C6 Corvette (2005–2013): Specs, Price, Problems & Best Years

Name: C6 Corvette original MSRP and production by model year
Creator: CarWhere Research
License: https://www.carwhere.com/terms

By CarWhere Research · Updated November 5, 2026

The C6 Corvette was sold for the 2005–2013 model years as a coupe and convertible. The base 6.0L LS2 made 400 hp until the 6.2L LS3 (430 hp, or 436 with the optional exhaust) took over for 2008. The Z06 used a 505-hp 7.0L LS7, and the 2009–2013 ZR1 a supercharged 638-hp LS9.[1][5][8][12]

Model years: 2005–2013[1][16]
Engines: 6.0L LS2 V8 (2005–2007); 6.2L LS3 V8 (2008–2013); 7.0L LS7 V8 (Z06, 427 Convertible); supercharged 6.2L LS9 V8 (ZR1)[1][8][12]
Horsepower range: 400 hp (2005–2007 LS2) to 638 hp (ZR1)[1][12]
Original MSRP (2005): $43,710 coupe / $51,445 convertible, plus $800 destination[2]
Production: 215,223 cars over nine model years (approximate; 2010–2013 from a secondary reference)[2][10][22]
Wheelbase: 105.7 in[1][16]

C6 Corvette trims, engines & horsepower

Manufacturer ratings. A dash means no source we could verify publishes the figure.

Model / variant	Years	Engine	Horsepower	Torque	Transmission
Coupe and convertible (LS2)	2005–2007	6.0L LS2 OHV V8	400 hp @ 6,000 rpm[1][3][5]	400 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm	6-speed manual; 4-speed automatic (2005), 6-speed paddle-shift automatic (2006–2007)
Coupe and convertible (LS3)	2008–2013	6.2L LS3 OHV V8	430 hp @ 5,900 rpm (436 hp with optional exhaust)[8][16]	424 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm (428 lb-ft with optional exhaust)	6-speed manual or 6-speed paddle-shift automatic
Grand Sport (LS3)Coupe or convertible. GM's 2013 specs list dry-sump oiling for the Grand Sport coupe with the manual.	2010–2013	6.2L LS3 OHV V8	430 hp (436 hp with optional exhaust)[13][14][16]	424 lb-ft (428 lb-ft with optional exhaust)	6-speed manual or 6-speed paddle-shift automatic
Z06 (LS7)GM's early 2006 specs listed 500 hp and 475 lb-ft; later GM specs give the SAE-certified 505 hp and 470 lb-ft. Fixed-roof coupe, 3,130 lb in the 2006 specs.	2006–2013	7.0L (427 cu in) LS7 OHV V8, dry sump	505 hp @ 6,300 rpm[3][8]	470 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm	6-speed manual only
ZR1 (LS9)Curb weight 3,333 lb in the 2010 specs.	2009–2013	6.2L LS9 supercharged OHV V8	638 hp @ 6,500 rpm[9][12]	604 lb-ft @ 3,800 rpm	Tremec TR6060 close-ratio 6-speed manual
427 Convertible Collector EditionConvertible with the Z06 engine; Chevrolet quotes a 3,355-lb curb weight.	2013	7.0L LS7 OHV V8	505 hp[17]	470 lb-ft	6-speed manual only

C6 Corvette original MSRP by year

Base price when new, as published by the manufacturer — not today's value.

Model year	Model / body	Original MSRP	Destination	Note
2005	Coupe (1YY07)	$43,710[2]	$800	Plus $800 destination.
2005	Convertible (1YY67)	$51,445[2]	$800	Plus $800 destination.
2011	Coupe	$48,950[14]	—	The source does not say whether destination is included.
2011	Convertible	$53,600[14]	—	The source does not say whether destination is included.
2011	Grand Sport coupe	$54,790[14]	—	The source does not say whether destination is included.
2011	Grand Sport convertible	$58,600[14]	—	The source does not say whether destination is included.
2011	Z06	$74,305[14]	—	The source does not say whether destination is included.
2011	ZR1	$109,800[14]	—	The source does not say whether destination is included.
2012	Coupe	$49,525[15]	$975	Plus $975 destination.
2012	Convertible	$54,525[15]	$975	Plus $975 destination.
2012	Grand Sport coupe	$55,925[15]	$975	Plus $975 destination.
2012	Grand Sport convertible	$59,525[15]	$975	Plus $975 destination.
2012	Z06	$75,525[15]	$975	Plus $975 destination.
2012	ZR1	$111,525[15]	$975	Plus $975 destination.

