commemorative Editions in Le Mans Blue, of which maybe 20 reached Europe.

1. Price Ranges (EUR, Mid-2024)

Standard Coupes (LS1, 345hp)

High-Mileage (>100k km) Auto: €12k – €18k (Warning: 2000–02 autos need €3k transmission rebuilds.)

Well-Maintained Manual (50k–100k km): €25k – €35k (Critical: Clutch/flywheel service records.)

Collector-Grade (<30k km): €40k – €55k+ (Must have: Original Goodyear F1 tires unused in trunk!)

Convertibles

1999–2000 (Glass rear window): +€5k over coupe

2001–04 (Hated plastic window): -€3k vs. coupe

Special Models

Z06 (2001–04, 385–405hp): €50k – €80k (2004 CE Z06: €90k+ if under 15k km.)

2003 50th Anniversary: €35k – €50k (Look for fading Anniversary Red paint.)

2. Key Factors Affecting Value

✅ EU-Specific Premiums

LHD Manual: 30% more valuable than RHD UK imports

German TÜV-approved: +€5k (avoids €10k+ retrofits)

✅ Options That Matter

Magnetic Selective Ride (F55): +€3k (if working)

Body-color hardtop (verts): +€2k

Active Handling (post-2001): Safety must-have

⚠️ Critical Watch-Outs

ECU "tune" cars: Often hide overrevs (check with Tech 2 scanner)

Leaking rear diff (seals fail at 120k km: €1.5k fix)

Delaminated dashboard (€2k+ for correct replacement)

3. Where to Buy in the EU?

Official Channels

Corvette Club Deutschland (best for TÜV-ready cars)

Hexagon Classics (London, but premiums for RHD)

Private Sales

Mobile.de "Garagenfund" listings (German barn finds)

Marktplaats.nl (Dutch imports, often well-kept)

Pro Tip: Avoid UK RHD conversions—resale is impossible in mainland EU.

4. Market Trends

📈 Manual Z06s Rising Fast

2002 Z06 (405hp): Up 15%/year since 2020

Stock exhausts: Original titanium systems now €4k+

⚠️ Trap Warning

"Garage queen" C5s often need €5k in rubber/seal replacements

Aftermarket HUDs ruin dash value (factory only!)

5. Must-Do Checks

🔧 Mechanical:

Column lock bypass (recall issue—check isn’t jerry-rigged)

Leaking fuel tank (common around filler neck)

Optispark (pre-2000 cars—moisture kills it)

📄 Paperwork:

Build sheet (under passenger seat or in glovebox)

Battery drain test (faulty modules plague early cars)

Fun Fact: The C5’s pop-up headlights were nearly replaced with fixed units, until engineers realized they’d have to re-crash-test the entire car!

Bonus: C5 Buying Cheat Sheet