Whether you’re a fan of the Chevrolet Corvette or not, you can not argue with its status as the iconic all-American sports car. Until recently, the classic layout had not changed since the car’s introduction in 1953: front-engine, rear-wheel drive, lightweight materials. The 2020 C8 Corvette moved the engine to the middle and dropped the manual transmission.

Oloi and NewYorKars’ next featured ride is Japhet Que’s 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Part of the C6 generation, the Z06 designation denotes an upgrade from the base model Corvette. The fixed headlamps replaced the hidden lighting that had been a part of every Corvette generation dating back to the C2. The Z06 performance package was offered on the C2, C5, C6, and C7. The final Z06 sold for $2.7 million at Barrett-Jackson’s 2019 Northeast Auction, with all proceeds going to charity.

The C6 Corvette’s 7.0-liter V-8 LS7 engine produces 505 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque in stock form. The Corvette Museum’s website states that the 2008 Z06 could hit 60 miles per hour from a standstill in 3.7 seconds in first gear and continue to a top speed of 198 mph. The quarter mile was completed in 11.7 seconds at 125 mph. The car’s curb weight is just 3,162 pounds. The base MSRP was around $72,000.

“My dad had a Corvette when I was growing up,” Japhet told us. “I remember riding in it and I told myself I want a Corvette one day. I could buy a new one but I got this one because it retained the classic look of the Corvette without being too modern or outdated.”

Japhet bought the Jetstream Blue Metallic ‘Vette in 2017 and added his own modifications to the car, which had already seen some work from the previous owner. The list of changes encompasses everything from the seats to the power to the suspension. The Dynojet shows 560 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque to the wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission.

“I wanted to give an OEM-plus type feel to the car without sacrificing anything too major,” Japhet said. “I’d like to give a shoutout to Ed at Powerhouse Racing for all my major maintenances.”

Japhet plans to buy a Porsche 997.1 GT3 later this year. Oloi has featured a couple of Porsche 997 coupes, including a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS.

Tap below for a deeper dive into the modifications on this classic American coupe:

Japhet Que’s 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

 

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