2005 prices come from the Bowling Green plant’s option and production sheet; 2011 and 2012 prices come from GM pricing sheets reprinted by the Corvette Action Center. Prices for 2006–2010 and 2013 were not in any GM document we could open, so they are not shown. Options, taxes and dealer fees were extra.

C6 Corvette production by year

Model year	Units built	Note
2005	37,372[2]	26,728 coupes and 10,644 convertibles.
2006	34,021[4]
2007	40,561[6]
2008	35,310[7]	Excludes the 500 Hertz ZHZ cars, which the plant did not count.
2009	16,956[10]	Includes 1,415 ZR1s.
2010	12,194[22]
2011	13,696[22]
2012	11,647[22]
2013	13,466[22]
Total (years listed)	215,223

2005–2009 totals are Bowling Green Assembly figures; 2010–2013 come from a secondary reference. Together they add up to 215,223 cars.

What changed year by year

The C6 kept the same basic layout for nine years. The big changes were the engine swap for 2008 and the steady addition of faster models: Z06, ZR1, Grand Sport and the 2013 427 Convertible.

Model year	Key change
2005	All-new C6 coupe and convertible with the 400-hp 6.0L LS2; 105.7-in wheelbase; 4-speed automatic or 6-speed manual
2006	Z06 arrives with the 7.0L LS7; 6-speed paddle-shift automatic replaces the 4-speed
2008	6.2L LS3 replaces the LS2: 430 hp, or 436 hp with the optional exhaust; 500 Hertz ZHZ cars built
2009	ZR1 added with the 638-hp supercharged LS9; Z06 dry-sump capacity raised to 10.5 quarts
2010	Grand Sport coupe and convertible added
2013	Final C6 year: 60th Anniversary package and the 505-hp 427 Convertible Collector Edition

Sources: [1][3][7][9][13][17]

Specs by model (GM figures)

These are GM’s published figures for each engine. Curb weights are for the coupe in the year shown.

Spec	2005 coupe (LS2)	2010 coupe (LS3)	Z06 (LS7)	ZR1 (LS9)
Displacement	6.0L / 364 cu in	6.2L / 376 cu in	7.0L / 427 cu in	6.2L supercharged
Horsepower	400	430 (436 opt. exhaust)	505	638
Torque (lb-ft)	400	424 (428 opt. exhaust)	470	604
Curb weight (lb)	3,214 (est.)	3,208	3,130 (2006)	3,333 (2010)
Wheelbase (in)	105.7	105.7	105.7	105.7

Sources: [1][3][8][11][12]

Fuel economy

These are fueleconomy.gov ratings (city / highway / combined mpg), restated by the EPA under its current test method, so they can differ from the original window-sticker figures. The Grand Sport is not listed separately; it shares the base car’s LS3 ratings.

Model year	Automatic	Manual	Z06 (manual)	ZR1 (manual)
2005	16 / 24 / 19 (4-spd)	16 / 26 / 19	—	—
2006	15 / 25 / 19	16 / 26 / 19	15 / 24 / 18	—
2007	15 / 25 / 19	16 / 26 / 19	14 / 24 / 18	—
2008	15 / 25 / 18	16 / 26 / 19	15 / 24 / 18	—
2009	15 / 25 / 18	16 / 26 / 19	15 / 24 / 18	14 / 20 / 16
2010	15 / 25 / 18	16 / 26 / 19	15 / 24 / 18	14 / 20 / 16
2011	15 / 24 / 18	16 / 25 / 19	15 / 24 / 18	14 / 20 / 16
2012	15 / 24 / 18	16 / 25 / 19	15 / 24 / 18	14 / 21 / 17
2013	15 / 24 / 18	16 / 25 / 19	15 / 24 / 18	14 / 21 / 17

Sources: [20]

Which C6 to buy

Coupe or convertible, 2005–2007: the cheapest way into a C6, with the 400-hp LS2. These are the years covered by the roof-panel and low-beam headlamp recalls, so check the recall history.

Coupe or convertible, 2008–2013: the 6.2L LS3 adds 30 hp (36 with the optional exhaust). It is the better daily C6.

Grand Sport, 2010–2013: LS3 power with the Grand Sport package, sold as a coupe or convertible. The Grand Sport coupe listed $5,840 above the base coupe in 2011 and $6,400 above it in 2012.

Z06 and ZR1: the Z06’s 505-hp 7.0L LS7 and the ZR1’s 638-hp supercharged LS9 are manual-only. In 2012 the ZR1 listed at $111,525, about $36,000 more than the Z06.[1][8][12][14][15][21]

C6 vs C7: the key differences

If you are deciding between a late C6 and an early C7, these are the published differences between a 2012–2013 base car and the 2014 Stingray.

