What’s the Fastest Factory Corvette Ever Made?

By Detroit Steel - January 9, 2017

1996 Corvette Grand Sport

Factory Corvette Zero-to-60 MPH Times Since 1953. The Results May Surprise You

Given how lighting fast the C7 Z06 is, it’s hard to believe that it wasn’t until 1966 that the Corvette would crack a zero-to-60 mph time under 6.0 seconds. Or that the very first Corvette only had a zero-to-60 mph time of 11.0 seconds.

Then again, the C7 Z06’s zero-to-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds is pretty mind-boggling in itself. Especially considering that a Lamborghini Huracan, which costs almost three times more than the Z06, is only .5-seconds faster.

The Corvette’s zero-to-60 mph time is the centerpiece of an interesting story pulled together recently by Car and Driver. It looks at the speed of the American sports car since its birth in 1953.

2015-Corvette-Z06

In addition to the C7 Z06, the top speedsters on the list include the 2006 Corvette Z06 at 3.4 secs. There’s also the 2009 Corvette ZR1 at 3.6 seconds. And don’t forget the 2015 Stingray at 3.7 seconds.

The 2017 Grand Sport has a zero-to-60 mph time of 3.8. That’s 1.2 seconds faster than the 1996 Grand Sport, which bolts to 60 in 5.0 seconds.

Other notable speedsters on the list include the 2013 Corvette 427 convertible, with a zero-to-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds. There’s also the 2014 Corvette Z51 with a time of 3.9 seconds. But one of the most impressive speed periods for the American icon might be the ’67 Corvette 427, powered by the 435-hp L89 engine. It had a zero-to-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds.

Even more interesting is the fact that the ’68 Corvette, which also was equipped with a 427 V8 engine, was actually slower than the ’67 model because of newly-mandated emissions restrictions.