Chevrolet has had its ups and downs over the years, but they are still known for some of the best high-speed cars on the market. The Corvette has been a mainstay for nearly seven decades, and each year brings some twists to make it stand out. Chevy also has many amazing models like the Camaro, that put beautiful frames over powerful engines and make some of the most stunning racing machines on the road.
Obviously, newer models can push the speed much better, thanks to modern engineering. Yet it’s impressive how some older cars can be terrific in their speed and capable of some speeds that boggle the mind. In one case, it’s incredible how it’s not even a regular sports car that can leave other vehicles in the dust.
There are many options, yet here are the ten fastest vehicles (measured by their 0-60 mph times) Chevrolet has produced as proof it’s not just international hypercars that can provide stunning speeds.
10 2013 Corvette 427: 3.8 Seconds
Chevrolet celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Corvette in style. The 7.0 liter LS7 V8 was in the 427-inch displacement of a Stingray with Magnetic Ride Control, sturdy Michelin Pilot Sport tires and the convertible style helped its performance on the road.
Given it was 3404 pounds, the 500 hp was impressive, and at 181 mph top speed, it was worth the high price tag for a great anniversary present.
9 2006 Corvette Z06: 3.8 seconds
A vehicle from 2006 still boasting better speed than most of today’s hypercars is amazingly impressive. Chevrolet made a bold move by deciding not to have the Z06 be a convertible but rather than marring it, that just made the vehicle better.
The then-new LS7 engine came along with suspension and powertrain upgrades to spark the Z06 to 505 hp with a zero-to-60 run in 3.8 seconds and a top speed just over 200 mph to still make it one of the best speedsters the company has ever developed.
8 Corvette Stingray Z51: 3.7 seconds
The Z6 and Z7s get the attention, yet this “basic” Stingray Z51 possesses a sprint time that puts most of those to shame. The 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine is a key reason, but the true aid is the sharp aerodynamic style that allows for lightweight but cutting-edge engineering to push the Stingray along.
With 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, it can hit 184 mph to make it more than worthy of the Stingray name and an affordable ride to boot.
7 2010 Corvette Grand Sport: 3.6 seconds
It was a surprise when Chevrolet revived the Grand Sport, last seen in 1996. But they managed to make an already excellent car even better with modern tech as the 6.2l V8 was capable of 430 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque with a sharp six-speed automatic transmission.
That it still boasts a tremendous zero-to-60 time a decade later proves the Grand Sport’s power and the fact it came in just under $60,000 made it one of the more affordable supercars on the market.
6 2017 Camaro ZL1: 3.5 seconds
Chevy seems to make a bet with itself that every version of the Camaro ZL1 has to be better than the last. The latest model proves that with the Corvette Z06 engine placed into a sleeker and lighter frame.
This provides 650 hp while the addition of either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission means this refined car can slide to 200 mph and prove how ZL1 gets better with age.
5 2013 Corvette ZR1: 3.3 seconds
Resurrecting the ZR1 in 2009 was a bold move for the manufacturer, but it paid off with a beautiful machine. This 2013 version adds to the already impressive 6.2 liter LS9 V8 engine with a supercharger and the Magnetic Ride Suspension aiding the performance.
This means 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque for a smooth ride pushing 205 mph. While those numbers have been topped since, this version of the ZR1 still stands out from the pack.
4 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R: 3.0 seconds
Meant as a serious endurance racer, the 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R was a great brainchild of Pratt & Miller. That bright yellow color helps it stand out as it can easily hit a track better than some NASCAR machines.
The 6.2l V8 gets a mighty 650 hp, and equal torque and sleek style help it capture the dynamics to be as close as one can get to hit the track at Le Mans.
3 2017 Corvette Z06: 2.9 seconds
Until the next entry came along, this was the quickest car not just from Chevrolet but General Motors period. Surprisingly lightweight with an excellent aerodynamic style, the 2017 Corvette Z06 rocketed with a 6.2l V8 producing 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.
That meant a swift and spiffy ride pushing over 200 mph. It was a car meant to be a serious racer, and yet somehow, the company managed to top it just two years later...
2 2019 Corvette ZR1: 2.85 seconds
It took a bit, but Chevrolet finally topped themselves in 2019 with an amazing Corvette. The stats speak for themselves: A front-lined LT5 engine for a whopping 755 hp, married to an Eaton supercharger.
This goes to 60 in just under three seconds for a top speed of 212 mph, the fastest top speed a Corvette has ever seen. It also possesses top-notch safety features and other great touches to make it a stunning achievement that it’s hard to see Chevrolet ever topping in the future.
1 2020 Corvette C8: 2.8 Seconds
Chevy has made some pretty fast cars in the last few decades, but none compare to what they're newest Corvette is capable of. Resting for the first time ever on a mid-engine layout, the C8 is closer to a supercar than a traditional American muscle car. And with all that engine weight in the back, its 495 horsepower are able to propel the C8 to 60 in just 2.8 seconds.
Sources: motortrend.com, autowise.com, caranddriver.com