C6 Corvette Z06 vs. C7 Corvette: Can Old School Kill Stingray Cool?
The C6 Corvette Z06 was one of the most ballistically brutal offerings in the sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette lineup. Save for the limited edition ZR1, it didn’t get any better for the ‘Vette until the arrival of the seventh-generation model. However, the C7 Corvette arrived with new technology, refinement, and style beyond the previous “Plastic Fantastic.” So, all these years later, is the C6 Corvette Z06 still too much to handle for the seventh-gen Corvette Stingray?
How much HP does a C6 Z06 have?
The C6 Z06 produces 505 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque courtesy of a naturally aspirated 7.0L LS7 V8 engine. Moreover, at 3,175 lbs, the sixth-gen Corvette Z06 1LZ had a much higher power-to-weight ratio than the fifth-generation Camaro Z/28, with which it shared the mill.
You read that correctly, dear reader. The super ‘Vette packed seven liters of angry displacement without the addition of forced induction. To hell with refinement. The C6 Z06 is old-school rock n’ roll.
However, the first of the seventh-generation models weren’t exactly wimpy. Packing the all-new 6.2L LT1 V8, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hit the streets with as much as 460 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Of course, to hit the 460 mark, ‘Vette fans must find a C7 with the optional performance exhaust system.
How fast is a Corvette C6 Z06?
The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the first model year of the C6, will hit 60 mph in a spirited 3.6 seconds, quick enough to contend with a Ferrari F430 of the day. Better yet, the Z06 will pull all the way to 198 mph.
To me, that sounds like a job for Mr. Wrench and some creative surgery to drop weight. Boom, there’s your 200 mph car. However, the C6 Z06 isn’t much quicker than the base-model C7 Corvette Stingray with the Z51 performance package. Specifically, the Z51-equipped Stingray will blast to 60 mph just 0.2 seconds behind the massively powerful sixth-gen Z06. However, Car and Driver says the first C7 Z51 models were drag-limited to around 181 mph.
Why the C6 Z06 is special?
The C6 Corvette Z06 packs the largest fuel-injected naturally aspirated engine ever installed in a Chevrolet Corvette. At seven liters, the model’s LS7 engine is an exceptional mill.
Moreover, the sixth-gen Z06 is the latest N/A Z06 fans can get with a manual transmission, an option unavailable in the revolutionary C8 model. Of course, the number of cylinders and lack of forced induction are where the similarities between the C6’s LS7 and the C8’s LT6 end.
How expensive is a used C7 Corvette compared to a C6?
A used 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray Coupe has a fair value of around $38,296 with average mileage, per KBB. Despite being newer, the C6 Z06’s exclusivity and raw power make it a collector car. As a result, the oldest C6 Z06 models demand at least $31,668.
Of course, the C7 Corvette was a banner evolutionary step for the interior of the Kentucky performance car. Gone were the bargain-basement GM plastics in favor of handsome optional carbon fiber and a secret agent-esque retractable screen.
Which of these two star-spangled sports cars would you take home? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below and be sure to keep up with MotorBiscuit for the latest Corvette content!
