HERE'S WHY THE C5 CHEVY CORVETTE Z06 IS A HELLCAT KILLER AT LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE

Since after the 1950s, the Chevrolet Corvette has been synonymous with racing; especially today, with the C6, C7, and new age C8 out rip-roaring the pavement. Although these latest generations are packed with power, all in more modern styling, the C5 package is one not to be overlooked, especially in the later Z06 trim that became available in the early 2000s. Running from 1997-2004, with the Z06 debut in 2001, the Chevrolet Corvette C5 is already collectible.

In some ways, it's the C8 of its time, with an innovative chassis, hydro-formed frame rails, lightweight laminated balsa floor panels, and rear transaxle. This might be forgotten amidst the radical new mid-engine design of the C8, a first-ever for the iconic American nameplate.

Available in a fixed-roof coupe, standard targa-top, and convertible model, the only thing to endure rather than enjoy, would be the out-dated interior. This can be overlooked due to the performance discount that is the C5, as from the beginning it was a bargain, and a car now that can be had in the $30,000s as a clean, low-mileage example in peak form.

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C5 Z06: Modded Monster For Tuned Triumph

Though the C5 ran until 2004, it's the 2002 model where the excitement ramps up. This is because the top trim Z06 got a horsepower bump, a simple way to make a great car even better. The year saw the Z06 "now available in maximum strength," as the new for 2001 Z06 had a 385 horsepower rating, while the 2002 Z06 got 405 ponies.

With at least this 20 horsepower gain, the car will rip off four second zero to sixty times, as well as taking 9.5 seconds to reach 100mph. We're talking all day and consistent too. The brakes and suspension make it a legit sports car, coupled with lightweight titanium tailpipes. The Z06 also boasts nimble handling, precise steering, and powerful brakes that last. These brakes will stop the car from 60 mph in just 104 feet.

The car comes with an Active Handling stability control system, helping tackle hard driving through electronic assist. However, turn this off, and you can reach .99 Gs of lateral movement. Of course, if you want all this horsepower, you don't get a transmission or body style choice, as the Z06 is relegated to a six-speed manual and hardtop only.

Nevertheless, such compromises come with a real race car, or a true driver's car. In this way, these compromises are really boons to the enthusiast, and such standard no cost options are just as they should be. Other considerations for a serious sports car need to include a superior power-to-weight ratio. The Z06 needed to squeeze more out of its setup. Using GM's standard all-aluminum Gen III small-block V-8, this meant maximizing the engine to keep the weight and chassis balance virtually the same.

The Corvette's base LS1 rated at 350 horsepower, shares a lot of the characteristics of the Z06's LS6, but the resulting changes attributed to the horsepower gains. With 405 horsepower on tap, and a curb weight of 3,116 pounds, the Z06 nets a 7.69 power-to-weight ratio.

This means there's over 7.5 horses available for every pound of the car. Without a doubt the light car coupled with high horsepower numbers add up to something that will hold its own around many modern next-gen performance vehicles. Add forced induction, do a cam swap along with headers, and have yourself a sleeper to challenge today's Hellcats.

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It's About The Low-End Numbers Too

Not only did the Z06's LS6 produce 405 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, but also 400 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm, a 15 unit increase of the previous version from '01. Even so, the redline remained unchanged at 6,500 rpm, and most of the added power was available at 3,500 rpm.

It's worth noting that Car and Driver is aware of the 3.9 second 0-60, and 12.4 second 0-100 mph GM claims, but that it never saw much less tested such specs in a Z06 before. High horsepower numbers are flashy and of course easy to understand, but in reality this isn't the most important aspect to a performance car. In the real world, it's weight and low-end torque that matter most.

Horsepower is important to top speed, but how often does one go on a top speed run, versus a zero to sixty sprint? It's the low-end stuff felt most of the time, and it's all about weight and power delivery. This is something that Corvette's excel in, and the C5, especially the Z06 is no different.

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Don't Forget About The 2001 Z06

Given the power bump that 2002's Z06 got, it's certainly more desirable, and the "405HP" badges might make '01 Z06 owners queasy. However, those were different times. That was then, and now, this means you can get an '01 Z06 for even more of a deal. According to Road and Track, the formula is simple: get yourself a lightweight car, slap on some bolt-on modifications, and you've got a great start.

A rental V-8 Mustang today might make more than 400 horsepower, but again those were different times. We're still talking about a C5 that runs a quarter-mile in 12 seconds out of the box. A car with a 4.3-second zero-to-sixty, pulling .98 g in the corners and stopping from 70 mph in 152 feet.

Twenty years or so down the road, these numbers hold up! No matter the Z06 in the C5, slap on some bolt-ons and modern rubber, and say goodbye to that Hellcat. For that Dodge may have north of 800 horsepower in the widebody Redeye variant, but it still weighs around 4,500 pounds.

This translates to roughly a 5.6 power-to-weight ratio, already lower than a C5 prior to any mods. What's more, is that a Redeye isn't any faster than a normal Hellcat, because the tires can't put the power down to the pavement. Of course, a Z06 is manual only, while a Redeye is auto only, but then again that's part of the fun right?

Take it down to a manual 707 horsepower Hellcat, and you've got a more level playing field, though early models weigh as much as 5,450 pounds! One could say it's unfair to not have a stock-to-stock race, but the Hellcat debuted in 2015, almost a decade and a half behind the C5 Z06. With pricing nearly $70,000 today for a Dodge Hellcat just to start, the C5 remains ever the steal at half the price at most.

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A Regular C5 Is Still Worth It

Taking things further, a C5 can be had for $20,000 or less with the venerable LS1, still the most swapped engine for car projects. Grab your savings, add your choice modifications, and take the fight to the Hellcat. On the flip side, Corvettes are designed as a blend of muscle and sports cars, but this isn't any different from Hellcat peers in the GT500 and ZL1.

This is why the latter two are seen as better options over the Hellcat, a car that has more power but also more weight and isn't as good in the corners. Although the Z06 has always been the more driver and track-orientated trim, a Corvette is still a Corvette and a C5 hails from decades of Chevrolet R&D brilliance.

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