Exotic, powerful, and unmistakably American, the Corvette has been an iconic vehicle since its debut in 1953. While other car brands have been around longer, and others have sold more units over their lifetimes, there’s still no denying the Corvette’s popularity and performance—and there’s certainly no denying its sex appeal. But which of these hunks of metal are the most powerful? Which Corvettes have had the most power under their hood? Here are the top 10 most powerful Corvettes ever built.
1. Corvette L84
The L84 is the first in a series of high-performance variations to come from GM’s Corvette team. It was equipped with a 454 cubic inch V8 engine. In 1967, this powerplant produced 375 horsepower, but by 1969 it had been bumped up to 435 horsepower. This made the L84 one of the most powerful Corvettes ever built.
2. Corvette ZR1
The Corvette ZR1 was the fastest production car in the world from 1998 to 2001, and it’s still one of the most powerful cars ever made. The ZR1 is powered by a 7.0-liter V8 that can produce up to 638 horsepower and 604 pound-feet of torque. It has a top speed of 212 miles per hour, and it costs $138,000 new.
3. Corvette Z06
In 2006, Chevrolet introduced the Corvette Z06 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the C6. The Z06 was powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine that produced 400 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful production cars on the market at the time. It could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 190 mph—some say it’s still one of the best sports cars ever built.
4. Corvette L72
One of the most famous American muscle cars, the Corvette L72 was produced in 1973 and 1974. It has a V-8 engine and it’s one of the last four-speed cars that General Motors ever produced. It’s also considered one of the most powerful Corvettes ever, as it can reach speeds up to 160 mph.
5. Corvette L88
The L88 Corvette was only available for the 1969 model year and is the most powerful Corvette to date. It was designed to be a race car for the street and had an aluminum block with 4-bolt mains, a 4-speed gearbox, heavy duty brakes and suspension. The L88 could go from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds on its way up to a top speed of 180 mph (it has been said that some have been able to reach 190 mph).
6. Corvette ZR1 2009
The Corvette ZR1 is a high-performance sports car produced by Chevrolet. It is the most powerful production Corvette in the history of General Motors and was introduced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.
7. Corvette Z06 2018
This is the most powerful production car ever built by General Motors and it has a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 engine that produces 650 horsepower. The Corvette Z06 can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.95 seconds with a top speed of 200 miles per hour. It also has an 8-speed automatic transmission and a sleek design to help it handle better than any other sports car on the market.
8. Corvette ZR1 2019
The Corvette ZR1 has had a long tradition of being one of the most powerful cars on the market. With the introduction of the 2019 model, this car continues to live up to its reputation. The 2019 Corvette ZR1 is powered by an all-new 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that produces 755 horsepower and 715 lb.-ft. (969 Nm) torque.
9. Corvette ZR1 HPE1000
This car is the most powerful and fastest Corvette ever made. It offers 1,000 horsepower and has a top speed of 210 miles per hour. This car can also go from 0-60 in 2 seconds flat with its supercharged 6.2 liter engine. The price for this car is $140,000.
10. Corvette ZR1 HPE1200
With a top speed of 205 mph, the Corvette ZR1 HPE1200 is one of the fastest cars to date. The car’s engine produces 755 horsepower and has been clocked at 0-60 mph in just 2.3 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars on the market.
