When the first Corvette left the assembly line in Flint, MI in June, 1953, Chevrolet engineers had high hopes for the sports car, but never dreamed it would become an American icon that would continue to excite Americans 54 years later. It was first marketed only to specially selected VIPs – John Wayne got Corvette No. 51.
In 1962, a Z06 version, named after its engine, debuted as a race car, driven by such racing legends as Dave MacDonald, Jerry Grant, Bob Bondurant and Mickey Thompson, and it went into production for the public in 1963, offering the L84 327-cubic-inch displacement engine with Rochester fuel injection. The engine set-up was rated at 360 horsepower and reached a pinnacle in 1971 with a 425-hp 427ci aluminum big-block plant.
After a long hiatus, Z06 option was reborn in 2001 with a 385-hp LS6 engine versus the standard 350-hp LS1 engine.
Another incarnation of the C6 (sixth-generation Corvette), the 2007 Z06 is more than just a powerful engine and upgraded trim. While the base C6 offers a 6.0-liter V-8 that stampedes out 400 horses, the Z06 sports an LS7 7.0-liter engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. This system thunders out 505 horses and is the most powerful stock Corvette ever built. My test Z06 probably delivered about 450 hp to the rear wheels, with 475 lbs.-ft. of torque. In addition to the powerplant, the Z06 differs from the C6 with a lightweight chassis, aerodynamic body panels, upgraded brakes and a spiffed-out interior.
Assembled in Corvette-historic Bowling Green, KY, home of the National Corvette Museum, the Z06 weighs in at a light 3132 lbs., some 145 lbs. lighter than the C-6. With power to spare, this jetcar turns legendary track times. Some official Corvette factory tests have this car going from zero to 60mph in 3.7 seconds in first gear, but those tests were made under the most advantageous conditions including atmospheric, weight and engine-tuning aspects. My test drives in this coupe, just as you would drive it off the lot, and with rev-limiters, still got me a ferocious 4.2-second run, with a quarter-mile accomplished in 12.3.
Push the start button, rev up the throaty and loud LS7 and you get racetrack thrust. Its acceleration is explosive, both off the line and at high-speed, reflecting a broad torque curve. In handling tests and on the autocross, with the Z06’s precise transmission, active handling and traction control, the coupe responded without hesitation, creating the most stable and alert ride of any vehicle I have tested this year.
EPA rated at 16mpg in city driving and 26mpg on the highway, my weeklong tests got me about 19.4 mpg.
Standard performance items include the LS7 7.0-liter engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission, dry sump oil system, active handling, traction control, 4-wheel independent suspension, power speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering, limited-slip differential, 10-spoke aluminum wheels covered by P275/35ZR18 Goodyear tires up front and P325/30ZR19s behind, tire pressure monitor, oil life monitoring system, aluminum frame structure to save weight, dual-mode 4-inch exhaust tips and oil, trans and axle coolers.
While the NHTSA has not rated the Z06 for crash tests and rollover, the low center of gravity and wide stance make for a very secure ride. At 174.6 inches long, 72.6 inches wide and 49.1 inches high on a 105.7-inch wheelbase, the Z06 is the poster car for athletic-looking vehicles. Machine Silver Metallic paint outside matched to a Titanium Gray interior, power heated outside mirrors, carbon fiber fenders and high-intensity discharge xenon headlamps show off the signature Corvette rear and angular front.
Built for safety as well as speed, the Z06 provides frontal airbags, side impact airbags (at option), 4-wheel disc antilock brake system, 6-piston front and 4-piston rear cross-drilled brakes and theft-deterrent alarm system.
The roomy and comfortable interior provides 37.9 inches of head room, 43.1 inches of leg room and 55.2 inches of shoulder room. The cockpit is decked out with auto dual-zone air conditioning, carpeted floor mats, driver information center, cruise control with resume, intermittent windshield wipers, leather seats, 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat, leather wrap steering wheel, power door locks and windows, electric rear window defroster, remote hatch and fuel door release and a really cool heads-up display projected in front of the driver.
With a base price of $69,175, my test ride was priced at $77,230 (about $5,000 higher than last year), with several options including the 2LZ Preferred Equipment Group ($3485) that consists of an AM/FM stereo, 6-disc CD changer and MP3 player linked to a Bose Premium 7-speaker sound system with XM Satellite radio. Also in the package are power telescopic steering wheel, heated seats, steering wheel radio controls with enhanced acoustics, luggage shade and parcel net, side impact airbags for driver and passenger, compass, driver mirror and auto dimming features. The Z06 chrome aluminum wheels cost $1995; the navigation system with two free map updates and additional radio/CD player upgrades is another $1750, and destination charge is $825.
The 2007 Corvette Z06 … it’s how Chevrolet defines “excitement.”
Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
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