When the Chevy Corvette celebrated its 50th birthday back in 2003, many enthusiasts were hoping for a special edition model to be released. Chevrolet for the most part failed to deliver, only offering a version with custom paint and an emblem package. The aftermarket decided to take things into their own hands, coming up with a limited edition appearance package that commemorated the 50th anniversary.

Developed by Advanced Automotive Technologies out in Rochester Mills, Michigan, a 1953 Commemorative Edition appearance package features retro C1 styling with a then-new generation C5 Vette – in this case, a 2001 model. Only seven total C5 Z06s got converted, and this is one of them. In total, only 200 of the 1953 Commemorative Edition packages made it onto C5s worldwide.

Packed with 405-hp, this very hard-to-find creation sports only 8,049-miles on the odometer and has an asking price of $69,900. Other than the retro-styled appearance package, most everything is what you’d expect on a C5 Z06, so no huge surprises under the hood or inside the cabin except that it’s all immaculate. Nonetheless, the aesthetics are what makes this car so unique, with it completely torn down to everything but its doors and roofs for the remake.

The fiberglass panels for the 1953CE kit were aligned to factory perfection before the entire body got resprayed Torch Red. To complete the transformation, new lights and red metal accents were added to the car. The result is a retro-style Vette with modern technology under the hood and a modern body to preserve it for many years to come.

Check out a video highlighting the car after the break.

GALLERY: Corvette Z06 1953 Commemorative Edition

[Source: RK Motors]

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An Automotive News article suggests that a re-designed Chevrolet Corvette, known internally as the C7, will bow in 2013. GM design chief Ed Wellburn said that work is ongoing for the new Corvette, and one of the main challenges is designing a car that can appeal to a younger audience while staying faithful to the brand’s heritage.

“Finding that right balance” is a challenge. “You want it to be a new design, but it needs to be recognizable as a Corvette.” Corvette sales are at their lowest levels in nearly 50 years, and GM needs to bring down the average age of the Corvette buyer to help draw in new customers.

[Source: Automotive News]

Former Corvette Racing driver and motorsports icon Ron Fellows recently had the pleasure of being inducted into Corvette’s Hall of Fame. And as if that wasn’t a big enough honor for Fellows, he was also presented with this wicked 2012 Corvette Z06 at the National Corvette Museum’s 17th Annual Labor Day celebration. This particular Chevy Corvette has been dubbed the SEMA/Spring Mountain Special Edition and chances are we’ll be seeing it in action at the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School right outside Las Vegas at Spring Mountain Raceway – not to mention at the upcoming SEMA Show in November.

The special edition 2012 Z06 features a carbon fiber hood and full-body racing stripes. On all four corners are black wheels with a red stripe, borrowed from the Centennial Edition, while the interior features embroidered seats with “100 Years” on them. Displayed prominently on the side of the car is Ron Fellows’ #3 racing number which is complemented by graphics stating “Hall of Fame”. In the rear, the Vette has graphics from Mosport Raceway, which Ron co-owns, plus logos from his own driving school.

[Source: Corvette Blogger]

Check out the video after the jump:

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The Chevrolet Corvette gets a lot of grief for having a less-than-opulent interior, but the upgraded 2012 models will not only get some new materials on the inside, but the Z06 and ZR1 performance models will get new tires and a couple handling packages designed to boost performance.

Interior upgrades include new seats and a re-designed steering wheel. A new Bose stereo, padded interior surfaces and an infotainment system package with GPS navigation and a heads-up display are also offered, although pictures have not been made available.

On the performance front, the Z06 is now available with a carbon fiber hood, the MSRC magnetic shock absorber system, new Michelin Pilot Sport tires and Performance Traction Management. The ZR1 gets the same tires, a new spoiler and alloy wheels, as well as revised gearing that gives it a 2 mpg bump in highway mileage.

The revised 2012 ‘Vette is expected to go on sale in July, but if you can’t wait that long, check out the video below to see the car in action.

