Corvette owners talk in generation codes. "C5" or "C3" tells you more about a car than the model year alone, because each generation shares a chassis, a design language and a set of quirks. Here's the short version of all eight.
C1 (1953–1962)
The original. Fiberglass body, a six-cylinder engine at launch and then the small-block V8 from 1955. Fuel injection arrived as an option in 1957. Today these are collector cars, and condition and originality drive everything.
C2 (1963–1967)
The Sting Ray. It brought a coupe body (the 1963 split-window is the famous one), hidden headlights and independent rear suspension. Four-wheel disc brakes arrived in 1965, along with big-block engines. Short production run, very collectible.
C3 (1968–1982)
The longest-running generation, with "Coke-bottle" styling and T-tops. Early cars include big-block muscle. Mid-to-late cars were shaped by emissions and safety rules, so power ratings dropped. C3s are the most affordable way into a classic Corvette, but rust and deferred maintenance are common.
C4 (1984–1996)
A clean-sheet modern car with a digital dash and a much stiffer chassis. Highlights include Tuned Port Injection, the ZF six-speed, the DOHC ZR-1, and the LT1 and LT4 engines of the 1990s. There was no regular-production 1983 model.
C5 (1997–2004)
The start of the modern era: a hydroformed frame, a rear-mounted transmission for better balance and the LS1 V8. The Z06 added a lighter, fixed-roof track model. C5s are often called the best performance bargain on the used market.
C6 (2005–2013)
A refined C5 with exposed headlights, a nicer interior and more power. The Z06 got the 7.0L LS7, and the ZR1 got the supercharged LS9. The Grand Sport combined wide-body styling with the LS3.
C7 (2014–2019)
The Stingray name returned along with a much better cabin, direct-injected LT engines and a seven-speed manual with rev matching. The supercharged Z06 and the 2019 ZR1 ended the front-engine story.
C8 (2020–present)
The engine moved behind the driver. Every C8 uses a dual-clutch transmission. The lineup now includes the hybrid all-wheel-drive E-Ray, the flat-plane-crank Z06 and the twin-turbo ZR1.
How to use this
- Use the generation code when searching for parts, problems and forum threads.
- Within a generation, check the engine. A C4 with an L98 and one with an LT1 have different parts and different common issues.
- Specs on this site are representative. Confirm details for a specific car against its build documentation.