Pricing: $41,540 (Coupe), $47,975 (Convertible), $50,150 (Z06)
Engine options: LS1, 346 C.I., 5.7 Litre V8 (Coupe/Convertible), LS6, 346 C.I., 5.7 Litre V8 (Z06)
Transmission: 4-speed automatic (standard), 6 speed manual (optional)
Top speed: 171mph (Z06), 175mph (coupe, convertible)
Units Produced: 35,627
Available Colors: Light Pewter, Quicksilver, Navy Blue, Speedway White, Black, Torch Red, Millenium Yellow, Magnetic Red, Bowling Green
Highlights of the year:
Back in 1963, codes such as L-88, ZR-1, M-22, and ZL-1 were created as internal designations for Corvette options, but they have since taken on deep and emotional meaning for the Corvette faithful.
For 2001, Chevrolet rejuvenated a code from this hallowed list with the new model you see on these pages. Called the Z06, it represents a variant of the C5 Corvette enhanced with a comprehensive package of go-fast upgrades designed to make it the highest-performance production Corvette ever built at that time.
The Z06 name was chosen to honor Zora Arkus-Duntov and the original “race-ready” Z06 package that he was instrumental in developing for the 1963 Corvette. Further paying homage to Duntov, Chevrolet engineers developed a new powerplant for the new Corvette flagship which carried the engine designation LS6 (which was the same engine designation given to Duntov’s famed 425 horsepower (gross) big-block V-8 that was originally offered, though only briefly, in 1971.)
The new Z06 started with a more powerful version of the Corvette’s LS1 V-8 engine. Designated the LS6, this engine employed a redesigned intake manifold with smoother internal passages. Revised cylinder heads incorporate better-flowing intake and exhaust ports, combustion chambers redesigned to reduce valve shrouding, and a higher compression ratio. New thin-walled cast-iron exhaust manifolds provided a smoother exit for the combustion products
Developed solely with the driving purist and racing enthusiasts in mind, it was no surprise when it was decided that the Z06 platform should only come equipped with a manual transmission. As such, the Z06 was equipped with a new six-speed manual transmission gearbox which included more aggressive gearing than that found on the base coupe. When mated with the LS6 engine, the Z06 powertrain was decisively more powerful than that of any Corvette which had come before it.
In addition to the improvements made to the power output of the Z06, a “weight savings” program helped further bolster the car’s performance numbers. The weight reduction program included the aforementioned exhaust system, the replacement of the standard-issue car battery with a compact lead-acid battery and the replacement of the standard-issue automotive glass with a thinner windshield and backlight glass. Overall, the Z06 weighed in at 36 pounds less than the former Fixed Roof Coupe and was 117 pounds lighter than the base model coupe.
Cosmetically, the Z06 Corvette was not much of a departure from the FRC Corvette that preceded it. The most notable change that differentiated the Z06 from the Coupe was the replacement of the rear hatchback and deck lid with a closed cockpit that featured a backlight rear widow and the re-introduction of a functional, stand-alone trunk.
Photos of the 2001 Corvette:
