History C5 2004

The Last Picture Show

The 2004 model year represented the end of the C5 generation.  Nevertheless, 34,064 Corvettes were sold, only slightly less than MY 2003.  Although Chevrolet would have preferred 2004 to be the first year of the C6 generation...it just didn't work out.   Bob Lutz reportedly delayed the C6 production to allow Tom Peters and Dave Hill to improve the vehicle even more.  The C6 generation wouldn't appear until 2005 MY. 

Forty-seven percent were coupes...still the most popular.  Convertibles followed with 36 percent.  Z06s comprised the remaining 17 percent.  Only one option was chosen by all owners, air conditioning.  Automatic transmissions accounted for 63 percent of sales.  Excluding Z06s which came only with manual transmissions, 20 percent of Corvettes were equipped with six speeds.   Z06 sales fell off from MY 2003 even though the new C6 Z06 didn't arrive until MY 2006.

Little changed in 2004 over 2003.  Nevertheless to commemorate the end of the 50th year anniversary celebration, the ending and beginning of new generations, Chevrolet offered commemorative editions of the coupe, roadster and Z06.  The cars came in Le Mans Blue Metallic which was also the paint color for the C5Rs (normally yellow) as pursued a third win in a row at Le Mans.  Unfortunately, on June 15, Les Bleus (#50 and #53) fell only a little short finishing 11th and 12th overall and 2nd and 3rd, respectively in GTS.   Only two-thirds of the cars entered were able to complete the race. 

To add some glitz to the Z06, Chevrolet unveiled a new 2004 Z06 Commemorative Edition (RPO Z16) with some handling improvements, exterior graphics and a carbon fiber hood.  Displaying a link to the successful Corvette racing program, the new Z06 Commemorative Edition will cost an estimated $4,000 beyond the normal Z06's price.  The carbon fiber hood weighs 10 pounds less than that of a regular Z06.   The new hood caused some initial problems in production due to quality improvements to the carbon fiber hoods.  The first approximately 150 Z16-Z06 Corvettes that left the plant required the hoods to be "...practically...hand built."  (Shades of 1953!)   Improvements made to the hoods were completed by early November.  The original plan was to produce up to 2,500 Z16s.  In the end, only only 2,025 were made.  The last one was VIN 13258.  Less than 2,000 were shipped to US dealerships.  The balance went overseas.   Canada had 86 Z06-Z16s shipped to them.  Mexico had only four Z06-Z16s pushed over the border. Of course the last 2004 Commemorative Coupe Z15 (JOB # 38840) will come off the line on Thursday, July 1, 2004. 

Engine selections remained the same as 2003 in coupe, roadster and Z06.   Perhaps the most dramatic change in exterior color was Le Mans Blue Metallic.   To make room for the new color, Electron Blue Metallic was dropped after two years.   Proving to be the most popular color for the MY, 20 percent of Corvettes were ordered with Le Mans Blue Metallic (known internally as Luxo).  Black finished second with 18 percent while Torch Red came in third with 15 percent.

Other changes included dropping Quicksilver Metallic in favor of Machine Silver Metallic.  A new version of Magnetic Red Metallic from 2002 resurfaced as Magnetic Red Metallic II.   Speedway White was transformed into Arctic White.  

Magnetic Red Metallic II

Machine Silver Metallic               

Arctic White

Returning colors included:

Medium Spiral Gray Metallic        Millennium Yellow                          Torch Red