Here Are the Cheapest Chevrolet Corvettes For Sale on Autotrader (2024)

If you fear parking a Chevrolet Corvette in your driveway is a bank account-draining exercise, think again. Though the “cheapest” example of any car on the market is often best left to YouTubers with easy access to talented mechanics who boast uncanny wizardry, a Corvette can be a reasonable car to own and maintain — at least by sports car standards.

The cheapest way into a ’Vetteis to grab a C4 model, the fourth-generation cars built between the 1984 and 1996 model years. Chevy built these cars for over a dozen years without dramatic styling changes but with updates almost annually. Earlier models offered tepid performance, while those that rolled off the assembly line toward the end of production have no problem keeping up with today’s high-performance sports cars.

Later generations of the Corvette have more modern styling that doesn’t scream the 1980s but will be a bit more expensive. If the budget allows, consider shopping for one of the higher-performance Corvette variants like the Z06 or the highly coveted ZR-1/ZR1. No matter what Corvette you may find yourself driving, they all offer plenty of power to put a smile on any car enthusiast’s face.

Here’s a look at the least-expensive Corvette models by generation currently for sale on Autotrader.

Find the Cheapest Chevrolet Corvette Models for Sale

The Corvette has been on sale since the early 1950s and has sold well over 1 million units across eight generations. Some of the earlier generations of the Corvette are highly sought after and have an average value of six to seven figures. When looking for the most bang for the buck, shopping for a C4- or C5-generation Chevrolet Corvette is best.

• Chevrolet Corvette C4
• Chevrolet Corvette C5
• Chevrolet Corvette C6
• Chevrolet Corvette C7
• Chevrolet Corvette C8

Cheapest Chevrolet Corvette C4 Models, 1984-1996

The C4 Corvette had a drastically different design than previous generations, influencing the following models until the C8 Corvette. The new sleek design significantly improved aerodynamics which allowed for higher top speed. The 1984 C4 Corvette was the least powerful, with an output of 205 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. In 1985, the engine received a noticeable bump in power thanks to tuned-port injection and produced 230 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. With the additional power boost, the top speed increased from 140 to 150 mph. Convertibles returned to the Corvette lineup in 1986 after an 11-year hiatus.

The base model Corvette received incremental improvements in horsepower and torque over the years, but the next major update came in 1992. Midway through the C4 Corvette production, a new 5.7-liter V8 engine named the LT1 went under the hood, improving the power output to 300 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque.

The C4 Corvette ZR-1 was the model for those who wanted the highest performance. Made from 1990 to 1995, the ZR-1 features a 5.7-liter V8 LT5 engine that produced 375 to 405 hp and 370 to 385 lb-ft of torque, depending on the model year. The extra power raised the maximum speed to approximately 180 mph. Production of the Corvette ZR-1 was relatively limited and cost quite a bit more than the run-of-the-mill C4 Corvette.

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Cheapest Chevrolet Corvette C5 Models, 1997-2004

Anyone looking for a cheap Corvette with modern styling should consider buying a C5 Corvette. While determining whether the C4 or C5 has better styling may be subjective, there was no doubt that the C5 is the clear winner for performance. The side frame rails were hydroformed from a single piece of tubular steel, increasing chassis rigidity several times. Another significant change was relocating the transmission to the rear to provide better weight distribution.

The base engine in the C5 Corvette was the LS1, and it made 345 to 350 hp and 350 to 375 lb-ft of torque, depending on the model year. The more powerful LS6 engine resides under the hood of the C5 Corvette Z06. The 2001 Z06 makes 385 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque, and later models receive a modest power bump to 405 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. While the top speed between C5 Corvette models is mostly the same, the Z06’s transmission is more geared towards acceleration and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph a half-second faster.

Corvette celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003 with a special edition that included red paint, a 2-tone interior, unique emblems, and a magnetic suspension for improved handling and comfort. Perhaps the rarest C5 Corvette model was the 24 Hours of Le Mans edition, which celebrated the 2002-2003 racing season victories. The Le Mans Blue paint featured silver racing stripes with red striping along the outside edge, giving this 2004 special-edition Corvette a look that will stand out from the crowd. The Corvette’s massive hood was made out of carbon fiber to save weight which was uncharted territory for General Motors then.

