Best Chevrolet Corvette Years to Buy Used

Used Chevrolet Corvette Quick Facts:

• If buying a used Corvette, the best years run deep. If you expect to drive your Corvette regularly, a base coupe or convertible is what you want.
• The Corvette has been in production for over 70 years, and the C8 Corvette is the first generation not to use fiberglass body panels.
• With 1,064 horsepower, the 2025 ZR1 is the most powerful Corvette to date.

The Chevrolet Corvette has gone through many iterations, growing larger and less powerful in some years but always keeping the same rear-drive, 2-seat cockpit formula. Until the advent of the C8, the Corvette kept its engine up front, tucked beneath a long hood. For those enthusiasts who reject the mid-engine C8 and its radical, European-influenced styling, a used Chevy Corvette is the only answer. With seven generations from which to choose, there’s a Corvette for every price range and driving style. Let’s take a closer look.

• What Are the Best Years to Buy a Used Chevrolet Corvette?
• Chevrolet Corvette by Generation: Which Should You Buy?
• Is the Chevrolet Corvette a Good Car?
• How Fast Is the Chevrolet Corvette?
• What Are the Most Reliable Years for the Chevrolet Corvette?
• What Are the Years to Avoid for the Chevrolet Corvette?

What Are the Best Years to Buy a Used Chevrolet Corvette?

For a balance of performance, features, and value, consider buying a used Chevrolet Corvette from the following years during your search:

• 2008-2013 C6 models, for a powerful and entertaining drive
• 2014-2019 C7 models, for improved power delivery and transmission options
• Z06 and Z51 models, for top-tier performance and resale value

A Breakdown of the Best Used Chevy Corvette Years

• If you plan on driving your Corvette on anything approaching a regular basis, a base coupe or convertible is what you want. The coupe, in particular, is an excellent package for 2-person getaways with 22 cubic feet of cargo space in the C6 and 15 cubic feet in the C7 (more than most sedans), a nice balance of crisp handling and ride comfort (with the base suspension) and fuel economy estimates of 24-26 mpg on the highway that are easy to match in real-world driving with reasonable restraint at legal speeds.
• The convertible is one of those rare soft-tops that looks great with the top up or down. Both the 400-horsepower 6.0-liter LS2 (2005-2007 models) and the 430-hp 6.2-liter LS3 in sixth-gen (2008-2013) models will keep you entertained for hours on end. The Tremec 6-speed manual transmission with a handy short-throw shifter is a good way to exercise the V8, but keep in mind that the gearbox in early sixth-gen models has an annoying skip-shift feature that forces a first-to-fourth upshift under some circumstances. As for automatics, skip the 4-speed 2005 model and go for a later year with paddle-shift manual control and six speeds. 
• For 2014-2019 C7s, the 455-hp 6.2-liter V8 delivers smooth power. The 7-speed manual shifter is an improvement over the previous 6-speed, although the shift pattern requires some getting used to. Another leap forward is the introduction of the 8-speed automatic transmission in 2015. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are standard on all automatic-transmission-equipped models. Of course, the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Z06 is a bigger kick to drive, but the real C7 value is the regular V8 in the Corvette Coupe.
• The 2005-2013 Chevrolet Corvette comes well equipped with such standards as leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel and shifter, cruise control, a power driver’s seat, automatic headlamps, a theft alarm, a 7-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, StabiliTrak, a limited-slip differential and the Active Handling system (which uses the car’s brakes to reduce understeer).
• Despite a total redesign in 2014, many of the C6 standard features remain, including leather seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control, and so forth. The standard audio is a 9-speaker Bose system. Two 8-inch color displays are also standard.

Keep in mind that no Corvette after 1997 has a spare tire but is equipped with run-flat tires instead. Run-flats are essentially a tire within each tire that can help maintain vehicle control in the event of a pressure loss for 100 miles or so. They are considerably more expensive to replace than conventional tires.

For something with a little more edge, the Z51 and Grand Sport deliver more aggressive handling, more powerful brakes (although with more noise and dust), and, in the case of the Grand Sport, a unique wide-body look.

Whether shopping among the C6 or C7 choices, the ultimate Corvette models are the Z06 and Z51. Both enjoy better-than-average resale value, and their value as a show-off and bragging-rights car can’t be disputed.

Do your homework, get a vehicle history report from Autocheck or Carfax, and go certified pre-owned where possible.

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Chevrolet Corvette by Generation: Which Should You Buy?

