2005

January 10

• In Braselton, Georgia, General Motors unveils the completed Corvette C6-R race car. Two such cars will be raced in the GT1 class of the American Le Mans Series, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. [245]

January 15

• In Detroit, Michigan, the North American International Auto Show is held, over nine days. Chevrolet unveils the 2006 Corvette Z06, with 7-litre LS7 engine, 500 hp, 475 pound-feet torque. [561.183] [599.52] [607.11]

January

• The February issue of Road & Track magazine declares the Corvette the Best Car for 2005 in its Readers' Choice Awards. [600.70] [601.54]

January 25

• In Scottsdale, Arizona, the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction is held, over six days. 96 Corvettes are sold for US$9.1 million. Thirty Corvettes sell for over US$100,000 each. Some highlights (not including 8 percent buyer's fee):
  • 1953 #206: US$95,000.
  • 1953 white/red #243 3 miles + 2003 white/red #243: US$550,000.
  • 1957 Arctic Blue+silver cove/Roman Red 283ci/283hp 4-speed fuel-injection: US$116,000.
  • 1957 red+white cove hardtop dual carburetor 283ci/270hp 4-speed: US$96,000.
  • 1958 black+black cove/red retractable hardtop, only one known to exist, concept car designed created by Francis Scott: US$315,000.
  • 1959 Snowcrest White+gray cove/red dual quad 383ci/245hp 4-speed US$120,000.
  • 1962 red/red fuel-injection 327ci/360hp US$122,500.
  • 1962 red/white custom roadster 468ci/850hp: US$150,000.
  • 1963 black/black fuel-injection 327ci/360hp automatic (ex Nicolas Cage): US$115,000.
  • 1965 light blue/black coupe fuel-injection drum brakes N03 big tank 375hp: US$112,000.
  • 1966 white/blue coupe 36-gallon big tank 427ci/450hp: US$175,000.
  • 1966 black/red convertible 427ci/425hp 4-speed full restoration: US$147,500.
  • 1966 Sunfire Yellow/black convertible 427ci/425hp M21 4-speed: US$115,000.
  • 1966 light blue/black convertible 427ci/450hp 4-speed M21: US$167,500.
  • 1967 black/red coupe 427ci/435hp 4-speed full restoration numbers match: US$151,000.
  • 1967 red coupe 427ci/435hp matching numbers side exhaust: US$117,500.
  • 1967 Sage Green/brown coupe 427ci/400hp air-conditioning automatic: US$125,000.
  • 1968 red/red coupe L-89 427ci/435hp: US$95,000.
  • 1969 Baldwin Motion Phase III GT Coupe gold-yellow with black detail and stripe: US$210,000.
  • 1990 Callaway Speedster LT5 turbo: US$195,000.
  [215] [561.183] [583.10] [605] [726.36]

February 4

• The first (non-saleable) production line 2006 Corvette Z06 is built. It is the 16th built, but previous fifteen were hand-assembled. (The car will be used for testing, then destroyed.) [605.18] [680.34]

February 5

• At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, the 43rd Rolex 24 at Daytona race is held, round one of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
  • Finishing 18th in GT class and 35th overall is the ASC Motorsports #55 Corvette, driven by Zach Arnold, Kurt Thiel, John Stevenson, and Ken MacAlpine.
  • Finishing 29th in GT class and 56th overall is the Xtreme Racing Group #48 Corvette, driven by Tony Seiler, Hans Hauser, Robert Dubler, and Anthony Puleo.
  • Finishing 33rd in GT class and 62nd overall is the Michael Baughman Racing #46 Corvette, driven by Michael Baughman and Mike Yeakle.
  [244] [600.146]

February

• The March issue of Car and Driver magazine compares four convertible cars. The Corvette ranks second behind the Porsche Boxter S. [598.46]

February 19

• At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, the Hershey's Take 5 300 race is held. A 2005 Corvette silver coupe is the pace car. [605.10]

February 20

• At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, the Daytona 500 race is held. A 2005 Corvette Millenium Yellow coupe is the pace car. [605.10]

March 3

• In Geneva, Switzerland, the Geneva International Motor Show is held, over eleven days. GM Europe shows and gives a press briefing of the 2006 Corvette Z06. [561.183] [605.120]

March 5

• At the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, the Grand Prix of Miami race is held, round two of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
  • Finishing 23rd in GT class and 43rd overall is the Michael Baughman Racing #46 Corvette, driven by Michael Baughman and Mike Weinberg.
  • Finishing 24th in GT class and 44th overall is the ASC Motorsports #55 Corvette, driven by Zach Arnold and Jason Workman.
  [244]

