Corvette History 1997-2004 Corvettes (C5)1997 Chevrolet Corvette
1997 Chevrolet Corvette
Contributed by Mike Antonick, Editor "Corvette Black Book"
The 1997 model was legitimately "all new" with almost no carryover components. Body, interior, suspension, and engine were new. An aluminum-block, 345-hp V8 (LS1) drove a rear transaxle with either a GM 4-speed automatic or Borg-Warner 6-speed manual transmission mated to a Getrag limited-slip differential.
Available in its first year only as a coupe with removable (targa) roof panel, the 1997 had 17" wheels in front and 18" in the rear. The instrument design was reminiscent of 1963 Corvettes with large, round analog speedometer and tachometer flanked by secondary instruments. Wheelbase increased over eight inches and most other dimensions increased slightly, but weight dropped by about eighty pounds.
Although demand was very strong, the various issues associated with a completely revised vehicle design caused production to start late and to ramp up slowly, yielding total sales of just 9,752. Torch Red was the best-selling exterior with production of 3,026. Fairway Green was the rarest with just 155 built.
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