My buddy ( who owns a 1970 convertable and a 1971 coup) were having a discussion over a few beers if there are any differences between a 1997 thru 2004 coups? I couldn't think of any besides rims and the 03 badges. If there is let me know. Thanks

 

Nothing major that I can think of... availabilty of some colors, rims (like you said) and I think in 2000 or 2001 they removed or covered up the keyhole on the passenger door.

Oh, and I think the exhaust tips changed after the first or second year. I'm not sure: hopefully someone else will chime in.

 

no body difference that I know of but the pipes before 2001 are not crome tipped

 

Key hole removed from passenger side door in 2000.

 

The 1999-2000 FRC and the 2001-2004 Z06 had the same "bodystyle", but the Z06 had the rear side vents. I believe that the Z06 had different exhaust tips as well.

 

Thanks for the help everyone

 

Not a body difference, but they introduced the millennium yellow color for 2000.

 

Funny - I had a discussion about this with my friends at carlisle this year.

(I am not going to get into special color's by year, etc)
You can tell the 50th's (03's) by the badging..
You can tell 97-99's from the keyhole in the pass side and usually the wagon wheels (i believe the thin spokes were an option in 98 and/or 99?)
you can tell 01-04 z06's by the fixed roof and the brake ducts (03 z06 will have the 50th badge)

but the one car you can tell exactly the year by body is the 99-00 FRC. - basically because of the keyhole, but still a good fact to have.

When we were at carlisle - My buddy pointed out a Pewter Z06 on the field, and said jokingly to me "I thought they did not make a z06 in pewter" (I mentioned this a few times in the past to him as mine is 2000 FRC is pewter)

So I took one walk around the car, The guy had the registration for the show in the window and stated it was a 2002 Z06. It had the Z06 Brake Ducts, Z06 Exhaust, Z06 Wheels, Z06 (or painted) calipers, Z06 Seats, (the hood was closed so i could not go into detail with head numbers, etc..) I said - it is a 1999 FRC.

The guy did a good job with most of the stuff, but the car still had a) pewter paint, b) non z06 gauge cluster, and c) pass side key hole.

I just thought it was funny that one of the only C5 models that can be identified exactly to the year (body and features) and we found a poser. I hope someone did not sell him this saying it was an 02 Z.

 

Other than those already mentioned, I can't think of any other changes.

 

The thin spoked wheels weren't available until the 2000 model year. The magnesium wheels were an available option from 1998-2004.

I remember being told back in 1997 that the magnesium wheels where the standard wheel on export cars, but I can't confirm that with any information that I currently have. Maybe someone else can confirm/dispute that.

 

No major changes, they all had the same basic body stile except those LITTLE details. Thats why I like this car, my 98 can pose as a 2004 to the untrained eye/non corvette enthusiast cause I changed the rims. Of course if somebody asks I always say 98, never anything newer.

 

They dropped the passenger door lock in '00 I believe.

The 97's and 98's have the old style headlight adjustment plugs with out the key slot.

The '97' coupes do not have blowout clips on the roof panel (I think I recall)

The rear slots slant down a little more on the later model years (I think '01 and beyond.)

I know I'm missing some.

 

I don't suppose that you have any pictures illustrating this difference? I'm looking at pictures of the rears of a variety of C5s at the Corvette Palace website, and I don't see a difference in the slots. I've heard about this before on this forum, but I've never been able to figure out the difference.

 

No, sorry no pics. I know that it is in the later years. I want to say '02 or '03 but I'm not positive.

 

I'm looking at pictures of a 1997, a 2002, and a 2004, and I'm just not seeing a difference. I'd really like to see it - I love little details like that.

 

I agree, I'm lookin' as well and I can't find any shot that shows it. Hmmmm.

 

I wonder if anyone else can chime in here and point out the difference. I'm beginning to doubt that there is a difference.

 

The only body difference between a 70 and 71 body was the color of the running light lens. 70 was clear with an amber bulb, in 71 they went with an amber lens and a white bulb ... FYI