1953 was a very important year for the American car industry. That year, at the General Motors Motorama, which they held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, they showed off a show car that was nearly production-ready, which they wanted to pitch against all the greatest established European sports cars. There was no plan to bring the show car into production, but the interest was so big, Chevrolet did just that, and they named it the Corvette.

Almost 70 years, plenty of special editions, and eight generations later, the Corvette still remains America's patriotic answer to the greatest European sports cars. Up until the current C8, all Corvettes had their engine in the front, and the most recent iteration of the front engine Corvette breed, the C7, should definitely be on your used performance car short list.

2014-2019 Chevrolet Corvette (C7)

9.00 / 10
Key Features
  • Naturally aspirated V8
  • Manual transmission
  • Most advanced front-engine Corvette
Specifications
  • Model: Corvette (C7)
  • Engine/Motor: 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8
  • Horsepower: 455-460 hp
  • Torque: 460-465 lb/ft
  • Drivetrain: RWD
  • Transmission: 7-speed manual / 6-speed automatic / 8-speed automatic
Pros
  • Fantastic to drive
  • Well-equipped
  • Gorgeous to look at
Cons
  • Not as pin sharp as some rivals
  • Interior quality isn't the best
  • Not the most practical

Overview Of The C7 Corvette

Chevrolet Corvette C7 Convertible Red Driving
Chevrolet

The C7 Chevy Corvette, as the name implies, is the seventh generation of the iconic American sports car. Chevy first introduced it in 2013, for the 2014 model year, and lots of exciting changes were afoot for the 'Vette. The C7 is the final generation to use a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, before the current C8 moved to a mid-engine layout. Incidentally, the mid-engine layout is something Corvette engineers wanted to do for decades and decades, trialing a variety of mid-engine prototypes throughout the 20th century. However, the C7 keeps things old school.

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The styling was right in the middle of evolutionary and revolutionary. The C7 has the same iconic shape, but it foregoes the C6's rounded design for a more squared off, sharp look. The front-end looks much more modern, but it still includes the iconic grille and vertical headlights with the signature L-shaped running lights. This is the only Corvette generation to get vertical taillights. The side still includes the iconic air vent on the front quarter panel, meanwhile the rear features the iconic quad taillights and centralized quad exhausts. Chevy modernized and redid all of these elements, meaning they perfectly fit with the Corvette's new design language, and it still looks modern even today. Chevy offered the C7 Corvette as either a coupe or convertible, along with a variety of trim levels and option packages. It competed with the likes of the Porsche 911, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, the Nissan 370Z, which every gearhead should drive, and the Mercedes AMG-GT, which is about to enter its second generation.

C7 Corvette Powertrain And Drivetrain

Chevrolet Corvette C7 Engine Cover
Chevrolet

The major changes on the C7 Corvette were under the hood. It broke tradition, because it didn't use the classic LS V8 like the previous two generations. Instead, Chevrolet used the C7 Corvette as a platform to debut the Generation V lineup of small block V8 engines. The unit under the hood of the C7 is the LT1, displacing 6.2-liters, and it puts out 455 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque in base form. With the optional Performance Exhaust, this output jumps by 5 for each figure to 460 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Those may not seem like super high numbers nowadays, but it could do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds with the manual transmission, which isn't too shabby.

RELATED: It's Official! Chevy Confirms EV And Electrified Corvette Models Coming Next YearAbout that manual transmission, the C7 Corvette used a seven-speed manual, much like the Porsche 911 from the same time period. Chevy also gave the C7 Corvette active rev matching tech, so you don't have to heel-and-toe on downshifts, but you can disable it if you prefer to do that yourself. The first model year also gave you the option of a six-speed automatic, but after that, Chevy brought along a much improved eight-speed automatic. Naturally, every C7 Corvette sent its power to the rear wheels, and with all the chassis tuning and improvements, the C7 was way more competent in the corners than its predecessors. This is especially true of the Z51 Performance Package-equipped cars, as they include Magnetic Ride Control, also found in a lot of other GM products, and Performance Traction Management.

C7 Corvette Comfort And Quality

Chevrolet Corvette C7 Interior
via Chevrolet

On the inside, the C7 Corvette made some massive strides to improve quality and fit and finish. The cockpit is still very much angled towards the driver, but this time, it no longer feels like you're sitting inside a Cobalt or Malibu. The C7 is noticeably more high-quality compared to the lower-end Chevy models. However, it's still not quite up to snuff compared to the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage. It's pretty easy to tell that this is a Chevy, and this is how they managed to give the Corvette a much lower price.

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Still, that's not to say the C7 lacked equipment. A partially digital gauge cluster, a large infotainment display, automatic climate control with heated and ventilated seats, cruise control, a heads-up display, SiriusXM satellite radio. The C7 also offers several selectable drive modes, as well as a variety of interior color and trim options, including some very premium looking light brown leather seats. The C7 Corvette seats only two passengers, and its cargo area boasts 15 cubic-feet of space. The convertible, unfortunately, drops to 10 cubic-feet. Chevy did offer a fitted luggage set, however.

C7 Corvette Prices

Chevrolet Corvette C7 Front Green
Chevrolet

Unfortunately, the C7 Corvette is a casualty of value rise on the used market. Nice examples of the C7 go for around $50,000, and depending on the mileage, trim level, model year and a variety of other factors, it can easily reach $70,000. That might sound like a lot for a Corvette, but look at it this way: the C8 is pretty much impossible to get right now, and even if you are able to secure a slot, you'll most likely pay over $100,000. In that regard, the C7 Corvette is definitely a much cheaper way to have a recent, and excellent example of the Corvette breed.