Although the final chapters of the C8 generation have yet to be written, I am curious where Corvette fans would rank the C8 against previous Corvette generations.

With MANY of you having owned multiple generations of Corvettes, you have the insights to really give good feedback on this topic.

Here’s my thoughts to get the conversation started….

1. C2 - legendary styling with many engine choices and color choices. The home of the 63 SWC.
2. C1 - the "original" Vette with each year seeing incremental design improvements and performance upgrades.
3. C8 - introduced the mid-engine platform with tremendous demand & value
4. C7 - modernized and unique styling which has held its value better than average
5. C6 - major upgrade from previous generation C5
6. C3 - polarizing styling with very rare big block options
7. C5 - slight refinements and power over C4
8. C4 - less value, minimal engine choices and performance with controversial introduction of electronic gauges

Bottom line, I put the C8 at #3 in the Corvette generation rankings. If/when the C8 comes out with an E-Ray, I'd move it up to #2 and perhaps even #1.

 

I'd never want to have a C2 or C1 as a daily driver. So, the C8 tops my list. C7, C6, C5, C2, C1, C4 then C3. I'd like to own either a C2 or a C1 as a second Corvette.

 

I'd have to go with: for a lot of the same descriptions as you gave.

C2
C8
C1
C7
C6
C5
and a tie for least exciting: C3 and C4


As a side note, I've owned C2, C4, C5, C6, C7 and C8 generations. Never had the desire for a C3. My C2 '65 Roadster was my daily driver back in 1975,and 76.

 

I'll rank the three generations I have owned: C8, C5, and C6. The ones I've not owned in order of desireability: C2, C3, C7, C1, and C4.

 

Having owned both a C4 and a C5, WOW, this is WAY off.

C4 had a much improved chassis over the C3, and had aluminum suspension pieces, fuel injection, and six speed manual..

C5 was a huge improvement in body structure over the C4, and had the first transaxle.

As far as ranking, the C8 is #1 by far.

 

Just as with most cars I feel this sort of question has a lot to do with your age and what you grew up with. As far as the best it would be the C8 because you would expect generations to build on one another.

I love the C3 styling because my dad had an 81 growing up. But I would say that the C5 was the most revolutionary generation change and really made the corvette into the car it is today. The LS1 was really unmatched in its time for anything in its price range and the C6 and C7 were build on it.

 

I have owned two C 4s, one C5s, two C6s, one C7 and now a C8 (still have the C7 too..... love that car!). Hands down, the C8 is the best performing, best riding and the biggest "attraction magnet" of them all. That having been said, I also believe the C8 will be the most difficult to maintain into future years. While there are a very large percentage of beautifully maintained C1, C2 and C3 on the road today, I find it hard to believe C6, C7 and C8s will still be on the road 30 years into the future.... just too complex, too much electronics and too complicated to diagnose the electronic gremlins that will certainly appear. In my opinion, the "modern" generations (C6, 7 & 8) will be extinct 30 years hence. C1, 2, 3 and a rare 4 & 5 may join the party. Just my opinion.
Al Engel. "Save the Wave"

 

"Opinions are like...." Well, we all know the rest. I have owned a C2 (65), a C6 (08), a C4 (87), and a C3 (68). Of course I can't give an opinion about the versions I have not owned. That said, I'd say we should consider on what factors and characteristics we are rating these various versions of our favorite car. If its reliability and fun to drive, for me, the C6...effortless and smooth. If its collectible and show status, the C2. My C4 was fun and I loved it in its time, but of course it creaked and groaned and I did get bitten by the electronic goblins (had to buy a new ECM) during the 14 years I owned it. Still I enjoyed the hell out of it. The '68....sensual lines throughout, but that was the most trouble prone car I ever had, which was all of one year before I'd had enough. It would overheat if you looked at it wrong. Other mechanical bug a boos would pop up regularly that required yet another trip to the dealer. Not a good thing as the car I depended on as my daily driver while in my early 20s. Maybe another way to "rank" them is to consider which one would you hang onto the longest and be last to go. The '68 and the '87 are long gone. The 08 and 65 are still with me. Which one will be last out the door? Good question....my wife will not let me sell the '65, probably ever...we have had it now for 23 years. The '08 has been an outstanding car that I have great affection for and loyalty to after almost 14 years of ownership. I guess I'll keep them both and let the estate sale folks figure it out when I don't have to ponder on such monumental questions anymore! A new C8? Maybe at some point, but I still would like to get the '70 AMX and '70 Mach I've been wanting. Oh....and a Jensen Interceptor, and another Avanti, and....