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Cheapest Chevrolet Corvette C6 Models, 2005-2013

During the sixth generation of Corvette, the styling evolved quite a bit, moving from popup headlights to fixed headlights. However, some design elements of the C6 are reminiscent of the C5, such as the fender vents and the distinctive taillights made of four circles. The base engine in early C6 Corvette models is the large 6.0-liter V8 LS2 which makes a well-balanced 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. In 2008, the 6.2-liter V8 LS3 engine was introduced, producing 430 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque.

The C6 Corvette Z06 is a powerful sports car with a massive 7.0-liter V8 LS7 making 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Another significant change was to employ a dry-sump oil system. Compared to the wet-sump oil system found on most engines, the dry sump allows for a larger oil capacity and a lower center of gravity due to a smaller oil pan. In 2011, the Z06 Carbon Limited Edition was released, which was limited to around 500 units and featured some of the carbon-fiber body parts and carbon-ceramic brakes that were only otherwise available on the top-tier ZR1 model.

The introduction of the ZR1 raised the Corvette’s performance to supercar levels, with a top speed of over 200 mph. Powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 LS9 engine making 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque, the ZR1 was nearly 50% more powerful than a base model Corvette. If you want a cheap supercar, the C6 Corvette ZR1 could be your ticket to the 200-mph club.

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Cheapest Chevrolet Corvette C7 Models, 2014-2019

The seventh-generation Corvette was the end of the line for the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration. While the design of the C7 was still distinctively Corvette, the circular taillights became a thing of the past. The hood received vents to improve aerodynamics by reducing lift at higher speeds. The C7 had a shorter-than-average production run which may decrease the long-term depreciation, but it’s still too early to tell.

The base engine in the C7 Corvette was s a 6.2-liter V8 LT1, which produced 455 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Adding the optional performance exhaust provided 470 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. The Z06 also received a noticeable increase in power to 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque and could accelerate from 0 to 60 in three seconds. The Z06 was an excellent value because it was priced roughly 30% less than a ZR1 and offered plenty of power for real-world driving conditions. The ZR1 was nearly a half-second faster in the quarter-mile, but its 0-60 time was just over a 10th of a second quicker.

To celebrate the final year of the C7 and the end of the front-engine platform, Chevrolet released the most potent ZR1 to date, which featured a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 LT5 engine. The power output of the LT5 was a staggering 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque, and the C7 needed every bit of the massive 335-width tires when accelerated at full throttle. The C7 ZR1 had a production run of fewer than 3,000 units, which isn’t the most limited of Corvette special editions, but it certainly seems one of the most desirable.

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Cheapest Chevrolet Corvette C8 Models, 2020-Present

For the first time, the Corvette features a mid-engine layout which has caused quite a stir amongst die-hard car enthusiasts. Is it still a Corvette if the engine isn’t in the front? Why doesn’t the engine rumble like it used to? These questions might cross your mind the first time you see and hear the new Corvette C8. Although all C8 models have a mid-mounted engine, only Z06 has a screaming flat-plane V8 engine that sounds like it’s from an exotic car.

The base model C8 Corvette Stingray features a 6.2-liter V8 LT2 engine with 495 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Even the least powerful model in the lineup has a 0-60 time of three seconds and can finish the quarter-mile in just a hair over 11 seconds. A base C8-model Stingray will give a C7 Corvette Z06 a run for its money.

In 2023, Chevrolet added the Z06 trim level to the C8 Corvette. The Z06 is quite a bit different than the Stingray due to its flat-plane crankshaft that revs to a lofty 8,600 rpm. Don’t let the smaller displacement of the LT6 engine fool you because this 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 makes an impressive 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Although those horsepower and torque numbers don’t surpass the power output of the supercharged C7 ZR1, they are enough to make the LT6 the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 to ever be in a production car.

Chevrolet is continuing to push the performance limits of the C8 Corvette and, for the first time, is offering an all-wheel-drive Corvette with a hybrid powertrain. The Corvette E-Ray combines the LT2 engine with an electric motor for a total power output of 655 hp and 595 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor allows three to four miles of driving up to 45 mph before the gas engine powers on.

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Related Reading:

• Buying a Used Chevrolet Corvette: Everything You Need to Know
• Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Debuts With Race Performance for the Street
• The 2024 Corvette E-Ray Is a Hybrid All-Star