March 10

• On Amelia Island, Florida, the 10th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is held, over four days. The Chevrolet Small Block Race Car Class is won by a 1960 Briggs-Cunningham Corvette. [561.183] [623.8]

March 13

• In Chicago, Illinois, the Chevy / Vettefest show is held, over two days. Nearly 300 Corvettes are on show, with 40,000 people attending. [703.12]

March 18

• At the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring race is held, round one of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT series.
  • Finishing 8th is the Banner Engineering #6 Corvette C6, driven by Leighton Reese.
  • Finishing 10th is the Badger Components #99 Corvette Z06, driven by Tom Oates.
  • Finishing 11th is the Whelen Engineering #31 Corvette Z06, driven by Sonny Whelen.
  • Finishing 21st is the Rock Health & Fitness #94 Corvette Z06, driven by Philip DiPippo.
  • In 25th place, but not finishing the race, is the Blackdog Racing #34 Corvette C6, driven by Tony Gaples.
  • In 26th place, but not finishing the race, is the EG Braswell Construction #32 Corvette Z06, driven by Ed Braswell.
  • In 27th place, but not finishing the race, is the LG Pro Long Tube Headers #28 Corvette C6, driven by Lou Gigliotti.
  [247]

March 19

• At the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, the Twelve Hours of Sebring race is held, round one of the American Le Mans Series.
  • Finishing 2nd in GT1 class and 5th overall is the #3 Corvette C6-R driven by Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell, and Max Papis.
  • Finishing 3rd in GT1 class and 6th overall is the #4 Corvette C6-R driven by Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Jan Magnussen.
  • Finishing 6th in GT1 class an 10th overall is the Corvette C5-R driven by Ryan Dalziel, Alex Figge, and David Empringham.
  [215] [245] [600.146] [607.11]

March 30

• TFM Distribution releases the film Brice de Nice to theaters in Belgium. A yellow 1973-77 Corvette appears briefly. [802]

April 1

• In West Palm Beach, Florida, the 3rd Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach classic car auction is held, over four days. 59 Corvettes are sold for US$4.5 million. Some highlights (excluding 8% buyer's fee):
  • 1954 white/red, 235ci/155hp 6-cylinder, automatic, US$69,000;
  • 1955 Polo white/red, 265ci/195hp V8, automatic, US$82,000;
  • 1962 red/black, 327ci with fuel-injection, 4-speed, big brakes, hard top, US$106,000;
  • 1963 red coupe, 327ci with fuel-injection, 411 rear, T-10 4-speed, US$102,500;
  • 1966 Ermine White/red convertible, L-72 427ci/425hp, Muncie 4-speed, knockoffs, side exhaust, US$87,500;
  • 1967 red/black convertible, 427ci/435hp, 4-speed, power steering, power brakes, US$83,000;
  • 1967 blue/blue convertible, L-71 427ci/435hp, 4-speed, 32,000 miles, side exhaust, US$240,000;
  • 1967 blue/blue convertible, 427ci/400hp, 4-speed, air-conditioning, US$155,000;
  • 1967 red/black convertible, 427ci/435hp, 4-speed, side exhaust, US$134,000;
  • 1967 black/red convertible, 427ci/435hp, 4-speed, side exhaust, US$106,000;
  • 1967 red/red convertible, 427ci/435hp, 4-speed, side exhaust, US$89,000;
  • 1967 blue/blue convertible, 327ci/390hp, 4-speed, US$85,000;
  • 1967 convertible, 427ci/400hp, 22,000 miles, US$118,000;
  • 1967 convertible, 427ci/435hp, 4-speed, US$230,500;
  • 1968 coupe, 427ci/390hp, US$65,000;
  • 1968 Motion/Rosen convertible, dark blue with white stripe, black interior, L88 427ci/600hp, M21 4-speed, US$95,000;
  • 1972 Elkhart Green coupe and matching convertible, LT-1, US$145,000;
  • 2003 dark red Le Mans Pace Car $58,000;
  • 2004 yellow Daytona 500 Pace Car $80,000.
  [215] [585] [607.12] [726.36]