 

I have had C2's right through to the C8. I have driven a couple of C1's, but never owned one. If one is talking about the best Corvette ever, it has to be the current C8! I would rank the C4's last, especially the early ones. For looks and nostalgia, I like the C1's, C2's, and early C3's. With that said, those 3 generations today are mostly "eye candy" and although fun to drive on short rides ....you wouldn't want to drive one too far. I think Corvette got to be really good as far as a drivers car, starting with the C5 and above!

 

Factoring out nostalgia and going by pure engineering merit, the C1 is really 3 generations as the 53 looks nothing like a 62 so it’s complicated, but is the first.
C2 introduced IRS, disc brakes, and a coupe but is structurally the same as a C1.
C3 is basically the same thing as a C2 underneath the body panels. It too went on for so long it’s really 3 mini generations.
C4 was the first radically different break from previous gens with flush mounted wheels, front and rear transverse leaf springs, clamshell hood, targa, and dashboard (funny how the digital dash came back around full circle ).
C5 is radically different from C4 as the first transaxle Vettes which were copied over to C6 and C7.
C6 is basically a refreshed C5 bringing almost nothing new to the table except bringing back fixed headlights. Even the gauge cluster is basically the same.
C7 - great modern improvements in interior and styling, but underneath it’s a C5/C6.
C8 completely different.
So based on that..
C1
C8
C4
C5
C7
C2
C3
C6

 

Bit of a stretch there saying C6 and C7 will not be on the road in 30years. I bet most of the electronics if they will not be able to be fixed could be ripped out and disabled. C6 with the electronics is not as full on as the C7, which is a good thing.

C6

C7

C2

C5

C1

C8

​​​​C4

C3

 

Number 5 and number 7 are in my opinion incorrect. The c5 was in fact a major departure from previous generations. Quite the leap in design and execution. Hydroformed steel frame rails gave a massive increase in structural rigidity and the transaxle design gave wonderful balance of chassis and both interior and and trunk space for daily driver and track superiority to its competitors at the time.

The c6 was an evolutionary event over the c5. I put a quarter of a million miles on two new c5 s and a ls3 c6. Fabulously reliable, great performing z51 or z06 models and utterly reliable too.

my c8 is in my opinion the latest and greatest of the brand. I believe the newest corvette is always the best. (Excluding the few years of the 3 rd generation when emissions took its toll on performance advacement.

c4 s were a huge advancement in design over the very very very long running c3s.

all the cirvettes are iconic and in my opinion were quite superior to their competition at the time of their launch for various reasions. Traditionally it took many years for the market segment competition to catch up to the corvettes performance if they ever did.

imo

c8
c7
c6
c5
c2 (sucker for the styling)
c4
c1
c3 (too long a run and through the emissions debacle)

jmo

 

I don’t think it’s a stretch at all. Electronics now are modules connected by data buses and software. You can’t just rip out an old brake module and not replace it. Same goes for a cracked Bedford casting.
Old cars were essentially mechanical modular components that used the similar parts over decades across multiple makes and models.

 

Interesting, but I believe all generations are tied for #1, at least when you compare them from the point of history in which they were introduced, and not with the bias of modern technology and styling trends. Many today like to say the C4 is a cheap piece of junk, but at the time of it's introduction, it was considered a cutting edge marvel, especially compared to the outgoing C3. If you'd have asked the same question in 1984, knowing only what 1984 had to offer, the C4 would be treated much differently.

From what I see, each generation has built on the other, providing unique styling and performance improvements with every iteration. Obviously the C1 was a critical generation, as we wouldn't have a C2-8 without it. But, any other generation out performs it. Each generation has unique, desirable qualities, and a few flops as well.

I expect each generation is "better" than the last, and is a performance benchmark of it's time, and appreciate them all equally as measured against their time of introduction.

 

C5 was a game changer more so than the C8 in my opinion.

 

There is nothing more exciting than the style of a 1969 C3 Coupe, side pipes and Hugger Orange. Add a 427cu in 425hp and you have the rumble that is the signature of what a Corvette should sound like. The C8 HTC rear glass area is very reminiscent of the 69 Coupe and brings me back to those days in 1969.. Cool Man

 

Of all the cars that will still be on the road 30 40yrs from now I would bet the corvettes will be as so many are well cared for and how many there are.

i would say the later 80s vehicles became much more reliable as fuel injection completely took over. Just requires changing modules and sensors. Not really all that "complex" vs rust and falling apart of the 60 70 early 80s cars.

 

As this ranking can only be purely subjective, I look more for special models of each generation. I don’t really care for base model’s from any generation. In terms of styling & personal desirability, my ranking would be:

C2 big block - toss up between coupe or convertible (one of each )
C6 ZR1/Z06
Late C1
Early C3 - ‘69 427, probably convertible
C4 ZR1 or Grand Sport
C5 Z06
C7 Z06/possibly GS
C8 Stingray - will have to see what the Z06 brings

 

 

C8 = #1. GM keeps making these cars better, you know.