	C6 (2012–2013)	C7 Stingray (2014)
Base engine	6.2L LS3 V8, 430 hp	6.2L LT1 V8, 455 hp
Base torque (lb-ft)	424	460
Manual transmission	6-speed	7-speed with Active Rev Match
Wheelbase (in)	105.7	106.7
Base coupe price	$49,525 + $975 destination (2012)	$51,995 including $995 destination

Sources: [15][16][18][19]

C6 Corvette problems & recalls

Roof panel adhesive separation (2005–2007)

Two NHTSA campaigns cover the roof. 06V181000 covers 2005–2006 cars with painted roofs, where the adhesive between the roof panel and its frame may separate; dealers added adhesive foam or replaced the roof. 09V491000 covers 2005–2007 cars with a removable roof and 2006–2007 Z06s; warning signs include snapping over bumps, wind noise, poor roof fit or a headliner leak, and the fix was a new-design roof panel.[21]

Loss of low-beam headlamps (2005–2007 (recall); 2008–2013 (customer satisfaction program))

NHTSA campaign 14V251000 (GM 13146): the underhood bussed electrical center housing can expand and bend the low-beam relay wire until it breaks. Dealers install a jumper wire. GM covers 2008–2013 C6s for the same issue under customer satisfaction program 14203.[21]

'Service Active Handling' message and brake application (2005–2006)

NHTSA campaign 10V172000 covers cars built March 2004 to January 2006 with the tilt-and-telescoping column (RPO N37). Repeated column movement can interrupt a signal, triggering a 'Service Active Handling System' message, and one or more brakes may apply so the car pulls to one side.[21]

NHTSA safety recall campaigns (from the NHTSA recalls dataset)
Campaign	Date	Model years	Component	Summary
06V181000	2006-05-24	2005–2006	Structure: roof panel	GM 06041. On 2005–2006 Corvettes with painted roofs, the adhesive between roof panel and frame may separate. Dealers inspect and add adhesive foam or replace the roof. (30,793 vehicles potentially affected)[21]
09V491000	2009-12-23	2005–2007	Structure: roof panel	GM 090230. Removable roof panels (2005–2007) and 2006–2007 Z06 roofs may separate from the frame. Dealers install a new-design roof panel. (22,090 vehicles potentially affected)[21]
10V172000	2010-04-26	2005–2006	Steering: column signal (RPO N37)	Repeated tilt/telescope column movement can interrupt a signal, setting 'Service Active Handling System' and possibly applying brakes. Dealers repair the vehicles. (40,028 vehicles potentially affected)[21]
11V491000	2011-10-03	2011–2012	Structure: rear hatch hinges (FMVSS 206)	Coupes built Jan. 24 to Sept. 1, 2011 may have rear hatch hinges that do not meet the FMVSS 206 load requirements. Dealers replace both hinges. (5,755 vehicles potentially affected)[21]
14V251000	2014-05-14	2005–2007	Electrical: low-beam headlamp circuit	GM 13146. The underhood electrical center housing can expand and break the low-beam relay control wire. Dealers install a jumper wire; 2008–2013 cars are covered by customer satisfaction program 14203. (103,158 vehicles potentially affected)[21]

Recalls are from the NHTSA recalls dataset, matched on campaigns whose defect summary names the Corvette and a 2005–2013 model year. The dataset has no model column, so a campaign that covers C6s without naming the Corvette in its summary would not appear here.

Check any specific car for open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Best and worst C6 Corvette years

Each call is tied to a documented fact — a mechanical change, a recall or a published rating — not opinion.

2008–2013 coupe and convertibleBest bet

The 6.2L LS3 makes 430 hp (436 with the optional exhaust) against 400 hp for the LS2, and these years fall outside the roof-panel recalls.[1][8][21]

2010–2013 Grand SportBest bet

LS3 power with the Grand Sport package as a coupe or convertible. The manual coupe gets dry-sump oiling per GM’s 2013 specs.[14][16]

2009–2013 ZR1Best bet

The fastest C6: a 638-hp supercharged LS9 with a close-ratio 6-speed manual. Only 1,415 were built for 2009.[10][12]

2005Check carefully

First model year, with the 4-speed automatic. It is covered by four campaigns: both roof-panel recalls, the N37 column recall and the low-beam headlamp recall.[1][21]

2006–2007Check carefully

Removable-roof cars and Z06s fall under roof campaign 09V491000, and all 2005–2007 cars under headlamp campaign 14V251000. Confirm both were done.[21]

Model-year complaint data across every Corvette: Corvette years to avoid.

