2004 Corvette

By the time the 2004 Corvette was released, everyone knew the C5 was heading for retirement. Indeed, the motoring press in 2003 was filled with rabid rumors and spy photos of the replacement C6. Sure enough, Chevrolet signaled another changing of the guard with the 2004 Corvettes, which were virtual '03 carryovers except for the addition of tellingly named "Commemorative Edition" packages.

A Commemorative Edition package was available on all 2004 Corvettes.
A Commemorative Edition package was available on all 2004 Corvettes.
It included the LeMans Blue paint as well as special badges inside and out.
See more pictures of Corvettes.

The commemoration celebrated a sterling 2003 season for the racing C5-Rs, which notched a third straight manufacturer's title in the American LeMans Series after just missing a GTS-class three-peat at the LeMans 24 Hours. The Commemorative packages must have been good-luck charms, because C5-Rs won every race they entered in 2004, notching a fourth ALMS championship and a third double victory in France.

All the Commemorative Edition 2004s were finished in vivid LeMans Blue paint with wide red-edged silver stripes adorning the hood, roof, and rear deck. Special "LeMans 24-hours" crossed-flags emblems appeared on the nose and tail, and as embroidered logos on the headrests within a specific shale-colored interior. Polished alloy wheels completed the coupe and convertible ensembles, which cost $3,700 and included all features of the regular 1SB Preferred Equipment Group.

The Commemorative option for the Z06 cost $4,335, but included a unique (and costly) carbon-fiber hood that took a useful 10.6 pounds off the nose. Also featured were special clear-coat wheels with hubs reading "Commemorative 24:00 Heures du Mans." In addition, testing at Germany's famed Nürburgring track produced revised damping for the Sachs gas-pressure shock absorbers, stiffer bushings for the front upper-control arms, and softer bushings for the rear antiroll bar. Together, these tweaks aimed to "settle" the Z06 more quickly in fast transient maneuvers -- and they did.

As Frank Markus enthused in Car and Driver's September 2003 review: "[The Z06's] steering response is [now] so much quicker it's hard to believe the ratio is the same [as in other Corvettes]. Its weight is within 141 pounds of [other models], yet it feels like hundreds less. Its structure also feels twice as rigid. Yes, it filters out less road noise and harshness, but at least each bump is felt just once.... Grip is astonishing" -- Markus reported a leech-like 0.98g -- "but these wide paws tend to wander a bit along pavement ruts. This chassis is also exceptionally well tuned to the active handling system's competitive-driving mode.... The [Commemorative] Z06 is clearly the [Corvette] that best rewards expert driving."

2004 Corvette Z06 models with the Commemorative Edition package got the first stock carbon-fiber hood offered in North America.
2004 Corvette Z06 models with the Commemorative Edition package got the first
stock carbon-fiber hood offered in North America, as well as special chassis tuning.

Or just good ol' pedal-to-the-metal driving, for that matter. Motor Trend lauded the Commemorative Z06 as the fastest showroom Corvette it had ever tested, timing just 4.2 seconds 0-60 and a standing quarter mile of 12.4 seconds at 117 mph. All this, plus GM's usual three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

The one sour note to the tasty Commemorative confections was deliberately limited production: a mere 2,000 Z06s, perhaps twice that many coupes and convertibles. But whatever one may think about "factory collector cars," this was a fine sendoff for a highly successful Corvette generation.

Of course, success can be defined in many ways, but consider that nearly a quarter-million C5s were built over eight model years. That averages out to some 34,000 yearly sales, the best Corvette performance since the mid Eighties. What's more, the C5 added a slew of awards to the Corvette's bulging trophy case -- besides all those racing cups. An independent panel of automotive journalists named the 1998 Corvette the North American Car of the Year. The C5 was also Motor Trend's Car of the Year in 1998, Automobile magazine's "Automobile of the Year" in 2001, and on Car and Driver's annual 10 Best List in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Last but not least, the C5 was a perennial Consumer Guide® "Best Buy" among sports cars.

Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:

1997 Corvette1998 Corvette1999 Corvette
2000 Corvette
2001 Corvette2002 Corvette
2003 Corvette2004 Corvette

Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:

  • Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.

