Generation Five (C5)

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        Generation Five was produced from 1997 to 2004. The transmission in the C5 was moved to the rear of the car to form an integrated rear-mounted transaxle assembly and connected to the engine by a driveshaft. GM's new LS1 small block was introduced with the C5, it had345 hp but was increased to 350 hp in 2001. For the first year the C5 was only availabe as a coupe, but the convertable returned in 1998. The 50th Anniversary of the Corvette was celebrated on June 20-21, 2003, in Nashville, Tennessee. Over 10,000 Corvettes also gathered at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.
        The ZO6 debuted in 2001 and was a successor to the FRC C5. It replaced the FRC hardtop as the highest performance C5, and was lighter and faster than the ZR-1, but the ZR-1 still had a higher speed. GM claimed the 405 hp ZO6 could do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and the quarter mile in 12.4 seconds. The 2002-2004 ZO6 has made 11 second quarter miles in experienced hands. The 2004 ZO6 Commemorative Edition came out with a carbon fiber hood and polished aluminum wheels, a Nürburgring-tested suspension tuning to improve handling, along with an exclusive Le Mans blue color.