As others have already mentioned here, a base Corvette is the Stingray.

1LT, 2LT and 3LT are trim packages.

In the past, Z51 used to be a brake and suspension package. Starting with the C7 generation, GM made it a model designation so the models are as follows:

Stingray
Z51
Grand Sport
Z06

 

This!

 

I see, so a C7 with 3LT, chrome rims, sport seats, all that other stuff is a base car. Only when it has Z51 option it not a base car.

 

Yes.

 

Wrong

 

Some old guy asks about a row of cars in front of him cause he only buy's Corollas
What's this car? Z06
What's this car? GS
What's this car? Z51
What's this car? C7
That's what you guy's think....weird!

 

2fast, Maybe 2slow

Please look at post #21 and think about it a while to let it sink in.

 

In the end, who cares about what other people call it as long as you know exactly how the car is equipped?

 

Only if definitions of words matter and of course the OP asked: Which C7 is considered base?

 

Uh huh. Sure. And even on the forum no one can agree. Now we have this old argument: Is Z51 a separate MODEL or is it an option package? And everyone weighs in and says, by God, their definition is CORRECT and everyone else is WRONG! And as the above post shows, compete with insults.

So how about let's go to the Corvette official site and take a look, hmmmm? LIke right here: http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette-sports-cars.html# What you actually see is this:

Corvette Stingray
Corvette Grand Sport
Corvette Z06

Notice there is no mention of a Z51 "model." And when you click on "models" you get the same three models listed above. Now, if you click on "Corvette Stingray," voila! You get the base model, but it's not until you click on "#2 Trims" that you even see "Z51." And what does it say?

"1LT with Z51 Performance Package" and beneath that it says, "The Z51 1LT includes all the features of the 1LT plus the Z51 performance package." The listings for 2LT and 3LT mirror this language.

So here we have it directly from the horse's mouth. The Z51 is NOT A MODEL. It is a PACKAGE that you can get within the "Corvette Stingray MODEL." How can you argue otherwise when the official site says it so clearly? If Z51 were a a model,, it would be listed beneath Corvette Stingray and above Corvette Grand Sport. It wouldn't even be a "Stingray." It would be a "Z51" But it is not listed separately in the list of MODELS. Instead it is listed as a "Performance Package" as an option WITHIN the choices for building the Corvette Stingray MODEL.

 

I would hope the 2ND largest Corvette Dealership in the world would know when they are ordering Corvettes if the Z51 is a separate model or not according to GM?

 

Except for all the people on The Forum that don't think the z51 is its own model

 

The base price is a car before most options.
If GM has decided to call a C7 with the Z51 options a new version so what.
You can get that without any thing else....base Z51.

 

So words usually have more than one definition. You are right that "base" can refer to a car model that has absolutely NO options not before "most options". How many of those cars are produced? I'd bet none. But here is an ordering guide for 2016 before the GS was introduced. Here is what a "base" car costs and the way I see it in 2016 there were 6 models.
.

 

Base for the C7 usually means without z51, not base as in no options which may happen with other cars. You can option a base C7 to cost more than a z51, so base doesn't mean cheap like it would for most other cars. You can argue all day about the value of z51 options, but since it adds weight and not horsepower not everyone agrees

 

It is a clear bra...maybe 3M on the front of the car to protect paint from rocks. It is not OEM

 

It would have to be removed

 

This is how I see it too. Options by definition can be applied or not. You can order a Stingray with or without it...and other option too. You can't order a Stingray and add Grand Sport or Z06.

However, on the other hand with the C7 the frame and underpinnings of the vehicle are the same across the model lines (Stingray, GS and Z06). Unlike the C6 model years where the Z06 frame was aluminum and the GS and base were steel. There would have been no way to make a base C6 into a Z because of the architecture difference. With the intro of the C7, GM really could have made the Z06 or GS options given the frame is the same across the models. This should stir pot nicely.

 

clear bra, ,bruh 😎 This is the first Time Ive seen pics of what people were referring to , in relation to the line. I'll be going with the full hood .

 

Exactly!! When I ordered my Stingray I started with the base car per my dealer than I began adding options Z51 MRC etc. I believe Corvette offers a:
Stingray
Grandsport and
Z06.
Each comes in a "base" version but options can be added as wanted.