What to check before buying a used C6 Corvette

Run the VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the roof (06V181000, 09V491000), headlamp (14V251000) and, on 2005–2006 cars, column (10V172000) campaigns are complete.
On a 2008–2013 car, ask a Chevrolet dealer whether customer satisfaction program 14203 (low-beam headlamp wire) was done.
Check the roof panel for snapping over bumps, wind noise, poor fit or headliner water stains, the symptoms NHTSA lists for roof separation.
Watch the Driver Information Center for a 'Service Active Handling System' message, especially after adjusting the steering column.
Confirm the model from the VIN and RPO codes: Z06 and ZR1 are manual-only, and Grand Sport was sold only for 2010–2013.
On a Z06 or ZR1, ask for engine and clutch service records; both are high-output manual cars.

C6 Corvette prices today

Prices on used Corvettes vary widely with mileage, options and condition, so we don't publish a single value. Compare current listings below.

Corvette prices & listingsCurrent market prices and listings by model year.Search Corvettes for saleLive inventory search across dealers.Free Corvette window sticker checkEnter a VIN to check for the original factory window sticker — options and MSRP as built.

More Corvette research

← C5 Corvette (1997–2004)C7 Corvette (2014–2019) →

Frequently asked questions

What years are C6 Corvettes?

The C6 covers the 2005 through 2013 model years. It was sold as a coupe and convertible, with the Z06 added for 2006, the ZR1 for 2009 and the Grand Sport for 2010.

What is the best C6 Corvette year?

For most buyers, a 2008–2013 car. The 6.2L LS3 makes 430 hp, or 436 hp with the optional exhaust, against 400 hp for the 2005–2007 LS2, and those years are outside the C6 roof-panel recalls.

Are there C6 Corvette years to avoid?

No year is a clear avoid, but 2005–2007 cars have the most recall work to check: roof-panel campaigns 06V181000 and 09V491000 and low-beam headlamp campaign 14V251000. The 2005–2006 cars also have column recall 10V172000.

How much did a C6 Corvette cost new?

In 2005 the coupe listed at $43,710 and the convertible at $51,445, plus $800 destination. By 2012 the coupe was $49,525 and the ZR1 $111,525, plus $975 destination.

How much horsepower does a C6 have?

400 hp for the 2005–2007 LS2 and 430 hp for the 2008–2013 LS3 (436 hp with the optional exhaust). The Z06’s 7.0L LS7 makes 505 hp and the ZR1’s supercharged LS9 makes 638 hp.

C6 vs C7 Corvette: what’s the difference?

The 2014 C7 Stingray brought a 455-hp 6.2L LT1, a 7-speed manual and a 106.7-in wheelbase, against 430 hp, a 6-speed and 105.7 in for the late C6. The 2014 coupe started at $51,995 including destination.

Sources

Every figure on this page is footnoted to one of these sources. Secondary references are used only to corroborate manufacturer and government figures.

2005 Corvette specifications (Chevrolet release, Jan. 1, 2004) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2005 Corvette options, prices and production (Bowling Green Assembly) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2006 Corvette and Z06 specifications (GM Media) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2006 Corvette production numbers (Bowling Green Assembly) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2007 Corvette specifications — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2007 Corvette production numbers (Bowling Green Assembly) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2008 Corvette production numbers (Bowling Green Assembly) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2009 Corvette and Z06 specifications — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2009 Corvette press release — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2009 Corvette production numbers (Bowling Green Assembly) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2010 Corvette coupe, convertible and Z06 specifications — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2010 Corvette ZR1 specifications — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2010 Corvette production numbers (GM Bowling Green Assembly) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2011 Corvette pricing (General Motors) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2012 Corvette pricing (as of July 7, 2011) — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
2013 Corvette and Grand Sport specifications — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
Chevrolet release: 2013 60th Anniversary and 427 Convertible Collector Edition — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
Chevrolet release: 2014 Corvette Stingray starts at $51,995 — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
Chevrolet release: 2014 Corvette Stingray cranks out 460 horsepower — Corvette Action Center (reprint of GM / Chevrolet data)
Chevrolet Corvette fuel economy, 2005–2013 (web services vehicle records) — U.S. DOE / EPA (fueleconomy.gov)
Recalls Data (dataset 6axg-epim) — NHTSA via U.S. DOT data.transportation.gov
Chevrolet Corvette (C6) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by General Motors. Chevrolet, Corvette, Stingray, Z06, ZR1, ZR1X, E-Ray and Grand Sport are trademarks of General Motors.