Eighth Generation: 2020-Current Chevrolet Corvette (C8)

The C8 Corvette represents the most radical design change in the car’s 70-plus-year history. The engine moves to the midship position, significantly improving handling and balance. The styling is also radical, looking more like an exotic European than a modern American midwesterner. Within this generation, you’ll find many firsts, including a hybrid model with all-wheel drive (AWD), a body formed from aluminum, steel, and composite material, and the first Corvette to break the 1,000-horsepower mark. The C8 does not offer the option of a manual transmission, a disappointment to some purists. Still, it’s the first Corvette to feature modern driver assistance, such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.

This generation includes four distinct models: Stingray, E-Ray, Z06, and ZR1.

Model-Year Changes:

2025: The 1,064-hp ZR1 debuts.
2024: The hybrid E-Ray arrives with more safety equipment, a better infotainment system, and new wheel and paint options.
2023: The high-performance Z06 arrives, touting 670 hp.
2022: No significant updates.
2021: The Corvette gains wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. New upgrades include adaptive dampers and bold paint stripes.

See 2020 to current Chevy Corvette sports cars for sale near you.

Seventh Generation: 2014-2019 Chevrolet Corvette (C7)

Nine years after the introduction of the C6 came the seventh-generation C7 Corvette. Although the C6 was more of an evolution of the C5 than a totally redesigned car, the C7 marks a drastic change for the Corvette in styling, performance, and technology. Nothing emphasizes this 90-degree turn more than the squared-off taillights in place of the iconic round ones sported by previous generations. A new interior with radically improved materials is another C7 highlight. Available as a coupe or convertible, early C7s feature a 6.2-liter V8 generating 455 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. A 7-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission transfers engine output to the rear wheels. Reaching 60 mph from a standstill takes about 3.7 seconds. Standard gear includes a carbon-fiber hood, push-button start, and a 9-speaker Bose audio system. The optional Z51 Package adds a dry sump oil system, electronic limited-slip differential, and bigger brakes. C7 models include the Stingray, Z51, Grand Sport, and Z06.

Model-Year Changes:

2019: The 755-hp ZR1 joins the lineup. Chevy releases several special “Drivers Series” cars: Tommy Milner Edition, Oliver Gavin Edition, Jan Magnussen Edition, and Antonio Garcia Edition. 
2018:  To celebrate the Corvette’s 65th anniversary, Chevy introduces a new Carbon 65 Edition for the Grand Sport and Z06 models. Some new data streams get added to the performance data recorder, including individual wheel speed and yaw rates. HD digital radio is standard.
2017: The Grand Sport trim joins the roster, featuring a wider body, Brembo brakes, Magnetic Ride Control, and the 5-position Drive Mode Select.
2016:  Some minor cosmetic changes and feature updates mark the significant changes.
2015: The 650 hp Z06 model debuts, as does a new 8-speed automatic transmission.

See 2014-2019 Chevy Corvette sports cars for sale near you.

Sixth Generation: 2005-2013 Chevrolet Corvette (C6)

The sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette rings in the 2005 model year with the most powerful standard engine in Corvette history, crisper and more sharply chiseled body lines, the first exposed headlamps since the 1962 Sting Ray, and trick push-button electric door latches. Infotainment gear unavailable on previous Corvette years to make its debut in this generation includes navigation, OnStar, and SiriusXM radio. Available in hatchback, coupe, and convertible body styles, the 2005-2013 Chevrolet Corvette retains the rear transaxle and advanced hydroformed-steel underbody layout used previously. Many fans think this era is the purest expression of a modern Corvette.

Model-Year Changes:

2013: An all-new 427 Convertible Collector Edition debuts with a 505-hp 7.0-liter LS7 V8, Magnetic Ride Control, a ZR1 rear spoiler, and carbon-fiber hood, fenders, and floor. 
2012: This year marks the launch of the new Centennial Edition, which features Carbon Flash metallic paint, satin-finish wheels and graphics, and Magnetic Selective Ride Control. A new seat design with improved lateral support debuts, along with standard padded console and door armrests.
2011: Optional Z07 and carbon-fiber packages are available for Z06 models, and larger cross-drilled brake rotors became optional on coupe and convertible models. Magnetic Ride Control is also an option on Grand Sport models.
2010: The new Grand Sport coupe and convertible replace the Z51. They are equipped with a 430-hp 6.2-liter LS3 V8, wide-body styling, and Z06 brakes and spoilers. Launch control becomes standard with the manual transmission, and side airbags also become standard. 
2009: The ZR1 comes roaring back with a supercharged 638-hp 6.2-liter LS9 V8, Magnetic Ride Control, a 6-speed manual gearbox with dual-disc clutch, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires, wide-body fenders, a carbon-fiber roof, and a top speed of 205 mph. The coupe gains a power hatch pull-down, and Bluetooth is offered for the first time.
2008: Chevy adds a new 430-hp 6.2-liter LS3 V8 to coupe and convertible models. Interiors gain standard SiriusXM radio, OnStar, an iPod/MP3 jack, auto-dimming mirrors, and brushed aluminum accents. Steering feel and manual-shifter efforts are improved.
2007: Chevy designers add a larger glove box and give OnStar to the Z06.
2006: The Z06 is reintroduced as a manual-transmission-only, fixed-roof hatchback coupe with an aluminum frame, carbon-fiber body panels, and a 505-hp 7.0-liter LS7 V8 with dual-mode exhaust. The base coupe and convertible receive an optional paddle-shifted 6-speed automatic transmission and a new 3-spoke steering wheel.