April 3

• At the St. Petersburg Temporary Circuit in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race is held, round two of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT series.
  • Finishing 3rd is the LG Pro Long Tube Headers #28 Corvette C6, driven by Lou Gigliotti.
  • Finishing 8th is the Tom Oates Chevrolet #99 Corvette Z06, driven by Tom Oates.
  • Finishing 14th is the Blackdog Racing #34 Corvette C6, driven by Tony Gaples.
  • Finishing 15th is the Whelen Engineering #31 Corvette Z06, driven by Sonny Whelen.
  • In 24th place, but not finishing the race, is the Banner Engineering #6 Corvette C6, driven by Leighton Reese.
  [247]

April 10

• At the Long Beach Street Circuit in Long Beach, California, the Cytomax Challenge/Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race is held, round one of the Trans-Am Series.
  • Finishing 1st is the Derhaag Motorsports #49 Corvette, driven by Randy Ruhlman.
  • Finishing 5th is the Simms Motorsports #24 Corvette, driven by Philip Simms.
  • Finishing 7th is the Tony Ave Racing #06 Corvette, driven by Joey Scarallo.
  • In 17th place, but not finishing the race, is the Hypermax Engineering #83 Corvette, driven by Max Lagod.
  [246]

April 17

• At the Road Atlanta raceway in Braselton, Georgia, the Grand Prix of Atlanta race is held, round three of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT series.
  • Finishing 5th is the Banner Engineering #6 Corvette C6, driven by Leighton Reese.
  • Finishing 10th is the Blackdog Racing #34 Corvette C6, driven by Tony Gaples.
  • Finishing 18th is the Doug Rippie Motorsports #9 Corvette Z06, driven by Adam Malmquist.
  • In 23rd place, but not finishing the race, is the LG Pro Long Tube Headers #28 Corvette C6, driven by Lou Gigliotti.
  • In 25th place, but not finishing the race, is the Tom Oates Chevrolet #99 Corvette Z06, driven by Chip Herr.
  • In 27th place, but not finishing the race, is the EG Braswell Construction #32 Corvette Z06, driven by Ed Braswell.
  [247]
• At the Road Atlanta raceway in Braselton, Georgia, the Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta is held, round two of the American Le Mans Series.
  • Finishing 1st in GT1 class and 5th overall is the Corvette Racing #3 Corvette C6-R driven by Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell.
  • Finishing 2nd in GT1 class and 6th overall is the Corvette Racing #4 Corvette C6-R driven by Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta.
  • Finishing 5th in GT1 class an 9th overall is the Corvette C5-R driven by Ryan Dalziel and Alex Figge.
  [245] [600.146] [623.8]

(month unknown)

• Some recent auction results: 1967 convertible, 427 ci, 435 hp: US$104,500; 1960 dual carburetor, 283 ci, 245 hp, hardtop: US$80,500; 1954 black (one of four) US$77,500. [623.10]

May 1

• At the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, the Road & Track 250 race is held, round four of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
  • Finishing 21st in GT class and 43rd overall is the Beachman Racing #56 Corvette, driven by Bruce Beachman and Will Diefenbach.
  • Finishing 28th in GT class and 51st overall is the ASC Motorsports #55 Corvette, driven by Zach Arnold and Jason Workman.
  [244]

May 21

• At the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, the SPEED World Challenge Weekend race is held, round four of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT series.
  • Finishing 4th is the LG Pro Long Tube Headers #28 Corvette C6, driven by Lou Gigliotti.
  • Finishing 8th is the Blackdog Racing #34 Corvette C6, driven by Tony Gaples.
  • Finishing 10th is the Tom Oates Chevrolet #99 Corvette Z06, driven by Tom Oates.
  • Finishing 18th is the Whelen Engineering #31 Corvette Z06, driven by Sonny Whelen.
  • Finishing 20th is the Flying Tiger Racing #47 Corvette Z06, driven by Bob Taylor.
  • In 22nd place, but not finishing the race, is the Doug Rippie Motorsports #9 Corvette Z06, driven by Adam Malmquist.
  • In 24th place, but not finishing the race, is the Banner Engineering #6 Corvette C6, driven by Leighton Reese.
  [247]

May 22

• At the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, round three of the American Le Mans Series is held.
  • Finishing 1st in GT1 class and 5th overall is the Corvette Racing #3 Corvette C6-R driven by Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell.
  • Finishing 2nd in GT1 class and 6th overall is the Corvette Racing #4 Corvette C6-R driven by Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta.
  • Finishing 4th in GT1 class an 8th overall is the Corvette C5-R driven by Ryan Dalziel and Alex Figge.
  [245] [600.146] [680.6]

May 29

• In Indianapolis, Indiana, the 85th Indianapolis 500 race is held. US Secretary of State Colin Powell drives the 2005 Corvette convertible as pace car. [703.10] [823.57]

