Five of the Best C5 Corvettes on Sale in the U.S. Today

From low-mileage wonders to low-cost rides, here are five of our favorites from the C5 era of America’s sports car for sale.

How long has it been since a C5-era Corvette’s been in your driveway? A while ago? Never? Either way, prices for this generation of America’s sports car are falling into a range where anyone can own one, especially first-time ‘Vette owners. After all, why settle for a new car with little thrill, when for the same cash, you can get some V8 firepower?

Upon spending some time looking for them, we’ve selected five of the best C5 Corvettes available for sale in the United States right now. Some will the auction block, while others are on the dealer lot. No matter what, though, you can’t go wrong with these choices.

1997 Corvette

You’ll be a hit on the fairway with this Bring a Trailer listing. Not only does this first-year C5 have room for your golf bags, it’ll dazzle the clubhouse with its Fairway Green Metallic paint. Only 155 examples rolled out of Bowling Green for the 1997 model year. The color itself left the paint booth after the 1998 model year.

2004 Corvette Z06

On the other end of the C5 era, this Z06 hardtop is ready to smoke the blacktop in North Carolina. Draped in Millennium Yellow, the dealer says the Corvette “has some street friendly modifications such as a full Borla exhaust system with headers and a x-pipe, a twin-disk McLeod clutch assembly, and a Hurst Billet short throw shifter.” It also has a HUD, so you can watch your speed and the road at the same time.

2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary

Looking for some sun with your Corvette fun? How about this 50th Anniversary C5 from 2003? One of a few ‘Vettes up for grabs at the upcoming Mecum Indy auction June 23 through 28, it’s got a six-speed manual, beautiful ruby red paint, and a clean light tan interior. It’s the perfect summertime sensation.

Here’s another red C5 convertible from the Mecum Indy happening, though this one may want to make you think hard about driving it before turning the key. The one-owner ride only has 1,000 miles on its LS1 and six-speed manual. Though more or less broken in by now, you might need to replace a few fluids and hoses before hitting the road.

2001 Corvette Z06

Finally, we can’t end our list without visiting the classifieds of our own Corvette Forum forums. There, one of our members, BaconDad, is parting ways with his 2001 Corvette Z06 hardtop, clothed in the finest Quicksilver Metallic. The interior is showroom-fresh, and the monster V8 makes 447 horses and 407 lb-ft of torque.

There are plenty of C5 Corvettes in the sea. Some are mint, some are diamonds in the salvage yard. Either way, there’s likely one out there for you.

Photos: Bring a Trailer; Frontline Motors; Mecum Auctions; Corvette Forum Forums

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