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2004 Corvette Specifications

The 2004 Corvette marked the end of the line for the fifth generation of Corvettes. The models of 2004 represent the peak of development of this line, and it shows with their easy driveability and graceful prowess. Here are the specifications for the 2004 Corvette:

All 2004 Corvettes were virtual carryovers from 2003, except for the addition of the special Commemorative Editions.
All 2004 Corvettes were virtual carryovers from 2003, except for the
addition of the special Commemorative Editions.

Vehicle Specifications
HatchbackConvertible
Coupe
Wheelbase, inches
104.5
104.5
104.5
Length, inches
179.7
179.7
179.7
Width, inches
73.6
73.6
73.6
Track, inches
front: 62.1 rear: 62.2
front: 62.1 rear: 62.2 front: 62.1 rear: 62.2
Height, inches
47.8
47.7
47.9
Curb weight, pounds
3,246
3,118
3,248

Mechanical Specifications (2-door hatchback/convertible/coupe)

Suspension
front: Independent; upper and lower A-arms, transverse composite monoleaf spring, tube shock absorbers, antiroll bar
rear: Independent, upper and lower A-arms, toe links, transverse composite monoleaf springs, tube shock absorbers, antiroll bar

Wheels/Tires
front: P245/45ZR-17 (Z06, P265/40ZR-17)
rear: P275/40ZR-18 (Z06, P295/35ZR-18)

Brakes
front: anti-lock 12.6-inch disc
rear: anti-lock 11.6-inch disc

Transmission
4-speed automatic
6-speed manual

Standard axle ratio
2.73:1 (auto) 3.42:1 (manual)

Engine Specifications

Type
ohv V-8
ohv V-8
Displacement, liters/cu inch
5.7/350
5.7/350
Bore × stroke, inches
3.90 × 3.62
3.90 × 3.62
Fuel management
Sequential Injection
Sequential Injection
Horsepower @ rpm
350 @ 5,600
405 @ 6,000
Torque @ rpm, pound-foot
375 @ 4,400385 @ 4,800

Published Performance Numbers

Acceleration
405 hp, 6-speed manual
0-60 mph, sec
4.2
1/4-mile, sec @ mph
12.4 @ 117.0

Source: Motor Trend

Vehicle Production and Base Prices

Car Type
Production Price
2-door hatchback 16,165
$44,535.00
2-door Z06 coupe
5,683
52,385.00
2-door convertible 12,216
51,535.00

Options and Production

Option Production Price
Preferred Equipment Group (hatchback)
11,446
$1,200.00
Preferred Equipment Group (convertible)
9,334
1,200.00
Commemorative Edition (Z06) 2,026
4,335.00
Commemorative Edition (hatchback) 2,215
3,700.00
Commemorative Edition (convertible)
2,659
3,700.00
Memory Package (Z06)
5,446
$175.00
Body Side Moldings20,626
150.00
Dual Removable Roof Panels 5,079
1,400.00
Removable Roof Panel, blue tint4,356
750.00
Auto-dimming Mirrors (Z06)
5,446
160.00
Magnetic Selective Ride Control
5,843
1,695.00
Performance Axle (3.15 ratio, automatic only)
10,367
395.00
6-Speed Manual Transmission6,928
915.00
Magnesium Wheels
1,022
2,000.00
Polished Alloy Wheels
1,110
995.00
Corvette Museum Delivery142
490.00
Stereo with Cassette (replaces std radio)
3,860
0.00
Remote 12-Disc Changer 14,668
600.00
Front License Plate Frame
19,520
15.00
Performance Handling Package
3,672
395.00
Millennium Yellow w/tint coat 2,641
750.00
Magnetic Red Metallic Paint
3,596
750.00

Color Choices and Production

Color Choice
Production Color Choice
Production
Arctic White
1,741
LeMans Blue
6,899
Black 6,212
Millennium Yellow 2,641
Medium Spiral Gray3,286
Machine Silver
4,666
Magnetic Red II
3,596
Torch Red5,023

Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:

1997 Corvette1998 Corvette1999 Corvette
2000 Corvette
2001 Corvette2002 Corvette
2003 Corvette2004 Corvette

Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:

  • Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.

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