A sight to behold, the Chevrolet C8 Corvette debuted with the 2020 model as the first-ever production ‘Vette featuring a rear-mid-engine design. The introductory year for the C8 produced 20,368 Corvettes. For 2021, final stats came in at 26,216 built, putting roughly only 46K C8's in action around the world.
Already a rare sight driving through most cities, the C8 Corvette in itself is a standout; even so, owners still look for ways to differentiate theirs from others. One of the first quick and easy ways to "look different" comes straight from the factory - ordering a less common paint color and a few buyers went that route.
Of the 26,000 Corvettes built in 2021, the colors Rapid Blue, Accelerate Yellow and Zeus Bronze, each showed out in less than 1000 units and are already some of the rarest C8’s on the road.
Within this last year, C8 Corvette accessories became more readily available and aftermarket customizing took flight as another way to "make it your own." With bolt-on mods ready to ship and install, any color and package C8 could be a standout even among a parking lot full of other C8s.
Rear wing options, trim types, grille insert replacements, added LED’s, striping and badging, even full body kits are available to modify a C8's exterior. Options are many, with only budgets as a constraint. Here are 10 of the coolest exterior mods that we’ve seen so far and how much they cost.
10 Stainless Side Vent Trim (Boomerangs): $150
The boomerangs or side vent trim on a C8 Corvette is the most economical mod on our list. There are a few side trim options to vary the look of a 'Vette: body-matched, blackout, or carbon fiber. Also available, and a less common look, is the stainless version.
This four-piece set includes the laser-cut stainless steel trim pieces with a satin sheen and chrome molding finish. It is manufactured by American Car Craft.
9 Front Lip Splitter: $750
There are a few different front splitters available for the mid-engine C8 Corvette. Here, we specifically look at the 5VM Style Front Splitter from ACS Composite.
The 5VM is a one-piece design in Carbon Flash Black. Installing it requires no drilling, and the process is fully reversible. Aside from the overall appearance on the front of the ‘Vette, a splitter is a mod that can improve aerodynamics, so preferences can vary. ACS Composite helps buyers choose.
8 Smoked Rear Lights: $1,540
GScreations brought the first blackouts to market for the C8 Corvette rears, taillights and markers included. Their kit for smoked tails will give a buyer two new factory OEM C8 rears that have been painted in their "smoke paint blend."
The tails are finished in three layers of clear coat, before being polished. Installing it requires removing the rear bumper.
7 Winged Side Skirts: $1,800
C8 side skirts come in several options. These choices include winged or wingless versions. Shown below, is our pick from Atomic6Carbon. They can be purchased in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), for only $1,800.
These skirts can be color-matched for an additional $200 and this custom look that caught our attention was the color-matched pinstripe. It's truly unique attention to detail that gives the C8 a one-off look.
6 Carbon Fiber Side Skirts: $2,500
Another option for the C8 side skirt is carbon fiber. Racing Sport Concepts offers these carbon fiber skirts for $2,500. They are designed for flavor and function, enhancing the finish as well as improving airflow with reduced drag.
Installation is described as easy and requires no alterations to the C8. However, the side skirt install instructions call for a lift; so possibly a professional is required.
5 Widebody RR Hood $2,000
Boasted as the first aftermarket hood for the C8 in the world, this Widebody RR hood comes from Sigala Designs. The double ghost vents bring that custom aesthetic to the ‘Vette.
The most economical version is produced in fiberglass. A carbon fiber unit or a hybrid combination of the two can be had for respective price bumps. It can be body-matched to any factory color. It uses original hood hardware and is described as a 10 to 15-minute install.
4 GT2 Wing: $2,700
To add the American Le Mans GT2 race car vibe to a C8 ‘Vette, this LG GT2 Wing is available for under $3,000. The body mod not only customizes the Corvette’s appearance, but LG Motorsports reports it offers incredible downforce for the track, without a huge penalty in aero drag.
The carbon-fiber wing is designed to mount to the frame, not the body. It includes carbon-fiber endplates and aluminum mounts.
3 Lambo Doors: $2,900
Touted as the only manufacturer of a vertical Lambo door conversion in the USA, Vertical Doors, Inc. brings us this super cool standout body mod for the C8 Corvette. Their Lambo-Style Vertical Door Hinge Conversion Kit is a bolt-on made specific to the vehicle for easy installation and no welding.
The kit includes bolt-on hinge mounts with factory bolt pattern specs and pairs of gas shocks and door hinges. It is fully reversible.
2 Vinyl Body Wrap
Exterior color is often one of the most appearance-changing modifications that can be made to a vehicle and taking the C8 out of its original factory color can give a truly exotic aesthetic. It is a move that can also turn disastrous if taken too far into the gawdy range; but since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that is up to interpretation.
This C8 Corvette was done in Satin Blue Sea Purple. The cost of a wrap can swing wide from $3,000 to $10,000.
1 Carbon Fiber Wide-Track Package: $20,000+
If dropping another two racks doesn’t scare you away, then this Chevy C8 Corvette body mod is the ultimate. Brought to us exclusively from Anderson Composites, the special-order Carbon Fiber Wide-Track Package may cost roughly 20 percent of the purchase price of a C8, but it is definitely the panty-dropper on the list.
The all-carbon-fiber, multi-piece pack pushes the Vette’s profile another 1 ½-inches at each front fender and 1 ¾ at the rear. With inspiration from Chevrolet’s Corvette C8.R grand touring race car, the kit includes a front bumper with front splitter and canards, rear bumper with rear diffuser, fuel door, pairs of rocker panels with splitters vented front fenders, and rear quarter panels. The hood, roof panel, hatch doors, wind, and other trim parts are sold separately.