C5
The fifth generation started in 1997 and ended with the 2004 model year. The C5 was a radical change from the previous generation. The car now had a hydroformed box frame, and the transmission was moved to the rear of the car and connected to the engine via a torque tube. Gone were the squeaks and rattles of the C4, and in replacement was an incredibly strong frame that would last for at least two more generations. The new C5 was better in every aspect than the C4 it replaced.
The Corvette’s 50th Anniversary was celebrated June 20th and 21st, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee. The venue provided a bonanza of flawlessly restored Corvettes, a chronological display set up by the National Corvette Museum with every model year of the Corvette along with engineering and restoration seminars. The anniversary also brought some Chevrolet Concept Vehicles into focus including the approved-for-production Chevrolet SSR, a combination pickup truck and roadster featuring styling cues from Chevrolet trucks of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Also on hand were several Corvette race cars, including the Corvette SS built by Zora Arkus-Duntov and the C5-R that won at Le Mans. Among the many displays were examples of the 2003 50th Anniversary Edition as well as a few 2004 “Commemorative Edition” Corvettes.
Recently, the factory has expanded to build the Cadillac XLR roadster, which shares its platform with the sixth-generation Corvette. Bowling Green is also home to the Corvette Museum, which celebrates this American automotive icon by displaying in chronological order the various regular production models as well as some unique one-off versions created by Chevrolet. The building in Flint in which the first cars were assembled was spun off with GM’s Delphi Electronics division and later donated to GMI/Kettering University in the late 1990s. The building has since been remodeled and is now the C.S. Mott Engineering and Science Center, housing the Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry programs. In the garage housing the school’s Pontiac Firebird club is a plaque commemorating it as the place where the first Corvette was built.
Z06
A successor to the ZR-1 made its debut in 2001 and was called the Z06. Instead of a heavy double-overhead cam engine like the ZR-1, the Z06 used a high-output (LS6) version of the conventional Corvette V8 (LS1). This engine produced 385 hp (287 kW) which was not much more than the old ZR-1, but since it was much lighter, the Z06 was a much faster car.
For 2002 onward, the Z06 produced 405 hp (302 kW). The Z06 also came with side mounted brake ducts and an rpm red-line raised by 500 rpm (to 6500 rpm). GM has stated that the 0-60 time on a 2002 Z06 is 3.9 seconds. The stock quarter mile time is 12.4 @ 115mph, but some car enthusiasts have been able to push their stock car into the high 11 seconds.
Other features of the Z06 include a stiffer hardtop body design, stiffer suspension, larger wheels and tires, a new six-speed manual transmission, and functional brake cooling ducts. The Z06 is 106 lb (48 kg) lighter than a standard C5 thanks to a titanium exhaust, thinner glass, lighter wheels, and a lighter battery.
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C5-R
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R’s and their Team
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Chevrolet Corvette C5-R’s and their Team
The C5-R was a racecar built by GM Racing. It was based on the C5 road car but had an enlarged V8 and different bodywork with exposed headlamps. It is raced in the American Le Mans Series in the GTS Class and has been to four 24 Hours of Le Mans races.
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2001
The car’s remarkable 2001 racing season produced eight victories in ten races, including an overall win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and a one-two finish in the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Le Mans wins sparked off a rivalry with Prodrive’s Ferrari 550 Maranellos, and both teams have become fan favorites.
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2002
In 2002 the C5-R repeated its one-two victory at Le Mans and also dominated the GTS class in the American Le Mans Series. A new transaxle unit replaced the previous year’s separate transmission and differential.
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2003
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R 2003 Paint Job
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Chevrolet Corvette C5-R 2003 Paint Job
In 2003, additional restrictions were placed on the C5-R to limit power. At the 2003 season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring race, the C5-Rs remained in winning form, with one of them finishing first in class and eighth overall. Also in 2003 the yellow paint was dropped in favor of a special red, white, and blue color scheme to commemerate the Corvette’s 50th anniversary. However, at Le Mans the Prodrive Ferraris spoiled the anniversary and hopes for a three-in-a-row victory by winning the GTS class.
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2004
In 2004 the yellow paint returned, and after being beaten by the Ferrari 550s at Le Mans in the previous year, the Corvette returned for another one-two finish.