14 Special Edition Chevy Corvette Models

The Chevrolet Corvette is the quintessential American sports car. Now in its sixth decade of continuous production, the vehicle has undergone a number of transformations to keep it fresh and in the spotlight. Some of these changes include the use of special edition models. We thought it would be a good idea to look back and profile some of these special editions.

Now much like the Chevrolet Camaro, the Corvette has also been called in to pace America's most iconic race, the Indy 500. It got the call in 1978, then again in 1986 and 1995. In 1998, Indy called on the Corvette once again to lead the procession of cars taking on this famed race. Chevrolet went all out on this pace car. The exterior is finished in a purple color with decals noting its important duty, and the set of wheels is done in a bright yellow finish. For the interior, Chevrolet went with black and yellow.

How do you celebrate 50 years of the Corvette? Well, you do a 50th Anniversary edition of the Corvette. Available as either the coupe or convertible, the 50th Anniversary edition featured a Xirallic Crystal color - burgundy to the rest of us - with a set of champagne-painted aluminum wheels. Standard on this special edition model was Magnetic Ride Control, a system which uses magnetically controlled dampers to adjust the stiffness of the suspension.

Chevrolet sent off the C5 Corvette in fine style with the 2004 Commemorative Edition. The coupe and convertible edition got a Le Mans Blue finish and “Commemorative” embroidered into headrests. The Z06 Commemorative Edition got a bit more. The exterior got the Le Mans Blue, along with silver and red accent detailing. The hood is made out of carbon fiber. In the Corvette emblems, there is the message “Commemorative 24:00 Heures Du Mans 2 GTS Wins." This signifies the two wins that Corvette Racing got when competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the lifecycle of the C5.

Ron Fellows is one of the key people who made Corvette Racing what it is today. Back in 2007, Fellows won the GT1 championship in the American Le Mans Series and to celebrate, Chevrolet did a special edition Corvette Z06. The Z06 Ron Fellows Championship Edition is draped in a white paint job with red accents - a nod to Fellows’ Canadian heritage. Other items of note include a lip spoiler, 20-inch chrome wheels, "Corvette" windshield banner, and Fellows' signature on the central console.

Chevrolet was called upon once again to provide a pace car for Indy 500 in 2007. Chevrolet's choice was a Corvette convertible wearing an Atomic Orange paint color and black ragtop. Orange can also be found on the engine cover and interior. Finishing off the special edition were a set of Indy 500 logos on the doors.

Hertz is known for having some special edition vehicles that anyone can rent. The most notable one was the Shelby GT-H during the sixties, a Shelby Mustang GT with an automatic transmission and wearing a black and gold finish. In 2008, Hertz reached out to GM, asking if they could do a special edition model. The result was the Corvette ZHZ. Wearing yellow and black, the ZHZ boats a 6.2L V8 with 436 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed automatic with steering-wheel paddles. A set of 18-inch wheels are up front, while a set of 19-inch wheels are on the back.

The 7.0L LS7 V8 that powered the C6 Corvette Z06 is a very iconic engine for the power it was able to produce for many performance-oriented Chevrolets. You might know the 7.0L LS7 V8 under a different and more recognizable name, the 427. Chevrolet felt it was time to pay homage to this iconic engine with a special edition of the Corvette Z06, thus the 2008 427 Limited Edition Z06. This special edition boasted a coat of Crystal Red Tintcoat paint with a black stripe on the hood. Other exterior changes include a set of unique wheels and a body-color spoiler. The interior has 427 embroidery in the floor mats.

The Corvette's racing heritage isn't limited to just North America. Europe knows all too well how well the Corvette does in racing, especially in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. Chevrolet's Europe arm wanted to celebrate this and in 2008, they did just that with the Corvette Victory Edition. This special edition model was available in black or yellow, and came with a set of five-spoke wheels finished in gray. The interior was finished in black and yellow and featured a badge showing what number of the Victory Edition you had.

By 2009, Corvette Racing had over 70 wins and eight ALMS championships under its belt. What better way to celebrate this than introducing a new special edition? Thus, the Corvette GT1 Championship Edition was born. Available as a coupe, convertible, or Z06, the GT1 Championship Edition came painted in either black or yellow, with a set of graphics to denote its special status. The GT1 emblem was stamped on the black-and-yellow seats, the instrument panel, and armrest. The finishing touch: carbon-and-black engine cover and a unique VIN sequence.

Chevrolet's Europe arm celebrated another season of Corvette Racing with another Corvette special edition, appropriately dubbed the Competition Edition. This special edition stood out from other Corvette models by excluding many options in the name of weight reduction. Other changes for the model included a unique black paint color, five-spoke aluminum wheels finished in gray, and a lip spoiler borrowed from the Z06.

The 2011 Z06 Carbon Limited Edition was like the underappreciated middle child of the performance-oriented Corvette lineup, and provided some halfway ground between the Z06 and ZR1 models. The Z06 Carbon Limited Edition featured a ZR1-inspired carbon fiber hood, rocker extensions, front splitter, and roof panel. It also came equipped with a set of 15-inch carbon-ceramic brakes, adjustable magnetorheological shocks, and wheels from the ZR1. Chevrolet only built 500 Z06 Carbon Limited Edition models, which could only be ordered in either Inferno Orange or Supersonic Blue.

The year 2012 marked the 100th birthday of Chevrolet and to celebrate, the brand introduced the Corvette Z06 Centennial Edition. This model came in only one color - Carbon Flash Metallic - and included matte-black decals and red trim on the wheels and brake calipers. The Centennial Edition also featured Chevrolet's Magnetic Ride Control system as standard. 

The Corvette's 60th anniversary marked not only 60 years of continuous production, but the end of the C6 generation as well. The 427 60th Anniversary model is draped in a coat of Arctic White paint with a set of optional blue stripes and complementing blue leather interior. Further distinguishing the model are special 60th Anniversary badges placed liberally both inside and outside of the vehicle. 

The first special edition of the C7 Corvette signaled the beginning of the seventh generation. Only 500 of these models were built and came replete with a Laguna Blue exterior and brown leather interior. Other unique features of the Premiere edition include an exposed carbon fiber roof and a set of luggage from Thule.