The Corvette has been the perfect representation of the American automotive dream ever since it went into production in 1953. We have seen the iconic carmaker evolve from the “rolling bathtub” Corvettes in its early days to the highly sought-after performance sports cars that flood the market today. Notwithstanding the masterpieces Chevrolet has released over the decades, some have only managed to mar the reputation of the brand.

Related: Ranking The Best Corvettes Ever Made

But then, choosing the "best" and "worst" Corvette can be quite tricky because no matter how common or rare; how beautiful or how ugly, a Corvette always has something special about it. To make things simpler for you, we have put together a comprehensive list of the best and worst Corvettes, taking into consideration the performance, build quality, power, comfort, and safety restrictions.

Without further ado, here are five Corvettes we'd blow our savings on and five we'd reject even if we got them for free.

10 Blow Savings On: 2016 Chevy Corvette Stingray Z51

VIA One Stop Auto Mall

Chevrolet introduced the seventh-generation Corvette Stingray Z51 into the American market in 2014 giving sports car enthusiasts the luxury of opting for either a convertible or coupe model. The interior and exterior features such as aerodynamic add-ons, and wider fenders, make the 2016 Stingray Z51 so much advanced than the previous Corvette generation.

2016 Chevy Corvette Stingray Z51 2
Via Tampa Bay Times

Besides the exquisite design, you would notice that Chevrolet engineers spent a great deal of time on the hood of the Stingray Z51, as it comes with a 6.2-liter V8 engine that is capable of producing about 460 hp.

9 Wouldn't Take For Free: 1979 Corvette L48

1979 Corvette L48 1
Via Fleming's Ultimate Garage

The 1979 Corvette L48 is perhaps one of the worst Corvettes ever made, as it failed to meet emission standards, which is quite terrible for a performance car. In fact, the Corvette L48 produces just about 195 hp, when similar horsepower offerings in that era were close to 400.

1979 Corvette L48 2
Via Fleming's Ultimate Garage

The Corvette L48 was a poorly executed product due to General Motors' drive to perfect the next-generation model. Although the Corvette L48 was not eye-catching in the least, it managed to sell over 53,807 units. So, while it's one of the highest-selling Corvette, it's still one of the worst ever made.

8 Blow Savings On: 1963 Corvette Stingray Split Window

345-Horsepower 1963 Split Window Chevy Corvette Z06 Tanker
Via: Mecum

Easily one of the most iconic sports cars not just from America but globally, the 1963 Split Window continues to impress with its gorgeous design even today. Not only does it look great, but it marked a massive step up from the first-gen 'Vette that came with a paltry 150-hp six-cylinder power plant.

345-Horsepower 1963 Split Window Corvette Z06 Tanker
Via: Mecum

Designed under the leadership of Zora-Arkus Duntov who was determined to elevate the model to new heights ever since he saw the first model roll-out, the 1963 Sting Ray came with fuel injection and offered a small-block Chevy V8 producing 300 horsepower 350 lb-ft of torque. Today, 1963 Corvettes can fetch up to seven figures, with average-condition models selling for around $70,000.

Related: These Are The 6 Worst Corvettes Money Can Buy (And 6 That Are Beyond Awesome)

7 Wouldn't Take For Free: 1980 California 305 Corvette

1980 California 305 Corvette 1
Via Classicardb.com

1980 was a rough year, not just for Chevrolet, but for the world in general, no thanks to inflation that hit the American economy. With the California 305 Corvette, Chevrolet was unable to meet the federal emission standards of the day.

1980 California 305 Corvette 2
Via Pinterest

Instead of the stipulated 350-cubic-inch V8, the California 305 Corvette had a 305-cubic-inch V8 that produced a horsepower of 180, which is sub-par.

6 Blow Savings On: 2019 Corvette ZR1

Via mecum.com

In 2019, Motor Authority ranked the Corvette ZR1 as the #1 Car To Buy, edging out the BMW M5. The all-American supercar sports a 6.2-liter V8 engine that offers a mind-blowing 755 hp and a torque of 715 lb-ft. With this power supply, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 can sprint from 0-100 mph in less than 6 seconds, making it a cool choice for those looking to release some adrenaline.

2019-Chevrolet-Corvette-ZR1
via mecum

You cannot talk about the Corvette ZR1 without mentioning the adjustable wing that helps to limit drag and thus increase speed to a maximum of 212 mph.

5 Wouldn't Take For Free: 1982 Corvette Collector Edition

1982 Corvette Collector Edition 1
Via Fleming's Ultimate Garage

Over time, Chevrolet has kept to its tradition of releasing a "Collector" version when it's about to phase out a particular Corvette production line. This tradition started in 1982 when Chevrolet released 6,759 units of the "semi-limited" Corvette Collector Edition of the Z06.

1982 Corvette Collector Edition 2
Via Mecum Auctions

Although the engine of the Collector Edition generates around 200 hp, it's a far cry from the power produced by earlier Corvette models. The ride harshness and glitch of the rear suspension are some reasons Chevrolet should have never made the Collector Edition.

Related5 Chevy Cars We'd Buy Right Now (4 To Avoid At All Costs)

4 Blow Savings On: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8

Red 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8
Via: Chevrolet

With the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8, General Motors has proven that when it comes to performance vehicles, no one does it better. If you have a thing for open-air cruising, you would be ready to blow over $59,995 on the coupe or convertible version of the Corvette C8. The coupe model comes with a power-folding hardtop design, which is the first-ever made for a Corvette, that can fold away in about 15 seconds.

The rear of a blue C8 Corvette
Chevrolet

The Corvette C8 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, thanks to its 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 490 hp and a torque of 465 lb-ft.

3 Wouldn't Take For Free: 1984 Corvette C4

1984 Corvette C4 1
Via CorvSport.com

The 1984 Corvette C4 is one of those cars you would ask yourself, “what were the manufacturers thinking when they made such a car?” The Corvette C4 was built with a Cross-Fire injection engine that was capable of producing only 205 hp. With this poor power quality, it didn't come as a surprise that the '84 Corvette C4 could only go from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds, which is pretty slow.

1984 Corvette C4 2

According to one '84 Corvette C4 owner who posted on the Corvette Forum, he replaced all parts of the C4 just three years after purchase. He experienced trouble with the tires, brakes, rear gears, and battery. With a plethora of similar complaints, it's safe to say that the 1984 Corvette C4 is not worth the trouble.

2 Blow Savings On: 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2
Via Chevrolet

Released on October 26, 2021, the 2023 Corvette Z06 is one of the best sports cars currently on the market when you consider the responsiveness, tractability, and power of the car.

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 1
Via Chevrolet

Chevrolet engineers understood that the assignment was to make a responsive, track-focused supercar, but they surpassed our expectations by installing a 5.5-liter dual-overhead-cam engine—the same engine version powering the 2019 C8.R Corvette Racer.

Related: Jay Leno Thinks This Modern Corvette Is The ‘First Really Great’ One

1 Wouldn't Take For Free: 1987 Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette

1987 Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette 1
Via Bring a Trailer

While we must commend Callaway and Chevrolet for attempting to create a twin-turbocharged Corvette about three decades ago, we must also admit that the car is a bit too fragile. Even with the Regular Production Option (RPO) code B2K, just around 500 units of the Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette were sold.

Corvette Sledgehammer - Rear Quarter
Via Mecum Auctions

When Car and Driver took the Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette for a road test, it was reported that the car melted down, with about seven spark plugs burnt. While a case could be made that the turbocharging issue was a one-off occurrence, the 28-degree air on that day would have been enough to prevent the mishap, since turbocharged engines are known to perform better in lower outside-air temperatures.