C1-C8: The Quickest Corvettes of Each Generation!

Intro

The Corvette is all about performance. And while straight line acceleration is only one measure of performance, it is an important one. So, we took a look back at all the Corvette generations to find the quickest in the quarter mile for each.

For the purpose of this list, we focused on factory builds only, nothing modified. And even though the B2K option could be selected back in the day for a Callaway Corvette, they were not fully built by GM, so they are not included here either. Also, we did our best to get our times from a consistent source. But that becomes a challenge for the older cars. And even with the newer cars the times can change based on the track, the driver, and many other variables. So, for the quarter mile times we list we went with the most consistently reported time or an average if there were large variances.

Image: Chevrolet

C1 – 1962 Fuel Injected 327 (14.2 Seconds)

With the C1 generation the Corvette was just starting to hit its performance stride as the generation came to a close. The quickest C1 in the quarter mile was the 1962 model when fitted with the fuel injected 327 making 360 horsepower. This was more than double the power the Corvette had just a few years earlier. The Corvette was starting to get quick. If you are looking for one, perhaps this example that failed to sell at a Bring a Trailer auction is still up for grabs somewhere.

Image: Bring a Trailer

C2 – 1967 L88 (11.3 Seconds)

We used a picture of the engine here, because that is what this car is all about. The L88 was essentially a race engine with a woefully underrated horsepower rating. GM quoted 430 horsepower but in made probably a good 100 horsepower more than that. Only 20 of these machines were ever built, and buying one today will cost you well into the seven figure territory. But if you want the quickest C2 Corvette in the quarter mile, this is the car you need.  

Image: Chevrolet

C3 – 1969 ZL1 (11.5 Seconds)

If you thought the 1967 L88 was rare and valuable, then hold onto your shirt as the 1969 ZL1 is even rarer and more expensive. Only two of these cars exist. The ZL1 came with an all-aluminum 427 dry sump V8. It weighed 100 pounds less than the L88 but the ZL1 big-block made darn near 600 horsepower. It is an incredible machine and the quickest C3 in the quarter mile. One recently sold at an RM Sotheby’s auction for over $3.1 million.

Image: RM Sotheby’s

C4 – 1993 – 1995 ZR-1 (13.1 Seconds)

The ZL1 began the trend of the Corvette ‘Z’ cars dominating this list. That continues with the 1993 to 1995 ZR-1. These cars got a power boost from the earlier C4 ZR-1 cars and now have 405 horsepower. It made them the quickest in the quarter mile. This 1995 ZR-1 was recently sold on Cars and Bids. But if you can’t find a ZR-1, if you can land a 1996 LT4 Corvette you will get nearly identical performance.

Image: Cars and Bids

C5 – 2002 – 2004 Z06 (12.5 Seconds)

These cars seem to make every Corvette performance list we come up with. The 2002 Z06 has 20 horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque bump from the 2001 model. This car can hit 60 mph in about 4 seconds flat and will run a mid-twelve second range quarter mile. And unlike the C2 and C3 cars on this list, this one you can grab for reasonable money.

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C6 – 2009 – 2013 ZR1 (11.3 Seconds)

With this car some of the numbers are starting to get serious. The headline number though is 638 horsepower from a supercharged V8. Next up in the ‘wow look at this’ department is the claimed 205 mph top speed. 60 mph can be reached in about 3.5 seconds and the quarter flashes by in just 11.3 seconds.

Image: Chevrolet

C7 – 2019 ZR1 (10.8 Seconds)

GM builds a ten second car. The outrageous 2019 Corvette ZR1 will do the quarter in 10.8 seconds if you choose the automatic transmission. The manual transmission is more fun bit also a few ticks slower. Either way, with 755 horsepower on tap, you will have the most powerful Corvette ever made.

Image: Chevrolet

C8 – 2023+ Corvette Z06 (10.6 Seconds)

This one was tough because the new Corvette E-Ray is quicker to 60 mph and has nearly the same quarter mile time as the Z06. But we gave the Z06 the edge here because it has a higher trap speed. The Z06 will cross the line at 131 mph compared to 128 mph for the E-Ray. The Z06 will then begin to extend its lead, so we give it the win here. For now, it is the quickest C8 Corvette you can buy. But what kind of numbers will we see from the C8 ZR1? Stay tuned.

Image: Chevrolet