The 2013 Chevrolet 427 Corvette is the fastest and most powerful 'Vette convertible ever built.
While the all-new C7 Corvette is still a ways off into the future, Chevrolet and parent General Motors are getting set to celebrate a big anniversary for “America’s sports car.”
They’re getting set to mark the 60th anniversary by rolling out the most powerful Corvette convertible ever built. The 2013 427 Corvette ragtop makes use of some of the best parts of the “Vette Z06 and ZR1 supercars—notably including the Z06’s 505-horsepower 7.0-liter V-8 and the aerodynamic refinements of the ZR1.
The 2013 427 Corvette retains the wedge shape of the current generation of Corvettes. But instead of lifting an aluminum frame used in those racing-oriented models, GM engineers beefed up the stiffer steel frame utilized in recent configurations of the Corvette convertible. GM minimized the weight gain by adapting carbon-fiber fenders and a carbon-fiber floor pan.
The result is a car that, from a design and engineering perspective, carries forward some of the very latest and very best bits of Corvette’s unique heritage – while developing a unique character all of its own capable of carrying the ‘Vette flag during the sports car’s anniversary year.
The 427 Corvette borrows its 505-hp 7.0-liter V-8 from the Z06 coupe.
The 427 Convertible comes to market packaged as a special Collector Edition, featuring an Arctic White exterior with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior with suede accents. The convertible top is also a deep blue.
Other equipment in the anniversary package includes a ZR1-style rear spoiler, special badging, gray-painted that set off the Brembo brake calipers and the “60th” logo on the wheel center caps, steering wheel and seat head restraints.
An optional graphics package adds full-length racing stripes in Pearl Silver Blue, including a tonal stripe stitched into the convertible top, extending the graphic theme over the roof.
Demand could be strong for the 427 which marks the Corvette's line's 60th anniversary - and the last run of the C6 platform.
But even with all that, at its heart, it’s still a Corvette and that’s a nameplate that never seem to go out of style, which is why demand has perennially remained strong even among those who afford something more expensive. Few cars have ever matched the Corvette for sheer fun and excitement.
For one thing, the 427 is quick and responsive. The power lurking beneath the hood is awesome. While the V-8 may have already begun to fade into automotive history, one can’t help but appreciate the raw power when slapping the 60th anniversary Corvette’s throttle and feeling the surge from its 427’s 7.0-liter powerplant.
Giving some manners to that brute force is the magnetic ride control system. It’s a high-tech alternative to conventional shock absorber technology that uses a fluid that can rapidly change viscosity, allowing the suspension to adjust thousands of times a second to driver input and road conditions. The result is a sports car that can deliver a surprising level of comfort on rough roads, then grip the road tightly when you decide to test the 427 Corvette’s limits.
The first 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible -- VIN #0001 -- on the auction block where it sold to the highest bidder for $600,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction last January.
As GM proudly notes in several recent commercials, it’s a technology that supercar maker Ferrari has only recently adopted.
The special edition 2013 Chevrolet 427 Corvette also features a head-up display that reflects not only your speed onto the windshield but such data details as the G-forces you’ll turn in a corner.
There are also features such as heated exterior mirrors, a selection of aluminum wheels to choose from including chrome, machined or black, as well as projector headlamps, upgraded seats and a pleasantly rich-sounding audio package.
The 2013 Chevrolet 427 Corvette will set you back $76,900 – a surprisingly modest sum when compared to European supercar convertibles delivering similar levels of performance – though you can readily top $90,000 when you load up the options.
The 60th anniversary model could generate some significant buzz and demand as it will be the last of the new models based on the C6 platform. The all-new C7 Corvette – which is expected to adopt a smaller-displacement, more high-tech engine family – will make its appearance during the 2014 model-year.
Paul A. Eisenstein Contributed to this report.