(month unknown)

• At the end of the 2005 model year, 1098 new Corvettes were sold in Europe. [777.6]

June 5

• In Le Mans, France, the Corvette Racing team's two Corvette C6-R race cars participate in testing on the course for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. [245]

June 12

• At Watkins Glen International raceway in Watkins Glen, New York, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen race is held, round six of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
  • Finishing 14th in GT class and 34th overall is the ASC Motorsports #55 Corvette, driven by Johnny Miller, Zach Arnold, and Jason Workman.
  • Finishing 19th in GT class and 40th overall is the Stevenson Motorsports #57 Corvette, driven by Buddy Rice, Tommy Riggins, and Michael Baughman.
  [244]

June 18

• At the Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, the Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland race is held, round two of the Trans-Am Series.
  • Finishing 2nd is the Derhaag Motorsports #49 Corvette, driven by Randy Ruhlman.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Tony Ave Racing #06 Corvette, driven by Joey Scarallo.
  • Finishing 7th is the Simms Motorsports #24 Corvette, driven by Philip Simms.
  • Finishing 9th is the Derhaag Motorsports #78 Corvette, driven by Hima Maher.
  • Finishing 1st in GT1 class and 18th overall is the Butson Racing #2 Corvette, driven by Rob Holden.
  [246]
• At the Circuit de la Sarthe in France, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race is held, over two days.
  • Finishing 1st in GT1 class and 5th overall is the #64 Corvette C6-R driven by Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Jan Magnussen.
  • Finishing 2nd in GT1 class and 6th overall is the #63 Corvette C6-R driven by Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell, and Max Papis.
  [215] [245] [621.100] [703.12]

June 22

• Buena Vista Pictures releases the film Herbie Fully Loaded to theaters in the US. A black C6 Corvette races neck-and-neck against Herbie, a 1963 Volkswagen, barely beating it. A silver C5 Corvette appears. [733]

June 24

• In St. Charles, Illinois, the Bloomington Gold Corvettes USA show is held, three days. The Special Collection XXI features "Great Stories". Included is a 1957 Corvette raced by Chevrolet in late 1956/early 1957. Mecum Collector Car Auctioneers conducts The Gold Auction of 500 Corvettes. Highlight of the auction is a 1969 L-88 Monza Red roadster with removable hard top: US$250,000. [582.10] [604.10] [605.47] [607.12] [624.58] [764.50]

June 25

• At the Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland race is held, round three of the Trans-Am Series.
  • Finishing 1st is the Derhaag Motorsports #49 Corvette, driven by Randy Ruhlman.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Tony Ave Racing #06 Corvette, driven by Joey Scarallo.
  • Finishing 7th is the Derhaag Motorsports #78 Corvette, driven by Hima Maher.
  • Finishing 9th is the Hypermaz Engineering #83 Corvette, driven by Max Lagod.
  • In 2nd place in GT1 class and 10th overall, but not finishing the race, is the Ruman Racing #23 Corvette, driven by Amy Ruman.
  • In 12th place, but not finishing the race, is the Simms Motorsports #24 Corvette, driven by Philip Simms.
  [246]

June 26

• At the Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, the 24th Annual Champ Car Grand Prix race is held, round five of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT series.
  • Finishing 4th is the Banner Engineering #6 Corvette C6, driven by Leighton Reese.
  • Finishing 9th is the Blackdog Racing #34 Corvette C6, driven by Tony Gaples.
  • Finishing 13th is the Whelen Engineering #31 Corvette Z06, driven by Sonny Whelen.
  • Finishing 14th is the Tom Oates Chevrolet #99 Corvette Z06, driven by Tom Oates.
  • Finishing 16th is the Doug Rippie Motorsports #9 Corvette Z06, driven by Adam Malmquist.
  • In 24th place, but not finishing the race, is the Flying Tiger Racing #47 Corvette Z06, driven by Bob Taylor.
  • In 26th place, but not finishing the race, is the LG Pro Long Tube Headers #28 Corvette C6, driven by Lou Gigliotti.
  [247]

June 30

• At Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, the Brumos Porsche 250 race is held, round seven of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
  • Finishing 17th in GT class and 38th overall is the Stevenson Motorsports #57 Corvette, driven by Buddy Rice, Tommy Riggins, and John Stevenson.
  • Finishing 19th in GT class and 41st overall is the Xtreme Racing Group #48 Corvette, driven by Hans Hauser and Robert Dubler.
  [244]