7 Times the Corvette Bested More Expensive Rivals

Intro

The Corvette has been America’s sports car for many decades at this point, which has led to countless comparisons over the years. But, because the Corvette has such a high-performance envelope compared to its price, it often ends up being compared to cars that are vastly more expensive. For example, the Corvette has gone to battle with many Porsche models over the years. But more recently GM has started to hunt even bigger game as more powerful Corvette variants are compared to Ferrari sports cars. We thought it would be fun to take a look back through the years and remind ourselves what cars the Corvette was going toe-to-toe with at the time.

The Corvette doesn’t always win in every single category, but it does hold one key victory against just about every competitor. The Corvette is still going strong after over 70 years in production. Many of the cars it has competed against are no longer around. So, from that aspect, the Corvette has bested everything. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list. It would take a year to list everything compared to the Corvette. But these are a few highlights.

Image: Chevrolet

1. C3 Corvette LT-1 versus Porsche 911E

The Corvette versus Porsche battle has been raging for many years. In fact, Porsche is on this list several times. But back in 1970, Motor Trend pitted a Corvette with the LT-1 V8 against a Porsche 911E. From a power perspective it is not even close. The Corvette has 370 horsepower and the Porsche just 175. But the Corvette is lugging around 3,337 pounds compared to just 2,250 for the 911. But even with the extra weight the Corvette crushes the Porsche in the quarter mile. The C3 took 14.36 seconds and the Porsche 15.9. As usual the Corvette also wins in the value department. Adjusted for 2024 dollars the Corvette used in this road test cost $52,619 and the Porsche $69,460. In the current market a solid 1970 LT1 Coupe is worth about $60K. This one was recently sold on Bring a Trailer for $66K. A Porsche 911E from the same year would cost you about double that.

Is the Porsche worth the extra coin? That is up to you. In 1970 the Porsche was judged to have better build quality compared to the Corvette and it was nimbler around a road course. But if you wanted big power, and straight-line speed, the Corvette was the car you wanted back in the day and the car you would still want today.

Image: Bring a Trailer

2. C4 Corvette versus Porsche 944 Turbo

From 1985 until 1987, the C4 Corvette so thoroughly dominated the Porsche 944 Turbo in SCCA Showroom Stock GT racing that, after the 1987 season, the C4 was kicked out of the league. That led to the creation of the Corvette Challenge spec racing series. The C4 Corvette and the 944 Turbo were more natural competitors than the 911 and Corvette. At least the engines were in the same place and power output was much closer. The 944 Turbo was a formidable sports car. However, the C4 was a much better handling car than the 1970 C3, so the gap to Porsche in that department was closing. Each car has a loyal following today, but it was the C4 that shut down an entire race series.

Image: Chevrolet

3. C4 Corvette ZR-1 versus Porsche 911 Turbo

With the C4 ZR-1, the Corvette was now competing on the big stage. Going after a Porsche 911E and 944 Turbo is one thing. But the 911 Turbo was the top dog in the Porsche lineup. There is no way a Corvette could compete, right? Wrong. In 1991, Car and Driver pitted these two cars against each other. And the story follows a similar pattern. The Corvette is far less expensive, has significantly more power, but has an interior and overall build quality below the Porsche. But the C4 ZR-1 was a Corvette like no other. Sure, it made a solid 375 horsepower, but the car could really handle as well. In this comparison test Car and Driver named the Corvette the winner for a very simple reason: “It goes fast better.” And isn’t that the whole point of a Corvette?

Image: Chevrolet

4. C6 Corvette Z06 versus Ferrari F430

Tired of picking on just Porsches, the C6 Z06 takes on the best of Italy with the Ferrari F430. The Corvette has been punching above its weight class for years while battling Porsche, but the Ferrari F430 is on a whole other level. A new 2006 Corvette Z06 would have set you back about $70,000. A 911 Turbo about $130,000. The Ferrari though, would be nearly $200K by the time you added a few options. Can a Corvette, even a Z06 model, really hang with a car at that price point? Well, if by hang with, you mean quicker to 60 mph, quicker in the quarter mile, and quicker to stop from 70 mph, the answer is yes. The Corvette beats the Ferrari in all those categories. This was a watershed moment for Corvette. It could now be mentioned in the same breath as cars costing nearly three times as much.

Image: Chevrolet

5. C7 Corvette ZR1 versus Porsche 911 GT2 RS

If the C6 Z06 was a wakeup call for the rest of the sports car makers around the world, the C7 ZR1 was a punch in the face. Do you want some numbers? 755 horsepower. 212 mph top speed. A 7:05 Nürburgring lap time. It also set a lap record around the VIR Grand Course West course. The 991.2 generation 911 GT2 RS is essentially a racing car. Can the Corvette match it? In the Car and Driver Lightning Lap test the 911 is about 2 seconds quicker than the ZR1 around the VIR Grand Course. However, of the 327 cars that ever competed in the Lightning Lap event the C7 ZR1 is seventh fastest. It is quicker than cars like the McLaren 720S, Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, and the Ford GT. You can argue about seats, and interior materials as much as you want, but when it comes to flat out performance, the Corvette is nearly impossible to beat.

Image: Chevrolet

6. C8 Stingray versus Shelby GT500

The Corvette has proven time and time again over the years that it can deliver more power than cars costing far more money. But what if we flip the script on the Corvette? A 2020 Shelby GT500 and a 2020 C8 Stingray have roughly the same price, but the GT500 makes a lot more power. Thanks to a supercharged V8, the GT500 hits with 760 horsepower which makes the 495 horsepower in the Corvette seem meager. However, when it comes to on road performance the Stingray stomps the Shelby. The Corvette is nearly a full second quicker to 60 mph, and nearly a half second quicker in the quarter mile.

Sure, on longer road courses, the Shelby is able to reel in the Stingray. The GT500 is quicker around the VIR Grand Course. But that is a long, big horsepower track. On a smaller technical track, the GT500 would have a tough time keeping up. But regardless, the Corvette can battle even on the rare occasion when it is up against a more powerful competitor.

Image: Chevrolet

7. C8 Corvette Z06 versus Ferrari 458

When GM was developing the C8 Z06, they set their sights on the Ferrari 458. So much so that they bought a wrecked 458 to study and benchmark during development. Again, we are talking about cars with very different price points and in most cases, very different target customers. However, the Corvette is, and always has been about performance. And the C8 Z06 is a performance masterstroke. Around a racetrack, there are not many road cars that can even stay close to the C8 Z06. And the cars that can, cost a lot more money. Looking into the future we are hearing that the C8 ZR1 is benchmarking the Ferrari SF90 supercar. As the Corvette dominates, it just keeps raising its sights higher and higher. Forget prestige and dealership experience for a moment and focus just on performance. And you will find the Corvette has been besting all competitors for years.

Image: Chevrolet