Z06 vs Z06 vs …Z06? Driving Three Z06 Generations Back-to-Back-to-Back!

When GM turns the Corvette up to 11, magic is created.

The legacy Zora Arkus-Duntov left on the Corvette can never be underestimated. And while some may highlight the CERV Project or his quest for a mid-engine Corvette as his high water markets, we’d argue his most important and lasting impression is three characters on a badge — Z06. In 1962, Zora pushed for a Z06 option package that would make the Corvette race-ready from the factory. Today, this badge lives on the flanks of an entire model of Corvette. These are some of the greatest Corvette’s ever made, and Everyday Driver got to drive all three generations.

The video is full of all the regular fun stuff you expect from the duo at Everyday Driver. We have plenty of rolling shots, loud exhaust noise, and the general “review” jargon and impressions. What sticks out to us though is just how good these cars still are. The C5 Corvette Z06 in particular came out in a time when GM was making a lot of very terrible cars. Reliability and interior quality are years behind compared to European rivals, but here is a track-ready Z06 in perfect order with nary a squeak or rattle. Nearly 20 years old, and it still drives well enough to embarrass new cars. If you want to build a race car, we still think a base FRC Corvette C5 is a better buy, but for turn-key excellence on a budget, there might be no car in the world that can touch this Z06.

The C7 Z06 needs no introduction, and it’s obvious that both Paul and Todd are in love with the latest Z06. A supercharged V8 that dumps 650 horsepower into the rear wheels is essentially a religious experience. Couple the manual transmission into the mix and you have a potent cocktail of excitement and danger.

I don’t really care, though.

If you want to experience the truest expression of the ethos that lies behind the Z06, to create a true Corvette racecar that can be sold on a showroom floor, the C6 Z06 is the pinnacle. A proper 427 cubic inch V8, naturally aspirated. That engine is hand-built and makes 505 glorious horsepower. It is wider, shorter, and has a lower weight than any other Z06. People constantly rave about the directness and purity that exists in a car like the Porsche 911. That is the level of mechanical simplicity and joy that a C6 Z06 can deliver. The biggest flaw of this otherwise wonderful video is that this isn’t the final conclusion. Yes, all Corvettes are great. And yes, the Z06 is even greater. The C6 Corvette Z06 is the true pinnacle of joy for the crossed flags.