The Chevrolet Corvette is the ultimate American sports car. It is fast, stylish, and has a long history, going right back to the C1 that nearly killed it off before the story had properly begun.
Buying a Corvette for ourselves might seem like an expensive task. However, some Corvettes are much more affordable than you think and make for great budget entries to the Corvette world.
This list contains some of the best, all of which represent excellent value for money. We’ve included a mixture of classics and more modern versions to keep the list as varied as possible.
1956 Chevrolet C1 Corvette Convertible
While still on the pricier end of the spectrum, the 1956 C1 Convertible is one way to get your hands on one of the earliest versions of the Chevy Corvette. This came after the Bow Tie turned around the sports cars’ fortunes with the addition of its new V8 engine, with between 210-240 horsepower available.
The base V8 engine convertible is the cheapest of the bunch. Its four-barrel carb ensures enough power gets sent to the rear wheels. A 1956 convertible can be had for around $60,000, which isn’t too bad for such an early Corvette.
1988 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
The 1980s weren’t the best time for the Chevrolet Corvette, but as the decade wore on, things began to turn around. A sign of this was the 1988 convertible two-door, a year that marked the legendary sports car’s 35th anniversary.
The 1988 Corvette was part of the fourth generation. Under the hood, a 5.7-liter V8 engine produced 245 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. The transmission was provided via a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.
1976 Chevrolet C3 Corvette Coupe
By the mid-1970s, the Corvette had really begun to come into its own, with the striking new design really setting the third generation apart from the rest. This was the Corvette at its sexiest, and the shape would soldier on until the early 1980s.
Despite their popularity and how fondly they are remembered, 1970s versions of the Corvette can be picked up at a reasonable price. In fact, Hagerty states that the average cost for a 1976 Coupe in good condition is $11,200. This includes a Corvette with the 350 ci V8 under the hood, producing 180 horsepower.
1987 Chevrolet Corvette Callaway
Callaway Corvettes are some of the most sought-after on the market. However, not all of them have to be priceless. In the late 1980s, the famous tuners worked on the C4 Corvette to create a special edition with the same 5.7-liter V8 engine as the standard C4.
However, Callaway installed two turbochargers on the engine, which boosted the performance to 345 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The hood scoops, larger bumpers, and optional rear wing give the car away as a Callaway.
1986 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
By the mid-1980s, the Corvette was finally starting to feel like a sports car again. Gone was the absolute nadir of the early 1980s, when early versions of the fourth-generation Corvette produced as little as 90 horsepower.
By 1986, the Corvette had become a genuine sports car again—the powerful 5.7-liter V8 engine inside the 1986 convertible produced 230 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. Today, they are absolute bargains and are available for sale for around $15,000.
1986 Chevrolet C4 Corvette Coupe
It isn’t just the convertible version from 1986 that is an affordable Corvette. The regular coupe version is equally as good an option, and it too can be bought for around $15,000. The C4 Corvette was a game changer, featuring an all-new chassis, a digital dash, and over 200 horsepower.
According to Hagerty, examples of the 1986 Corvette can be exceptionally cheap. The site currently lists them in good condition for around $7,900. That sounds like a damn good deal, especially for such a sleek and stylish-looking sports car.
1997 Chevrolet C5 Corvette Coupe
Chevrolet introduced the new C5 Corvette in the late 1990s, producing one of the sleekest versions of the sports car seen so far. In 2024, they represent one of the best bang-for-your-buck deals in Corvette history, with an average price of around $15,000 in good condition.
Pristine examples can sell for over $25,000 as collectors have now worked out just how good these Corvettes are. Whatever you pay, you get an excellent Corvette with an LS1 V8 under the hood producing 345 horsepower, with the bonus of nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution.
1991 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe
By the early 1990s, the Corvette was finally on the right path once again. Under the hood, it still had the 5.7-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine. However, the power was bumped up to much more acceptable levels for muscle car enthusiasts.
The total power output of a 1991 Corvette coupe is 245 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque. Fiberglass and plastic body construction keeps the weight down, and a four-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission was available.
2005 Chevrolet C6 Corvette
By the mid-2000s, the troubled times for the Corvette were well and truly behind it. In came an exceptional Corvette, with a massive LS2 V8 engine producing up to 400 horsepower. Plus, the new Corvette could have all sorts of options added to it so owners could customize the car.
One of the most affordable versions of the C6 Corvette is the 2005 model. While it was perhaps more prone to “new-vehicle” issues than the first C6 model, it was still an excellent sports car. Plus, for a price of around $20,000 second-hand, it’s also a bargain in 2024.
2001-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Throughout its history, the Corvette Z06 has been one of the most revered models. It first made its debut in 2001, with Chevrolet marketing it as a “race-ready” Corvette. The Z06 fixed the power and performance issues that chief engineer David Hill thought the Corvette had.
Under the hood was an LS6 engine producing 385 horsepower, while later versions would produce 405 horsepower. This upgraded powertrain was enough to launch the Corvette Z06 from 0-60 mph in just four seconds.
1999 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
In 1999, the Corvette convertible had a retail price of $45,579. Even in 2024, that sounds like an excellent deal for a sports car. In 2024, you can still pick up a version of the 1999 Corvette coupe, and you can do so for less than $20,000 and nearly less than $16,000.
According to Corv Sport, the average price for a 1999 Corvette convertible coupe is $16,295. The 1999 Corvette was quite sophisticated, featuring a new high-tech heads-up display that projected data such as the car’s speed and engine RPM onto the lower left section of its windshield. The display was also fully customizable by the driver.
2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray Coupe
Prior to Chevrolet’s dramatic switch to the mid-engine layout for the C8, the C7 ruled the roads and gave enthusiasts everything they wanted. Under the hood was a 455 horsepower LT1 V8 with a seven-speed manual transmission that provided one of the best shifting experiences of any Corvette.
The C7 also had a more premium interior and for those seeking an affordable C7 Corvette, the 2014 Stingray Coupe is an excellent choice. In mint condition, the 2014 C7 Stingray is available for roughly $48,000, which is expensive but worth it for such an excellent Corvette.
1989 Chevrolet C4 Corvette Coupe
The 1989 model year was an important one for the Corvette. Introduced in conjunction with the Corvette ZR-1, the 1989 Corvette was just as good as its performance-oriented sibling, and the inclusion of the Z52 suspension package bolstered the sports car’s handling.
An L98 V8 engine, the predecessor to the LT1, sat under the hood and produced 245 horsepower. This gave the 1989 Corvette a 0-60 mph time of just 5.4 seconds, and the 1989 model was able to run down the quarter-mile in just 14.1 seconds.
