Heavily-Modified C5 Corvette Z06 Is Essentially a Street Legal Road Racer

Built by a long-time racer, this C5 Corvette Z06 has been modified in every possible way, making for one intense ride.

The Z06 has long been a popular target for enthusiasts seeking to modify their rides either for just general fun, or for more serious purposes such as drag or road racing. Much of this is due to the fact that the Z06 has always basically been a fortified, track-focused version of the iconic Corvette from the factory, so turning it up a notch is relatively easy to do. However, this C5 Corvette Z06 owned by Duke Langley and featured in a recent video from AutoTopiaLA is far more than just the typical bolt-on job.

Rather, Langley’s C5 Corvette Z06 has been modified in every possible way, with the results being precisely what he intended – a race car that’s highly competitive on the track, yet also capable of driving on the street. Langley himself has been competing in road racing and autocross events for 30 years, so needless to say, he knows exactly what it takes to do precisely that.

That process began under the hood, where Langley sourced a destroked LS7 from Mass Motorsports that revs to 8,500 rpm and cranks out somewhere around 700 horsepower. It feeds that power to the rear wheels via a sequential transmission and a Winters quick change differential, and with just 2,800 pounds to move around – thanks to many weight savings measures – it’s a certified ripper, as its owner notes.

As one might imagine, there are plenty of suspension upgrades worth noting on this build, a list that includes billet spindles, sway bars, Heim jointed rod end bearings, and double adjustable coilovers. There’s no mistaking this for some sort of stock Z06 on the outside either, as this particular car is rather in-your-face with a massive front splitter with long support rods and an even larger rear wing, all of which work in harmony to keep it glued to the ground.

As you might’ve guess by now, all of that adds up to a seriously capable machine, as well as a thrilling one to ride in. Our host Shawn Davis notes that this was one of the most intense rides he’s ever taken in any car, which – if you’re a regular on his channel –  is really saying something, because he’s ridden in and driven some pretty wild vehicles over the years.

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