The Top 3 Best Corvettes of All Time
In its seventh generation of production and 63 years later, the Chevrolet Corvette continues to be the most iconic car to have come out of America. Even with its ritzy appearance, sports-inspired performance and sheer air of opulence, the Vette remains largely accessible to most mere mortals. For Corvette fans, all editions right from 1953 up to 2016 are remarkable in their own right, but these 3 left an unforgettable mark in the history of Corvette.
1963 Split Rear Window Sting Ray
Love it or hate it, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray coupe is one of the best-looking Corvette’s of all time. Although this edition was dropped after just a year of production due to visibility issues, the C2 generation ’63 coupe flaunted a V-8 engine delivering a 327-cubic inch, 360 horsepower performance, and more remarkably, a new independent rear suspension. Chalk it up to the stir caused by the split rear window or to the car’s inherent beauty, but the1963 Corvette Sting Ray is a collector’s dream-come-true.
The 1963 Corvette introduced a completely redesigned chassis and body; it was the first time a coupe body became available for the Chevrolet Corvette. The much hated and loved split rear window featured what was known as a “wind split” that was down the center of the rear window.
The C3 generation of Corvettes made for a rather dull stretch between the 70s and 80s. Admittedly, this period will be remembered as one marked with underwhelming Corvette models resulting from under-powered engines. But, the C4 ZR1 zoomed in and the past was just that, the past. The C4 ZR1 ushered in a new era of faster Corvettes, becoming the fastest performance car of its time, the ZR-1 was undeniably the king of the 80’s in the world of American performance cars.
1990 Corvette ZR-1
The C3 generation of Corvettes made for a rather dull stretch between the 70s and 80s. Admittedly, this period will be remembered as one marked with underwhelming Corvette models resulting from under-powered engines. But, the C4 ZR-1 zoomed in and the past was just that, the past. The C4 ZR-1 ushered in a new era of faster Vettes, becoming the fastest performance car of its time, clocking 0-60 in just 4.9. Boasting a 5.7-liter V-8 engine and 350 horsepower, the ZR-1 was undeniably the king of the 80’s in the world of American performance cars.
The 1990 ZR-1 Vette was only available in the coupe configuration; the ZR-1 was set apart from other Corvette coupes by its wider tail section, its convex rear fascia and its four square taillights. The 1990 Vette production saw 23,646 Corvettes produced that year, of which 7,630 were convertibles along with 16,016 coupes of which 3,049 were the Corvette ZR-1 model.
2009 Corvette ZR1
The 2009 ZR1 (i.e. ZR-1 changed to ZR1) returned after a 14-year hiatus to become christened as the first supercharged Vette in history and the fastest of its time. Aside from the stunning blue metallic top coating, the performance figures alone were mind-blowing— a heart pulsing V-8 638 horsepower, 376 cubic-inch, LS9 engine could clock in at 0-60 in just 3.5 seconds, a genuine quarter mile in 11.5 seconds, and an impressive 205 mph speed. The ZR1 Corvette could certainly hold its own.
Stopping power was provided by its massive Brembo brakes, and its chassis with an aluminum frame included Selective Magnetic Ride Control, tuned specifically for the 2009 ZR1.
Many more models make the cut for best Corvettes of all time but these three certainly changed the course of history to propel the Vette to the heights it is at today.