meadowz06

I was thinking about just how good this car is last night. And was thinking about where the C5 Z06 ranks in the history of the corvette. Here are my thoughts. The C5 Z06 is the best ALL AROUND corvette starting from 53 until 2006 when the C6 Z06 came out. Sure you had the old big tank Z06, and the old 65-69 big blocks, and the 90-95 ZR1, but could they do everything as well as the C5 Z06? NO. Of course technology played a major part of the handling and power output of the old C1-C3's. But I believe this car ranks in the top 5-7 of the best corvette's EVER built. 1. New ZR1, 2. 67-69 L88 cars, 3. 63 split window car. 4. The 53 for obvious reasons, 5. C6 Z06, 6. 70 LT1, 7. C5 Z06!
Thoughts?

mr-z

Most desired and popular for collectibility.
ALL STOCK

1967 #1 427
1957 #2 Fuel Injection
1963 #3 Fuel Injection
1969 #4 427
1970 # 5 454
2009 #6 ZR1
1993 to 1995 #7 ZR1
1990 to 1992#8 ZR1
1970 #9 LT1
2006 TO 2009 Z06 #10
1999 TO 2000 hardtop #11 being 1999 the frist year for a fix roof for corvette ever made.
2001 to 2004 zo6 #12

The 1953-1954-1955 will always be #1 to some.

Jameel

I don't know much about Corvette's and their history. So I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but I think:

1. 2009 - ZR1
2. C6Z06
3. C5Z06

The rest don't matter.

mr-z

THAY ALL MATTER. THATS WHAT THIS FORUM IS ABOUT.

meadowz06

They all do matter, but I do feel that the C5 Z06 is one of greatest corvette's ever produced. Top ten for sure.

bobby777

Ditto for sure--but the most coolectable is the 1952-700 CI 550 HP Zoras Special-only 1 made--it was lost on a train to miami on july 3 1952--the car was stolen and never found--last spotted in dallas in 1957 but never confirmed --black in color with no serial #

81c3

The 90 ZR-1 definitely ranks in the top 5. That car with its very potent LT5 changed the way the world viewed the Corvette. It was really the first Vette that could be called a true supercar. Nothing in its price range, nor higher priced sports cars could even come close to its record setting performances.

The important cars are the ones that changed the future of the mark.

1953
1957 fuel injection
1963
1968 c3
1984 c4
1990 ZR-1
1997 c5
2001 Z06
2006 Z06
2009 ZR1

427CPE

+1
you beat me to the same response.

427CPE

den whi is it dat he taid dat?

RC45

What block would have been the basis for a 700ci engine in 1952?

vms4evr

The ones with the most impact are not necessarily the most collectible in my mind. Some of the very unique models like a 63 split window coupe. It is collectible because it is very unique. The 01-04 Z06 made a big impact because it delivered on some very key things. It took the stock C5 to a new level and made the best bang for the buck sports car. Arguably into supercar territory. That is impact. Not necessarily unique or collectible.

For an out of the box car that full filled the promise of race on Sunday and drive to work on Monday. The car rocks. To me this is a not a car to buy to collect. It's the one you buy to drive and take to the track.

HOMERLIKEBEER

I do feel the 1965, 396 big block (first year) all wheel disc brakes cars, belong in there somewhere.

z06inVB

I would rank the C5Z06 right up there but that's only because I have no real knowledge of other Vettes. I never had much interest in them. Well except for a 67 small block vert that got away one time. Just glad I made this one my first Chevy ever owned. I will say as a car in general it is one of the best daily drivers I have owned. Great handling, acceleration second to very very few and at the same time good highway gas mileage and contrary to what some think it is a pretty strong old beast and fairly cheap to maintain. It was the best 21 grand I ever spent.

Oh and within the C5Z06's as for collectible we all know the 01 model..being the first will always be considered the best...right?

tricep

Well, xsept fer that oil burnin thingy...





And so does the 2002 Z-- xseptin for the valve spring thingy...Of which 1 I have brokteded

SilentFright

Now lets not start up that bullsh*t fest again.

tricep

Sorry. Its almost as bad as makin fun of a C4. My bad.

SilentFright

It gets pretty bad, especially in this particular forum. No harm, no foul.

Cdn Z06 Mike

A lot of valid points made and based on the comments it will invariably be difficult to deteremine what value each car will have in the future and the collectability status of said vehicles.

I am a huge fan of almost all Vettes but I believe the C5 is probably the most profound Vette only in terms of what this car did for the Corvette nameplate. I can't say it will ever reach Hemi car status and I don't really care as I didn't buy it for that but here's hoping

What I am surprised at really is did anyone think of the GS Vette? I would think these early cars as well as the 96 GS will always be heralded as one of the most collectable of Vette's. It's too bad the 90-95 ZR1's never got the true status the car deserved but for those that have never had the chance to drive one or be a passenger in one all I can say is wow. My 90 ZR1 will always have a place in my heart as my favorite Vette.

gregm999

You can't really state that the new Corvettes are the most important historically because they perform the best. As time goes on, of course the new models are going to out-perform the ones that came before them. Time marches on, and technology will always continue to improve. To me, it's most important to look at performance compared to other high performance cars of a specific era. And in that aspect, to me, the original ZR-1 will always be king. The performance of that car was head and shoulders above even exotics of that time. The amount of power that the LT5 produced was unheard of when it came out. It really put Corvette on the top, performance-wise, for the first time. The ZR-1 set the standard for the Corvette to be a world-dominating sports car, and that's what Corvette has been ever since. Sure, the 2001 Z06s and especially the new vettes eclipse the ZR-1's performance in every aspect, but to me the ZR-1 will always be more important to Corvette history.

Furthermore, given the fact that it was being designed in the late 80s, the LT5 was a much greater technological achievment than the Z06 or the new ZR1.

Having said that, and as I said before, the 2001-2004 Z06 is a better car than the ZR-1 in almost every aspect.

tricep

I can live with that.