50 Years of the Chevrolet Corvette

1997

At long last, the C5 Corvette released. Chevrolet began toying with Corvette’s next generation as early as 1992, but they didn’t start building them until 1996. The vehicle was completely redesigned with a sleek new look ready for the approaching millennium. It had many new concepts, and building breakthroughs, including a hydroformed box frame and a new LS1 aluminum engine, rated a 345 bhp. According to designer Jon Albert, the goals they accomplished with the C5 model were “improved performance, reduced mass, and increased reliably with the whole car’s overall framework.” The C5 received a reputation as one of the fastest Corvettes of all time, and in 1997 was considered the fastest commercial car in the world that year. For 1997, Chevy only offered a fastback coupé.