C5 Corvette Price: MSRP, Trims & Real-World Cost

The C5 is the fifth-generation Chevrolet Corvette, sold for the 1997 through 2004 model years. It is one of the more approachable Corvettes to buy used, but the price range is wide. A base coupe with a few years of wear and a low-mileage Z06 are both "C5 Corvettes," and they sell for very different amounts.

This page lists what several C5 models cost new, then shows individual recent auction sales. Each sale is one car on one day, not an average. Use them to see how trim, mileage, and condition move the price.

Original MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price for a model year. It leaves out taxes, registration, dealer add-ons, and any markup. The first C5 listed at $38,060, a figure that includes destination, according to Vette-Vues' coverage of the 1997 unveiling.

The Z06 was the higher-performance version. The 2002 Z06 hardtop listed at $50,150 per CorvSport. In 2004, the base coupe listed at $44,535 and the Z06 hardtop at $52,385, according to Vette-Vues. So within one model year, the Z06 sat clearly above the base coupe. Prices also rose over the production run, which is why the 1997 and 2004 base figures differ.

Used C5s are widely available, and online auctions give a useful picture of what buyers are paying. The sales below happened on Bring a Trailer in the fall of 2026.

Z06 results

• A 2002 Z06 with 430 miles sold on October 9, 2026 for $50,000.
• A 2004 Z06 with 15k miles sold on September 29, 2026 for $34,000, listed as a no-reserve auction.

The 2002 car's mileage is far lower than a typical C5. It sold for $50,000, close to the $50,150 it listed at when new. The 2004 car, with more miles, sold well below its original $52,385 sticker. Mileage clearly matters on these cars.

Base coupe and special-edition results

• A 2003 coupe in the 50th Anniversary Edition, with a six-speed and 35k miles, sold on September 17, 2026 for $21,400.
• A 2000 coupe with a six-speed sold on October 9, 2026 for $18,000, also with no reserve.

The two non-Z06 cars sold for less than either Z06. The cheapest result here, $18,000, is the price of a regular 2000 coupe with a manual gearbox. These are single sales. A car with a different color, different options, or a different service record could sell higher or lower.

• Trim. The Z06 sits above the base coupe and is priced separately.
• Mileage. Very low-mileage cars are scarce and can sell near or above their original price, as the 430-mile Z06 shows.
• Transmission. Several of the results above are six-speed manual cars. Check which gearbox a car has before comparing prices.
• Special editions. Anniversary and other limited editions can draw their own buyers.
• Body style. Coupes, convertibles, and the fixed-roof hardtop version are sold side by side, and they are not always priced the same.
• Condition and records. Maintenance history, accident history, and rust or underbody wear all change what a buyer will pay.
• Location. Corvettes from regions with road salt may have underbody corrosion that a car from a dry region would not.

Start with a vehicle history report to check for accidents, title problems, and odometer rollbacks. Ask for service records. Then pay an independent mechanic who knows Corvettes to inspect the car on a lift. Look at the frame and underbody, the tires, the brakes, and the suspension. Ask about the electronics, including the lights, the dash, and the climate controls, and have the mechanic scan for stored fault codes.

On a car sold at auction, the buyer's fee is added to the winning bid, and you will pay taxes, title, and registration on top. Compare the all-in total across cars, not just the headline number. Get an insurance quote on the specific VIN before you buy.