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C5 Corvette: Review

The 5th generation Corvette ushered in a new era of excitement and enthusiasm. We just didn't know it at the time.

By Nick Vaughn - March 4, 2015

This article applies to the C5 Corvette (1997-2004).

As most of us know, the Corvette was introduced in 1953. Back then it did not mean much to most people. The designers and people at Chevrolet had no idea that what they created would outlive them all. That each generation would do everything it could to build on the previous. That as the car grew, it would become a symbol of America, one of the most iconic brands ever to be created in the country.

The 5th generation Corvette was introduced in 1996. Production and sale of the 1997 model followed soon thereafter. The 1997-2004 Corvette ushered in a paradigm shift for the car. Almost everything was brand new, which was a change from previous generations that shared a lot of Chevrolet components. Below is a review of the C5 Corvette, which may go down as one of the best generations ever made.

Figure 1. 2001 C5 Corvette.

Exterior

When the 1997 Corvette was introduced, there was an excitement that had not been felt in a long time among enthusiasts. The sight lines and designs were certainly classic but genuinely new. The previous generation was more "squared off" and clearly shared design cues going back to the early 1980's. Perhaps the previous generation lasted so long that Corvette fans had almost been lulled to sleep by the car. In a way, the 5th generation Corvette's exterior design not only was a radical change but exactly what was needed to push the brand forward.

The new model had heritage dating back to 1961 with the four dedicated tail lamps, only this time they were oval shaped. The body was subtly rounded. One could almost say that Chevrolet was the first to start "retro designing" new cars, taking design cues from first generation Corvette. The stock 5-spoke rims where a popular carryover from the previous generation's ZR1 and Grand Sport, again only redesigned. Pop-up headlamps remained consistent.

Figure 2. 1997 C5 Corvette.

In 1998, the convertible returned after being absent for a year. The convertible was available through out the rest of the production run. It also introduced the first real trunk on a Corvette since 1962.

Figure 3. C5 convertible.

In 1999, a Fixed Roof Coupe (FRC) was introduced. It was only an option for the 1999 and 2000 model year.

Figure 4. 1999 FRC Corvette.

2004 being the last year of the C5 saw a "Commemorative Edition" production. This car had a Le Mans Blue paint scheme that also included silver stripes surrounded by red highlights with shale interior.

Exterior Dimensions

  • Wheelbase: 104.5 inches
  • Length: 179.7 inches
  • Width: 73.6 inches
  • Height: 47.7 inches for the coupe and 47.8 inches for the convertible
  • Curb weight: 3,245 lbs for the coup, 3,247 lbs for the convertible and 3,172 lbs for the FRC
Figure 5. The Commemorative Edition C5.

Engine and Power

The new engine introduced in 1997 was called the LS1. The LS1 will go down in history as one of the best V8's ever designed. The C5 was the first Corvette to incorporate a drive-by-wire throttle and variable-effort steering, meaning that assistance to the power steering was varied by the speed at which the car is traveling. This technology has made driving the Corvette that much better and safer than ever before. The new engine also achieved significant improvements on gas mileage. 18/25 mpg with the automatic transmission and 19/28 mpg with the manual transmission.

Figure 6. The C5's 5.7 liter LS6 V8 engine brings the power.

Base Engine Output Numbers

The power of the LS1 was also an incredible improvement from the previous generation.

  • 5.7 liter LS1 V8
  • 345 horsepower at 5600 RPM
  • 350 lb-ft torque at 4400 RPM

The Z06 was introduced and put into production in 2001. The engine was based on the LS1 but was renamed the LS6 for the Z06.

  • 5.7 liter LS6 V8
  • 385 horsepower at 6000 RPM
  • 385 lb-ft torque at 4800 RPM

50th Anniversary

A special 50th Anniversary Edition model was produced in 2003 to celebrate fifty years of Corvette production. One of these special edition cars was was also chosen to pace the Indianapolis 500 in May 2002, although it was slightly modified with special body paint, eventually becoming an option for sale to the public. The 50th anniversary was painted with 50th Anniversary Red metallic paint and had two-tone shale leather trim; it was available to purchase as a convertible or coupe. Champagne color painted wheels were an additional highlight, and specific trim on the interior and badges completed the package. The LS1 engine was standard plus all of the options offered on any well-apportioned, upscale Corvette.

All of the 2003 models outside of the 50th Anniversary edition car also had a special logo badge on the front hood that included a section that said "Anniversary 50" above the stock C5 logo.

Figure 7. The 50th anniversary Indianapolis 500 Corvette.

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