1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette: Highlights
The Z06 and the 50th Anniversary Corvettes were two highlights of the C5 Corvettes.
Corvette fans had waited a long while for an all-new model. When it arrived during 1996, the fifth-generation rear-drive sports car delighted some enthusiasts but dissatisfied others. Arriving on the market in January 1997, the latest Corvette was practically a different breed of sports car. Again fiberglass-bodied, the 2-seater was 1.2 inches longer than its predecessor, on a wheelbase that gained a whopping 8.3 inches. The transmission moved from behind the engine to the rear axle. That change was intended to create a more even front/rear balance, and to improve interior packaging. A removable roof panel was standard on the new hatchback coupe. 
Analog gauges replaced the earlier mix of digital and analog instruments. A spare time was not included, due mainly to lack of space. That wasn’t exactly a drawback, since the standard tires could run for up to 200 miles with no air pressure at all. A 5.7-liter LS1 aluminum V8 engine produced 345 horsepower. A 4-speed automatic transmission was standard, with 6-speed manual shift the optional choice. Traction control was standard. Corvettes were in short supply for a while. At first, only high-volume Corvette dealers got cars at all.
The C5 Corvette is my favorite model of Vette. Not only could it accelerate and perform as expected, it was a very livable car that I kept until it no longer made sense with the family