2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Is Finally a Classic
Vehicles from 2002 are now classics, including the speedy Chevrolet Corvette Z06, loved for its speed, now a bargain of a sports car.
Written by Lauren Smith
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
What makes a car a classic? You may be thinking of the cars you see at a Cars and Coffee event where these are the old cars from the forties and fifties.
However, depending on the classification of your local DMV or insurance, the cars you're thinking of are antiques.
All those 2002 cars are now officially classics. That's right, I don't mean to make anyone feel old, but this year the Chevrolet
Corvette
Z06 is 20 years old and officially falls into the classic car category.The 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 raced with exotic luxury vehicles
In 2002 Chevrolet released their second Corvette, the Z06, a short six months after their 2001, making 2001 obsolete in a fast turnaround.
According to
Car and Driver's
original 2002 review of the car, this was because when "asked why Chevrolet would sell 7400 vehicles knowing they would be obsolete within 14 months, Corvette chief engineer Dave Hill said the 5.5's upgrades weren't ready then and that the company doesn't sell wine before its time." The 5.5, aka the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, was well loved because of its speed. Of course, in 2002 if you needed speed, you had to go to Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, or Viper. But for three times less than that price, you could get a 2002 Corvette Z06.
Its horsepower of 400 with a 4800 rpm put it in league with those expensive luxury cars and let it race with cars worth way more.
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How did Chevrolet pull this off?
Well, the 2002 Corvette Z06 had a "revised" LS6 V-8 engine with an output of 405 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 15 pound-feet of torque, or for 4800 rpm you could get 400.
This was due to the camshaft pushing the intake valve at a rate of 0.7 mm to 14 mm and on the exhaust by 0.5 mm to 13.9 mm.
The vehicle also being lightweight and made of fiberglass with a lightweight chassis, and new for the time, spin cast alloy wheels from Speedline led to a decrease in weight by at least 12 lbs.
Lighter vehicles move faster. It's just that simple. For example, the Corvette Z06 was expected to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than 4 seconds.
New for the time 2002 Corvette Z06
Besides an upgraded LS6 V-8 engine, the Corvette Z06 from 2002 was upgraded in more tech. With a heads-up display and, maybe, not exciting for us anymore, but a C-D player.
It was available in electron blue but not the dark bowling metallic green that its predecessors barely sold. Also, it got new fender badges that stated "Z06 405 HP" so everyone would know your car could win in an illegal street race.
They removed two small manifold catalysts, changed the filter box to improve airflow, and gave it titanium mufflers and thicker anti-roll bars made from aluminum—this sports car with a retuned suspension sold for a base price of $50,000.
It had 25 cubic feet of luggage space, more than any other car like it at the time. If you were running late to tee time, you had room for all your golf clubs and gear and the speed to get there in a hurry.
The classic 2002 Corvette Z06
28,000 Corvette Z06s were built between 2001 and 2004. According to
Edmunds
, you can now expect to pay between $6,737 and $10,152 for one of these speedy sports cars.Common complaints now include bad interiors that new owners of the used vehicle recommend swapping out and upgrading. Another bizarre addition to the vehicle is the passenger grab handle.
Traditionally grab handles are located near the door, either above the passenger or to the side.
The 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has placed its passenger grab handle on the dash, right above the airbag. Of course, this invokes nightmarish results in case of an accident or deployment of the airbags.
Despite that, Edmund reviewers of the car discuss how nice it is to drive due to its lightweight and easy handling, from good road grip to antilock breaks.
Car insurance for your classics
Realizing that cars from the 2000s now count as classics might be a bit of a shock. But classics like these speedy Corvette's still need the proper insurance, and the best way to ensure you're getting the best deal for your early 2000 vehicle is with
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