Corvette Generations:
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
Corvette: Year by Year
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 19631964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
2008 Corvette C6 LS3 Engine:
More Displacement, Horsepower
The big news for 2008 was under the hood: Engine displacement was increased to 6.2 liters (376 cubic inches) via a bore increase. Output was upped to 430 hp (424 lb.-ft. torque) and a new engine designation - LS3 - announced the good news. Credit for the increase went to revised a camshaft / valvetrain, a high flow intake and the use of the Z06's fuel injectors. A new for '08 dual mode exhaust (RPO NPP; $1195) which bypasses the muffler for a very aggressive sound. A similar system has been used on the Z06; the difference being that the Z06 used 3 inch pipes and the LS3 uses 2.5 inch pipes.
The manual transmission shifter, which already worked amazingly well, was refined via shorter shifts. Upgrades in the automatic transmission resulted in quicker shifting. Two colors, Jetstream Blue Metallic Tintcoat and Crystal Red Metallic Tintcoat were added and the Le Mans Blue Metallic and Monterey Red Metallic Tintcoat were discontinued.
There were no changes to the Z06 for 2008.
Corvette Paces the 2008 Indianapolis 500
For the 10th time since 1978 a 2008 Corvette C6 convertible paced the Indianapolis 500; a Corvette also had paced the previous four 500s. Emerson Fittipaldi, whose signature was part of the graphics, drive the pace car at the start. Production was limited to 500 - 234 coupes ($59,090.00) and 266 convertibles ($68,160.00).
Hertz Corvette ZHZ Rental
Starting in 2008, Hertz, as part of their "Fun Collection", offered a special Corvette rental with the "ZHZ" designation. Individual Hertz Rent-A-Car offices set their own rates, but it was generally $200 - $250 a day. 500 coupes and 350 convertibles were built; predictably, all were automatics. There were no engine or suspension upgrades but distinguishing features included a black stripe, exclusive polished wheels, a decal on the console and (right) special ZHZ fender badges. Apparently the program was succesful as it was repeated in 2018 with 100 Z06 coupes - also with automatic transmissions - with similar yellow / black livery.
Detailed refinements to the interior made the Corvette even more inviting.
2008 Corvette Options, Prices
| RPO | Description | Production | Price |
| 2LT | Equipment Group - Coup | 3,086 (8.74%) | $1,495.00 |
| 2LZ | Equipment Group - Z06 | 4,929 (13.96%) | $3,045.00 |
| 3LT | Equipment Group - Coup | 9,201 (26.06%) | $4,505.00 |
| 3LT | Equipment Group - Convertible | 5,879 (16.65%) | $5,100.00 |
| 3LZ | Equipment Group - Z06 | 1,460 (4.13%) | $6,545.00 |
| 45U | Velocity Yellow exterior paint | 3,264 (9.24%) | $750.00 |
| 4LT | Equipment Group - Coup | 834 (2.36%) | $8,005.00 |
| 4LT | Equipment Group - Convertible | 528 (1.50%) | $8,600.00 |
| 83U | Atomic Orange exterior paint | 2,246 (6.36%) | $300.00 |
| 85U | Jetstream Blue exterior paint | 3,728 (10.56%) | $750.00 |
| 89U | Crystal Red exterior paint | 5,420 (15.35%) | $750.00 |
| C2L | Dual Removable Roof Panels (coup) | 2,773 (7.85%) | $1,400.00 |
| CC3 | Removable Roof Panel, Transparent (coup) | 3,251 (9.21%) | $750.00 |
| D30 | Non-recommended color / trim / top combo | 189 (0.54%) | $590.00 |
| F55 | Magnetic Selective Ride Control (coupe and convertible) | 4,666 (13.21%) | $1,995.00 |
| GU2 | Real Axle 2.73 Ratio (with automatic transmission) | 8,839 (25.03%) | $395.00 |
| MX0 | Six-speed Paddle Shift Automatic Transmission (coupe and convertible) | 19,136 (54.19%) | $1,250.00 |
| NPP | Dual Mode Exhaust System (coupe and convertible) | 13,454 (38.10%) | $1,195.00 |
| Q44 | Competition Gray Aluminum Wheels (Z06) | 395 (1.12%) | $395.00 |
| Q76 | Chrome Aluminum Wheels (Z06) | 5,101 (14.45%) | $1,995.00 |
| Q9V | Chrome Forged Aluminum Wheels (coupe and convertible) | 2,932 (8.30%) | $1,850.00 |
| QG7 | Polished Forged Aluminum Wheels (coupe and convertible) | 5,412 (15.33%) | $1,295.00 |
| QL9 | Polished Aluminum Wheels (Z06) | 970 (2.75%) | $1,495.00 |
| QX1 | Competition Gray Aluminum Wheels (coupe and convertible) | 1,781 (5.04%) | $395.00 |
| QX3 | Original Design Chrome Wheels (coupe and convertible) | 9,626 (27.26%) | $1,850.00 |
| R8C | Corvette Museum Delivery | 954 (2.70%) | $490.00 |
| U3U | AM/FM, CD, Navigation with Bose | 16,807 (47.60%) | $1,750.00 |
| Z51 | Performance Package (coupe and convertible) | 10,706 (30.32%) | $1,695.00 |
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Total Production:
35,310
Notes: Base Corvette Coupe with 6.2L 376 cu. in. 430 hp engine and six speed manual transmission: $45,995.00. |
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2008 Packages |
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| RPO | Description | Contains | Production | Price |
| 2LZ |
Equipment Group Z06 |
Includes side impact air bags, power telescopic steering, heated seats, memory package, steering wheel audio controls and six CD sound system | 4,929 (13.96%) | $3,045 |
| 3LT |
Equipment Group Coupe |
Includes 2LT items + head up display | 9,201 (26.06%) | $4,505 |
| 3LT |
Equipment Group Convertible |
Includes 2LT items + head up display | 5,879 (16.65%) | $5,100 |
| 3LZ |
Equipment Group Z06 |
Includes 2LZ items + leather wrapped interior and bias pattern console trim | 1,460 (4.13%) | $6,545 |
| 4LT |
Equipment Group Convertible |
Includes 2LT and 3LT items + crossed flags headrest embroidery | 528 (1.50%) | $8,600 |
| 4LT |
Equipment Group Coupe |
Includes 2LT and 3LT items + crossed flags headrest embroidery | 834 (2.36%) | $8,005 |
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Colors
| Code | Exterior | Quantity | Interior | Soft Top | |
| 10 | Arctic White | 1,974 (5.59%) | Ebony / Red / Cashmere / Titanium | ||
| 41 | Black | 9,380 (26.56%) | Ebony / Red / Cashmere / Titanium | ||
| 45 | Velocity Yellow | 3,264 (9.24%) | Ebony / Red / Cashmere / Titanium | ||
| 67 | Machine Silver Metallic | 3,660 (10.37%) | Ebony / Red / Cashmere / Titanium | ||
| 741 | Victory Red | 5,638 (15.97%) | Ebony / Red / Cashmere / Titanium | ||
| 83 | Atomic Orange Tintcoat | 2,246 (6.36%) | Ebony / Red / Cashmere / Titanium | ||
| 85 | Jetstream Blue | 3,728 (10.56%) | Ebony / Ebony/Cashmere / Ebony/Gray / Ebony/Red / Cashmere / Titanium Gray / Sienna / Linen | ||
| 89 | Crystal Red | 5,420 (15.35%) | Red / Ebony / Ebony/Cashmere / Ebony/Gray / Ebony/Red / Cashmere / Titanium Gray / Sienna / Linen / Dark Titanium | ||
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