Telling C5 years apart -HELP
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Williamsport Maryland
Telling C5 years apart -HELP
I always try the search first and I'm sure it has been posted many times before, But how can you tell the model years apart? I'm still new to this and they all seem to look a like!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
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From: Iowa
others can probably offer more info but there was a very minor facelift which came in 2001. 97-2000 you the car has no exhaust plate and has those dark grey colored tips. 2001+ has shiny tips of some kind (I don't know if they are chrome or polished or what) and I think the exhaust plate started that year also (C5 logo between the exhaust tips)
There were also different wheels available at different times. but I'm not sure when. I'm still new to it all!
There were also different wheels available at different times. but I'm not sure when. I'm still new to it all!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Some of the obvious things.
97-99 - WAGON WHEELS and a key port on the passenger side door.
97-98 - with the hood open there were to fuel lines feeding the fuel rail, so the driverside FRC was different to support this. There was no HUD option for these years either.
99 - FRC came out, which introduced the FIXED ROOF COUPE. Love 'em!
00 - introduced the Y2K wheels (thin spokes) - no key port for the driverside door.
01 - introduced the Z"OOOOH"6, so there are few more ponies, a fender badge, rear brake ducts and a new set of wheels as well as other things.
'03 - Anniversary package, the red-gold flaked paint (beautiful color), the wheels were of gold color.
'04 - CE Z16 Z"OOOOH"6. Stripes down the middle on a gorgeous blue color. ---corrected the AE to CE.
These are just a few things. I am sure more will come.
Micah
97-99 - WAGON WHEELS and a key port on the passenger side door.
97-98 - with the hood open there were to fuel lines feeding the fuel rail, so the driverside FRC was different to support this. There was no HUD option for these years either.
99 - FRC came out, which introduced the FIXED ROOF COUPE. Love 'em!
00 - introduced the Y2K wheels (thin spokes) - no key port for the driverside door.
01 - introduced the Z"OOOOH"6, so there are few more ponies, a fender badge, rear brake ducts and a new set of wheels as well as other things.
'03 - Anniversary package, the red-gold flaked paint (beautiful color), the wheels were of gold color.
'04 - CE Z16 Z"OOOOH"6. Stripes down the middle on a gorgeous blue color. ---corrected the AE to CE.
These are just a few things. I am sure more will come.
Micah
Last edited by mph1972; Jul 28, 2007 at 04:26 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
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From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
2001 and above had exhaust chrome tips, thin 5 spoke wheels either polished or chrome.
97-00 had thick 5 spoke wagon wheels and black exhaust tips.
The rims are the easiest way to tell the cars apart...if the owners kept the stock rims.
Both of my younger brothers and I have '99's and we all changed our rims and exhaust, to Borla and B&B and '01 thin spokes and chrome Z06 rims.
I believe 2001 was the first year you could turn your passenger side airbag off. You can look for that button on the center console...if I recall correctly.
Hard to tell these days by looking at the car, unless the car was kept stock.
97-00 had thick 5 spoke wagon wheels and black exhaust tips.
The rims are the easiest way to tell the cars apart...if the owners kept the stock rims.
Both of my younger brothers and I have '99's and we all changed our rims and exhaust, to Borla and B&B and '01 thin spokes and chrome Z06 rims.
I believe 2001 was the first year you could turn your passenger side airbag off. You can look for that button on the center console...if I recall correctly.
Hard to tell these days by looking at the car, unless the car was kept stock.
Last edited by Johnny Hardcore; Jul 28, 2007 at 01:22 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,724
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From: Minnesota
others can probably offer more info but there was a very minor facelift which came in 2001. 97-2000 you the car has no exhaust plate and has those dark grey colored tips. 2001+ has shiny tips of some kind (I don't know if they are chrome or polished or what) and I think the exhaust plate started that year also (C5 logo between the exhaust tips)
There were also different wheels available at different times. but I'm not sure when. I'm still new to it all!
There were also different wheels available at different times. but I'm not sure when. I'm still new to it all!
All exhaust plates are aftermarket.
Race Director
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
C5's NEVER came with exhaust plates fitted from the factory. If the car you're looking at has one it is aftermarket.
Here's an excellent compilation of the model year differences from JDs00PewterCoupe. Jack did a great job pulling this information together.
click here!
Here's an excellent compilation of the model year differences from JDs00PewterCoupe. Jack did a great job pulling this information together.
click here!
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Roswell Ga
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Melting Slicks
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From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
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There's even some mis-info on those listed links.
Melting Slicks
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From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
Team Owner
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Safety Car
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From: Sarasota Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
The short answer to the original question is "you can't". Most of the distinguishing features are things that people regularly change around anyways. Exceptions are the availability of convertibles, the FRC body style, the '03 anniversary badges, and '04 commemerative badges. While a few people have changed even those things around, it's pretty rare.
Drifting
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From: I don't deserve this car, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either. Bay Point, FL
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