2000 Corvette

The 2000 Corvette had limited styling changes, though the five-spoke standard aluminum wheels were revised; despite their thinner spokes, they were now fully forged with a flow-formed rim for greater durability. A polished finish for the alloy wheels was newly optional; at $2,000, the optional magnesium wheels, which were now also available on the hardtop, cost a third less than before. A new body color, Millennium Yellow, was available for an additional $500.

The 2000 Corvette hardtop, like the other C5 hardtops, was an artifact of an aborted plan for a stripped-down model aimed at all-out performance enthusiasts. See more pictures of Corvettes.

The proximity-based keyless-entry system, which was reported to be perplexing to many buyers, was discontinued for 2000 in favor of a more-conventional keyfob-button-controlled configuration. What's more, the passenger-side outside door lock was now deleted, leaving the driver-side key cylinder the only mechanical way to unlock the car from the outside in the case of a dead battery.

The Z51 Performance Handling Package added larger stabilizer bars at the front and rear, along with revised shock-absorber damping; these changes increased roll stiffness for added cornering stability without resulting in a noticeably harsher ride. Also for 2000, quality and engineering improvements were made to the manual-transmission shifter, Selective Real-Time Damping suspension, windshield seals, dual-zone climate control, seat belts, and seat materials and construction.

Power for the 2000 Corvette remained unchanged at 345 bhp.

With fairly negligible price increases for 2000 boosting the hardtop to $38,705, the coupe to $39,280, and the convertible to $45,705, sales ticked up slightly, to 33,659 units on the year.

Encouraged by the C5-R's performance in 1999, Chevrolet replaced the race car's 6.0-liter engine with a 7.0-liter V-8 in 2000, gaining 20 horsepower. The car went on to place third and fourth in its class (10th and 11th overall) at the 24 Hours of LeMans in June 2000. It then racked up its first victory at the American LeMans Series race when Ron Fellows and Andy Pilgrim drove it at Ft. Worth, Texas, that September.

Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:

1997 Corvette	1998 Corvette	1999 Corvette
2000 Corvette	2001 Corvette	2002 Corvette
2003 Corvette	2004 Corvette

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

• Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
• Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
• Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
• Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
• Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
  
• Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.