Jump LinksChevrolet Corvette Coupe C4 Generation (1984–1996)Chevrolet Corvette Coupe C5 Generation (1997–2004)Chevrolet Corvette Coupe C3 Generation (1968–1982)Chevrolet Corvette Coupe C6 Generation (2005–2013)Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 Generation (2014–2019)The Chevrolet Corvette has, for the last 73 years, been America's sports car and one of the main reasons we can consistently be proud of it is its affordability, especially compared with more expensive and exclusive European rivals. The cheapest Corvette always has and will always cost less than the cheapest Porsche. It has, of course, chased the performance of said rivals, regularly boasting the same power and acceleration figures as the equivalent Ferrari or Lamborghini, while steadily improving the handling with each passing generation. This was the motivation for moving the engine placement from the front to the middle, in what was the biggest change for the nameplate since its inception.Despite this, and the recent embrace of electrification and hybrid technology with the Corvette E-Ray and the ZR1X, (relative) affordability has always remained one of the Corvette’s unique selling points. If you are a gearhead on a really tight budget, or you are just looking for the best deal for a new, or indeed a used sports car, you are probably wondering how much the cheapest Corvette is.This article discusses the base model of the current Chevrolet Corvette, as well as the five cheapest past generations of the Chevrolet Corvette based on the used price of their base versions. The used price stated is based on listings from our marketplace, and the used Corvettes are ranked by their value, starting with the lowest and ending with the highest. The Cheapest New Corvette: The 2026 Corvette Stingray 2026 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray action The Stingray is the iconic nameplate that Chevrolet has applied to the base Corvette on a continuous basis since 2014. The current Corvette Stingray has been in production since 2020, and when it was launched, it was also the debut of the eighth generation, the first one to have a mid-engined placement. Despite being nearly six years old, the C8 Corvette Stingray is still lean, mean, and fresh with a low, pointy nose that helps it look like a paper dart. In good news for those looking for the cheapest new Corvette model, the Stingray remains incredible value for money as it is essentially a mid-engined supercar with a starting price of $70k.What you get for that $70k is General Motors’ 6.2-liter naturally aspirated pushrod V8, which pumps out 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. This really is one of those cars where you buy an engine and a car comes with it for free. That car, though, is a very fine one indeed, and possibly nails the Corvette’s brief of striking a balance between everyday accessibility and performance better than any that has come before it. The interior has also seen a refresh for this year to the betterment of usability and aesthetic appeal. Paying a little extra for the Z51 Performance package with its Magnetic Selective Ride Control and limited-slip differential is, however, recommended for the best drive experience. The Five Cheapest Used Corvette Generations Chevrolet Corvette Coupe C4 Generation (1984–1996) 1984 Chevrolet C4 Corvette If you want to buy a used Corvette and are looking to pay the absolute lowest price possible, the fourth-generation, or 'C4,' Corvette will probably be what you end up with. Introduced in 1984 after having skipped a model year, it saw a ground-up redesign for the Corvette and brought many innovations like a uni-frame chassis, fuel injection, a digital instrument cluster and a new sleek aerodynamic profile. It would start off with a 5.7-liter L83 V8 that produced 205 hp, but the ZR-1 version, with its LT5 V8, would generate a whopping 375 hp.So why is the C4 generation the cheapest Corvette you can buy? The reason actually comes down to how successful it was. Chevrolet sold so many of these fourth-gen Corvettes because people were won over by its then-modern design and wide availability. This generation has also, on the whole, been pretty reliable, but we recommend avoiding earlier models that have the electronic dash, as that has been known to fail. You can easily get a C4 Corvette for four-figure prices, but it might be worth spending over $10k to ensure you get one that is well looked after. Chevrolet Corvette Coupe C5 Generation (1997–2004) Chevrolet Corvette Coupe C5 Yellow Front Angled ViewThe fifth generation debuted with an evolution of the C4’s design with some more curves than before to keep it fresh for the new millennium. Under the hood, however, there was a total revolution with an all-new 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine for the base model, producing 345 hp, while the LS6 for higher-tier Z06 produced 405 hp. There was further modernization through the use of lightweight materials like thinner glass, lighter wheels, sections of the exhaust system being made from titanium, and an innovative drive-by-wire system.It is arguably better and more modern than the C4 in pretty much every way, with its lower weight, more polished handling, and higher quality interior. However, like that generation, the price of a used Corvette from the fifth generation is pretty low, thanks to the supply of used examples being larger than the demand from people looking to buy a used Corvette. This is because it is in an awkward middle ground where it is not new enough to be completely modern