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The Chevrolet Corvette Early Years: 1953-2004

Fifth Generation: 1997-2004

The C5 fixes most of the complaints lodged against the C4. It’s longer and wider, providing better stability in the corners. It also has more horsepower, a better suspension, and a new body style, ushering in a fixed hardtop and trunk, a design not seen on a Corvette since 1962. New features include a head-up display and a rear-mounted transmission next to the rear differential.

See 1997-2004 Chevy Corvette sports cars for sale near you.

Fourth Generation: 1984-1996

Yes, 1983 was a year without a new Corvette model. Therefore, the C4 begins the Corvette’s return to a legitimate performance car, incrementally adding power to its V8 engine, eventually reaching 300 hp. The C4 has never-before-seen features, like a digital dash, a one-piece removable roof panel, and fiberglass leaf springs. The C4 suffered one black eye when, in 1987, Buick’s Grand National took first prize as GM’s fastest car to run the quarter mile. This generation also sees the return of the convertible.

See 1984-1996 Chevy Corvette sports cars for sale near you.

Third Generation: 1968-1982

Love it or hate it, the C3 takes the Corvette in a radically different direction, with predominant arches built into the front and rear fenders, a shark-like nose, and innovative features like a T-top roof. Early in its life, the C3 offers impressive performance from its small and big block V8s. However, emissions regulations brought the party to an end, at one point neutering the Corvette’s output to a mere 165 hp. During this generation, Chevrolet built the 500,000th Corvette, and the convertible model exited the scene.

See 1968-1982 Chevy Corvette sports cars for sale near you.

Second Generation: 1963-1967

Though it didn’t have a long run, the C2 Corvette Sting Ray is considered by many to be the most beautiful and desirable of the collectible years. With its independent rear suspension, powerful V8 engine, and driver-oriented cockpit, the C2 Corvette was a true performance machine. Horsepower started around 250 and reached 425 by the end of the C2’s run. Firsts for this generation include disc brakes on all four wheels, a collapsible steering column, and a coupe body style.

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First Generation: 1953-1962

The first car to wear the Corvette name wasn’t terribly powerful, had no roof, no roll-up side windows, and was made of fiberglass. Still, Americans fell in love, and over the course of its nine-year run, design changes resulted in a powerful and stylish C1 coupe with a removable hardtop and advanced features like fuel injection. The Corvette was off to the races.

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Is the Chevrolet Corvette a Good Car?

For the money, it’s hard to beat the performance provided by the Corvette. Repairs can be costly with all performance cars, but overall, the Corvette holds up pretty well compared to competitors like the Porsche 911, Audi R8, and Acura NSX.

How Fast Is the Chevrolet Corvette?

The fastest Corvette cars come from the C7 and C8 generations. The fastest to date is the 2025 ZR1, which delivers a zero-to-60 sprint time in under three seconds, but even the base 2025 Stingray models clock sub-4.00 runs. The slowest Corvette is probably the C1 and final years for the C3, which, in 1975, offered an anemic 165-hp engine and a 10-second hustle to 60 mph.

What Are the Most Reliable Years for the Chevrolet Corvette?

The most reliable Corvette generations are the C5, C6, C7, and C8. Many feel the C5 is one of the best generations. It offers great value for the money due to its strong performance, classic styling, and a basic cockpit devoid of high-tech bells and whistles (we’re looking at you and your digital dash, C4 Corvette!).

What Are the Years to Avoid for the Chevrolet Corvette?

The C3 and the C4 have their shares of issues, and due to their ages, it can be challenging to find replacement electrical components. Anything older is either a well-cared-for collectible or a pricey restoration job.