The Chevrolet Corvette is the talk of the town right now, especially with the release of the all-new 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, with a blistering amount of horsepower at 1,064. As of the writing of this article, we have no specific price point for the inimitable ZR1. However, we do know that the newest Z06 will start slightly under $70,000, which is still a big win for Corvette enthusiasts.
Why is this a big deal? Corvettes have always been known to be two-door coupe sports cars for those on a budget. They offer brute, (for the most part) naturally aspirated V8 power for not a lot of money. When the Chevrolet Corvette was originally dropped in 1953, it actually came with an inline 6-cylinder engine that made 150 horsepower.
What a difference 70 years makes. If we had to take a stab at it, the newest ZR1 is probably going to be in the $150,000 plus range, and even though a new Z06 is under $70,000, that still might be too much. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of the 12 most affordable Corvettes on the market today.
1986 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Convertible: $9,500
1986 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Specifications
| Engine | Naturally Aspirated 5.7-liter V8 |
| Power | 230 hp |
| Torque | 330 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| 0 to 60 mph | 6.3 to 7 seconds |
The 1986 Corvette Convertible saw a little less horsepower and torque with 230 horsepower and 330 pound-feet, even though it was derived from the same 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8. Historically, convertible sports cars are going to be a little more expensive than the two-door coupe versions, but it’s still reasonable at $9,500.
1991 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $9,200
1991 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 |
| Power | 245 hp |
| Torque | 345 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic or 6-speed manual |
| 0 to 60 mph | 5.7 to 6.7 seconds |
The 1991 C4 Corvette got a slight power bump over the 1990 model, with 245 horsepower and 345 pound-feet of torque. The body is still made mostly of fiberglass and plastic, but at least there’s a passenger airbag. You can get this Corvette in either a 4-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual. The transmission is another differentiating factor from the mid-80s Corvette’s to the 90s.
1990 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $8,500
1990 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 |
| Power | 245 hp |
| Torque | 340 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic or 6-speed manual |
| 0 to 60 mph | 6.0 to 6.8 seconds |
The 1990 model year saw a slight overhaul to the exterior and interior of the underrated C4 Corvette. The front and rear fascia’s received slightly more round features (the rear fascia more so). More importantly, the interior got an overhaul to make room for more safety features like an airbag for the passenger. The horsepower and torque numbers still hover around 245 horses and 340 pound-feet, with a 0-to-60 time of 6.0 seconds.
71987 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $8,400
1987 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 |
| Power | 240 hp |
| Torque | 345 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| 0 to 60 mph | 6.1 to 6.8 seconds |
Thanks to some clever engineering, the 1987 model year Corvette received a slight horsepower increase to 240 ponies and 345 pound-feet of torque. According to Hagerty, you can pick one up for around $8,400. The Callaway version is a bit more expensive, but this was also the year they added factory warranty to those models.
1989 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $8,300
1989 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 |
| Power | 245 hp |
| Torque | 340 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic or 6-speed manual |
| 0 to 60 mph | 5.8 to 6.9 seconds |
The 1989 Corvette model received a ZF 6-speed manual transmission to replace the 4+3 Doug Nash version. The 4+3 added more overdrive features, but the 6-speed manual offered about the same rev time at lower gears. If the manual’s not your thing, you can also opt for the 4-speed automatic that is still adjustable by the gear selector on the center console. You can pick one of these up for $8,300, but a barn-find 1989 Corvette would be cheaper.
1985 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $8,000
1985 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 |
| Power | 230 hp |
| Torque | 330 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| 0 to 60 mph | 6.0 to 6.5 seconds |
While all models on this list benefit from one version or another of the small-block 5.7-liter V8 that was typically offered in the C4 Corvette, 1985 is the year the L98 engine was introduced. Not only did it offer more horsepower and torque than earlier engine designs, but it also offered more MPG on the open road. It might not be the most powerful Corvette on this list, but at least it’s way more than the original 150 horsepower offered in the original inline-6.
1988 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $8,000
1988 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 |
| Power | 245 hp |
| Torque | 340 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| 0 to 60 mph | 5.3 to 6.6 seconds |
Besides the 35th anniversary edition you could purchase for the 1988 model year, this year also featured a slew of suspension upgrades. Most of the upgrades happened to the rear suspension and the way it was positioned to offer better performance and a better ride quality. You can pick one of these up, according to Hagerty, for around $8,000.
1992 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $8,000
1992 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 |
| Power | 300 hp |
| Torque | 330 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| 0 to 60 mph | 4.9 to 5.3 seconds |
Technological advancements could be had in the 1992 Corvette. The L98 that was previously praised for its fuel economy and performance is now replaced by the LT1 V8, which could benefit from the same praise. While traction control was optional in Corvettes of the past, 1992 saw that feature become standard. If guaranteed traction is for you, you can pick one up for around $8,000 depending on mileage and condition. Interestingly, 1992 saw the Stingray III Concept that influenced future Corvettes.
1986 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $7,900
1986 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | Naturally Aspirated 5.7-liter V8 |
| Power | 230 hp |
| Torque | 330 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| 0 to 60 mph | 6.3 to 7.0 seconds |
Coming in second most affordable on our list is the 1986 Corvette. The year 1986 saw the reintroduction of the Convertible Corvette, absent since the 1975 Stingray, which was part of the C3 generation of the Corvette. According to new DOT laws of the time, it also comes with a third brake lamp for extra safety and convenience. Plus, if you’re into safety features as well, this model comes with a security system and anti-lock brakes.
1984 Chevrolet Corvette 2dr Coupe: $7,800
1984 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Specifications
| Engine | Naturally Aspirated 5.7-liter V8 |
| Power | 205 hp |
| Torque | 290 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| 0 to 60 mph | 6.7 to 7.2 seconds |
Topping our list is the oldest and the slowest Corvette of this generation (next to the 1983 model, of course). It’s the 1984 Chevrolet Corvette. It’s the slowest because it only offers 205 horsepower and has a 0-to-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds. It still has a 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8, however, but this one had the L83 code on it. It tops our list for frugality at around $7,800, according to Hagerty.
