2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Description

The C5 Z06 was the pinnacle of Corvette performance up to that time, and it espouses an ideal that we probably won't see ever again: more performance through greater simplicity. With a few thoughtful mods, plus a big ol' supercharger, this awesome Millennium Yellow 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 delivers the kind of massive performance for which the Z06 has become famous, all at a shockingly reasonable price.

For the money, you probably can't go faster than this. The Z06 was already extremely potent and there was really no point in trying to keep things subtle, so they ordered this one in sizzling Millennium Yellow. Actually, only 629 Z06s were ordered in this color, but it seems kind of fitting and with the blacked-out tail section on this one, it has a look that's quite reminiscent of the Le Mans-spec C5R race cars. The fixed-roof coupes were an interesting experiment in shaving weight while improving chassis rigidity, and we'll surely never see a Corvette with three body styles ever again, making this Z06 somewhat of a novelty. And all the body modifications were functional, not cosmetic, including the screened-in front air ducts that fed air directly to the front brakes and the scoops in the rocker panels that did the same for the rear brakes. This one carries the optional "stinger" body side moldings, which look great on the C5, and the exterior lenses have been subtly blacked out for a custom look that's all about performance.

The Z06's interior was minimalist in Corvette terms but hardly Spartan. The base bucket seats were the only choice, but they're wrapped in comfortable leather and have aggressive side bolsters to help keep you pinned in place. The gauges were a C5 highlight and are as bright and visible here as they were anywhere else and the mandatory 6-speed manual gearbox's shifter falls easily to hand. There's no doubt that this car was built by and for guys who like to drive. Of course, you also got a full complement of luxury features, including power windows, locks, seats, and mirrors, powerful A/C, cruise control, and a great-sounding AM/FM/CD stereo system, so you didn't need to give anything up to get maximum performance. There are some Corvette-logo floor mats to dress up the all-black interior and the Z06 actually offers a good-sized trunk that's practical, another C5 first.

This particular Z06's LS6 V8 has been massaged with a big cam, ported heads, and that polished supercharger up front, all adding up to a number considerably bigger than the Z06's standard 405 horsepower. Yet at the same time, it's docile enough to drive in traffic and runs happily on pump gas, so it isn't some over-tuned trailer queen that makes big numbers but totally fails as a real car. No, you can get in this one, turn the key, fire up the A/C and make a cross-country drive without a second thought. And as long as you're trying to get attention, why not paint some flames on the coil covers, a very trick airbrushed detail that somehow seems exactly right on a car like this. The 6-speed doesn't seem to mind the power running through it (we could never break one when I was building race versions of the C5) and the 3.42 gears get the blower making boost right quick. The suspension has been lowered a bit, it wears red brake calipers for effect, and the stock Z06 wheels were painted satin black then fitted with oversized 265/40/17 front and 315/30/18 rear Toyo performance radials.

Professionally built and seriously fast, this is a lot of performance for not a lot of cash. Call today!