and up to date, but not old enough to be a classic. Used prices for this generation are only slightly higher than they are for the C4. Chevrolet Corvette Coupe C3 Generation (1968–1982) 1969 Chevrolet Corvette C3 L68 Coupe front 1/4Having been produced for nearly 14 years makes the third-generation Corvette the moniker’s longest-running model of the entire range. The world that it arrived in was also very different to the generation before it, as new regulations on emissions as well as safety would require Chevrolet to make many tweaks to the C3 to keep up. Those tweaks meant that the C3 Corvette’s power did take a hit going into the 70s, with the most powerful C3 Corvette in 1969 being the one with the 390-hp LS5, but by 1979, the most powerful one boasted just 225 hp. A body-colored urethane front bumper was fitted to meet safety regulations, which also added weight.Despite all this, the C3 Generation Corvette is still a cultural icon, partly thanks to its aggressive but stylish design that took its cues from Larry Shinoda’s Mako Shark II concept car. While it does have a lot of the same underpinnings as the second generation, it doesn’t command the same used prices, despite being old enough to be considered a classic. This is because that aforementioned long production run means there are far more examples of the C3 than there are of the C2, which was only produced for five years. Add to this the strangulation of performance from the early 70s on and the wear and tear many examples have suffered, and you have the best classic Corvette to buy if you’re on a budget, in terms of price if nothing else. Chevrolet Corvette Coupe C6 Generation (2005–2013) 2005 chevrolet corvetteGiven that the C5 Corvette was a big sales success, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the C6 would further evolve the concept rather than reinvent the wheel. If you want to tell the difference between the two, the best way is to look at the C6's headlights, which, for the first time since the original first-generation Corvette, are not hidden and don’t pop up. It started off with a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 that developed 400 hp, but the reprized Z06 nameplate with a massive 7.0-liter 512 V8 motor, and then resurrected the ZR-1 nameplate last used on the C4 with a 638-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 - the most powerful General Motors car ever at the time.We are getting into the slightly more valuable generations of used Corvette now, though much of this comes down to recency compared with the others. Paying at least 20 grand to get an example with moderate mileage will get you a truly modern Corvette that benefits from carbon fiber body panels, magnesium suspension cradles, and push-button start. It does still have the classic Corvette feel, however, thanks to those large engines and a delightful stick shift transmission. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 Generation (2014–2019) 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray The most expensive of all the Corvette generations that aren’t valuable classics or enitrely brand new, the C7 represents a bit of a swansong for the moniker, as it was the last Corvette to have its engine in the front. That engine was the new 6.2-liter LT1 V8, which produced 455 hp and drove the rear wheels through either a seven-speed manual or a six-speed (later eight-speed) automatic transmission. The C7 Corvette also brought back the fabled Stingray nameplate, which hadn’t been used since the C3 generation was around, and the styling shares some retro cues with the older generations, though they have been touched up to fit in with modern trends.Other highlights of the C7 include the supercharged 650-hp Z06 variant, which has also become slightly more attainable, and the 755-hp ZR-1, which hasn’t. At least the Stingray remains quite affordable, relatively speaking. You will most likely be spending between $30,000 and $40,000 on a C7 Stingray with a five-figure mileage, which is still a lot less than it would be to buy a new car with over 400 hp. You will also be getting a Corvette with yet more polished handling, and an interior with a big step-up in quality. Which Corvette Is The Best Buy? Via: Chevrolet The answer to the question of which Corvette you should buy will largely depend on how much money you have to spend and whether you are only willing to buy one that’s new or look around for the best used deal. The latest Corvette is unquestionably the most accomplished one yet, with handling that is finally able to compete with the likes of the Porsche 911, partly thanks to the placement of the engine being behind the driver. It is also possibly the most refined and practical ‘Vette ever, thanks to it having both a standard trunk at the back, as well as a 'frunk' where the engine used to be.If you are looking to buy a Corvette that uses the more traditional recipe and don’t mind searching through the classifieds, then you will be wanting one of the used generations with the best value for money. The C6 and C7, being the two most recent past Corvette iterations, have the highest used price, but are also the fastest and most advanced. If you’ve got the budget to spend on either of those, go for it. But if you are limited on funds or just want to be thrifty, the C5 generation might be the best one to go for. It benefits from all the modernization that was made by the C4 but improves on the formula, and used prices are almost as low as its predecessor.Sources: Chevrolet
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