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With Chevrolet celebrating their 100th anniversary, the time is right for yet another special edition Corvette, and the bowtie brand is happy to oblige fans of their slow-selling supercar with the 2012 Corvette Centennial Edition.

Available on every trim level, from the base car up to the ZR1, Centennial Edition cars will get special badging, blacked out wheels and exterior paint and most significantly, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, which allows the driver to adjust shock damping from the cockpit.

The first Centennial Edition, a Z06 model, will be auctioned by Barrett-Jackson, with proceeds going to charity. No wonder on pricing, but you can bet that it won’t be cheap.

Automotive News is reporting that the Chevrolet Corvette sales are on the rebound after being on a steady decline since 2006. At their peak 5 years ago, Chevrolet moved 36,518 Corvettes. By contrast, Chevrolet only sold 12,624 in 2010.

The first two months of 2011 have seen a 13 percent sales increase compared to January and February 2010, but we shouldn’t get too optimistic yet. The current generation Vette is already long in the tooth, and even though the Corvette (in certain trims) can return just under 30 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg around town, high gas prices could still torpedo America’s favorite sports car as consumers recoil against the idea of big V8s and profligate sports cars.

[Source: Automotive News]

Chevrolet’s Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition will retail for $90,960 when it goes on sale in early 2011. Pricing hasn’t been officially announced, but Harlan Charles, GM’s Corvette product marketing manager let pricing numbers slip during an interview with Corvette Blogger, a leading Vette enthusiast site.

While the Carbon Edition shares the Z06s 7.0L LS7 V8, it gets some exclusive parts, namely carbon fiber body panels, Brembo ceramic brakes and Magnetic Selective Ride Control. Fully optioned, the Z06 Carbon should come it at just under $100,000, making it a nice bridge between a Z06 and a ZR1.

[Source: Corvette Blogger]

Pricing for the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette hasn’t been officially announced yet, but Kerbeck Corvette, which bills itself as the “world’s largest Corvette dealer”, has leaked the pricing guide to Corvette Blogger, and its slowly making its way around the internet.

All Corvette models see a meager $20 increase, except for the ZR1, which rises $2,920 in price, to$109,800 (but hey, who’s counting?) The big news this year is the Z07 performance package for the Corvette Z06, which brings it ever so closer to the top-dog Corvette ZR1 (confused yet?) All in all, there are nearly 20 option packages, almost 40 standalone options and nine wheel and tire choices. At $48,950, America’s sports car is still a great deal even in base trim, and the 430-horsepower V8 means that you can take on cars that cost twice as much as still leave them for dead.

Hit the jump to see the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette pricing guide.

[Source: Corvette Blogger via Kerbeck Corvette]

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Chevrolet announced a custom one-off Z06 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Corvette’s first appearance at LeMans. Featuring the traditional American racing color scheme (white with blue stripes), as the 1960 Corvette, which won its class at the 24 hour race. The car’s sale will benefit the National Corvette Museum, and anyone who wishes to buy the car must make a $300,000 donation to the Museum, and then pay the $85,000 sticker price of the car.

The special edition Z06 also comes with a Z07 package, featuring some bits from the Corvette ZR1. A celebration will be held in honor of the Corvette at this Saturday’s ALMS race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one week before the Corvette racing team heads off to contest the 24 Hours of LeMans in Frace.

[Source: TopSpeed]

An 87-year old WWII veteran and frequent blood donor was killed in a tragic accident involving a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 that crashed during a lapping day at Texas Motor Speedway.

Donald Krusemark died one day after the accident took place. The family declined to comment on the accident, but it is believed that Krusemark was a passenger, and was being taken for a ride around the Speedway. Krusemark was honored at the event for his generous donations of blood and platelets over the years.

The event was organized by Texas Driving Experience, a company that “offers extreme racecar Rides and Drives.”

[Source: The Dallas Morning News]