‘04 Commemorative Edition Z06 - The “Best” C5 Corvette?

Despite Corvette’s early spotty racing history,last C3 and C4 Corvettes offered special editions. So
their presence was never missed at race tracks, asplanners tapped into the success of the C5-R racers
they are typically loud and always a contender. Wereand offered the Commemorative Edition option
it not for Corvette’s rich racing heritage, the caravailable on all three Corvette models; the coupe,
never would have become GM's halo car.  Unlike theconvertible, and the Z06.
50's when GM said, “We don’t raceAll ‘04 Commemorative Edition Corvettes had
cars”, the ‘80's and ‘90's saw manyspecial Le Mans Blue paint with bold white strips that
drag racing and NASCAR factory racing efforts fromran over the hood dome, top, and the top of the
Oldsmobile and Chevrolet. By the time the C5 camerear deck, with thin red strips on the outside of both
along, GM was DEFINITELY racing.white stripes. Included were special badges,
Race car builders Pratt & Miller were hired toembroidery on the headrests, and polished Z06
help design, develop, and build the C5-R. By ‘99,wheels with special center caps. Since carbon fiber is
the first all-out, factory-supported Corvette racinga common material used on race cars, the
team hit the track. The first year was rough with 2Commemorative Edition was the first production
finishes in 5 races. In 2000 the team collected 2 winsCorvette to use a carbon fiber hood. You can see
in 8 races. Then in ‘01 the team took 8 wins inthe carbon fiber weave between the white and red
10 races, including the ultimate prize of winning Lestripes. Coupe and convertible editions had a
Mans for the first time. For 2002 the C5-R team wontwo-tone shale interior, while the Z06 had an all-black
10 of 11 races, including Le Mans. In 2003 the teaminterior. To sweeten the deal, every performance
changed its colors from the familiar bright yellow paintand luxury option was included. The coupe and
to dark blue with white and red hood and top stripes.convertible option cost $3,700, while the Z06 version
Competition was especially fierce in ‘03 and thecost $4,335. A total of 6,899 units were built,
team “only” won 5 out of 10 races andaccounting for 20-percent of all ‘04 Vette sales.
came in second at Le Mans.The Z06 version was the most expensive Corvette
Back in the world of production Corvettes, work wasin ‘04, costing approximately $13,500 over the
well under way on the C6 Corvette. The C5 hadbase Corvette, for a total of just under $58,000.
been so well designed that by ‘99 CorvetteSo, to get back to our original question; is the
engineers had done nearly everything they wanted‘04 Commemorative Edition Z06 “the
to do with the C5. It didn’t take much convincingbest” of the C5 Corvettes? Not to diminish other
for Chief Corvette Engineer Dave Hill to champion anC5s, but this package had trim, paint, and the unique
all-new Corvette with a projected launch date tocarbon fiber hood, all of which were ONLY available in
coincide with the 2003 50th anniversary. 2001 was‘04 with this option package. So, if I have to
not a good year for GM and the economy, so thepick a Corvette that represents the pinnacle of
proposed C6 was put on hold. When the C6 wasproduction, performance Corvettes, I’d vote for
finally given a green light, the projected introductionthe ‘04 Commemorative Edition Z06.
was as an ‘05 model.I’m sure that if Zora Arkus-Duntov was still
The introduction of a new Corvette presented arunning the Corvette show, he would have wanted
challenge to Corvette planners; how do you generate“more” for the Commemorative Edition - at
interest in the last year of a car’s productionleast front and rear spoilers, a domed hood, driving
when customers know that a new car is cominglights... ah, now I’m getting carried away.
soon? Answer; make a “special edition.” The