Featuring a blend of carbon fiber and fiberglass body panels, and even a transparent hood insert, the C6 ZR1 is the thing of legends and is one of the most collectible Corvettes of all time.

But let’s not get excited about aesthetics alone, because under that exotic-style hood window is a supercharged LS9 powerplant providing 376 cubic-inches and 638 hp – with the help of its 2.3L Roots-type blower.

It was designed as a sort of GT car; very effective on the road course and dragstrip, but comfortable and competent on the drive home. It was a Corvette that brought the best technology and hardware to the table. For example, the rear brake calipers are said to have been direct carryovers from the Ferrari Enzo’s front binders.

The ZR1 was also equipped with additional aero upgrades for improved downforce, plenty of “ZR1” badging inside and out and a Magnetic Selective Ride Control system, which allowed the Corvette to automatically adjust suspension stiffness levels based on road conditions and vehicle movement.

Performance was anything but an issue for the Z, clocking 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, eclipsing the quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds at nearly 130 mph and would seemingly break the sound barrier - for a production car - with a top speed of 202 mph.

With stats like these and such a huge benchmark left in place for the C7 to reach, the C6 ZR1 will certainly go down in history as one of the great milestones in Corvette history.

Story by Rick Seitz