2003 Chevrolet Corvette: A Celebration of 50 Years

2003 Corvette Browse the article 2003 Corvette

2003 Corvette

To mark the Corvette's first half-century of production, Chevrolet offered a 50th Anniversary Special Edition 2003 Corvette. Available only on coupes and convertibles, the package included a handsome metallic-burgundy Anniversary Red exterior with champagne-painted wheels and specific badges; a shale interior was highlighted with embroidered emblems on the seats and floor mats, armrests, and grips. The 50th Anniversary convertible also had a shale-hued top. As many as 10,000 Anniversary cars would be built, based on customer demand, and the package -- RPO 1SC Preferred Equipment Group 2 -- added $5,000 to the cost of a base coupe or convertible.

Corvette Image Gallery

The 50th Anniversary Edition was an option for the 2003 Corvette hatchback and
convertible. Included were Anniversary Red paint, shale leather interior,
"50" logos inside and out, and new Magnetic Selective Ride Control.
See more pictures of Corvettes.

Also standard with the golden-anniversary model, and optional on 2003 coupes and convertibles for $1,695, was a new F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension. Similar to the system GM introduced on the 2002 Cadillac STS, the system used a unique damper design to govern wheel and body motion via "Magneto-Rheological" fluid in each shock absorber. Simply put, this is synthetic oil permeated with millions of minute iron balls that float uniformly within the shock fluid. Adjusting the current fed to an electromagnetic coil causes the ball-imbued fluid to change viscosity -- and thus the shock absorber's damping -- with the ability to go from no damping to virtually solid damping.

The F55 suspension was designed to make such adjustments at the blinding rate of about 1,000 times per second, governed by a dual-processor computer chip and based on the car's speed, steering-wheel angle, wheel travel, lateral acceleration, braking, and even the outside temperature. The system was designed to isolate and smooth the action of each tire to help minimize bouncing, vibration, and noise. The result was a quieter, flatter ride with more responsive and precise handling, especially during sudden high-speed maneuvers. The system worked in tandem with both the Corvette's traction-control and antilock braking systems to afford maximum balance and stability over a full range of road conditions. For the heartiest motorists willing to trade some ride comfort for additional road feel, a console-mounted switch afforded a change from "Tour" to "Sport" mode.

Enthusiast-magazine testers came away duly impressed by the F55 system's ability to maintain control and reduce ride harshness when traversing large bumps or dips at speed, and its ability to absorb pavement imperfections and eschew superfluous suspension travel without sacrificing road feel. The alternate "Sport" mode was appreciated, but its greater degree of control and subsequently harsher ride was noted to be more appropriate for running hot laps on a race track than it was in daily driving. The Magnetic Selective Ride Control's added heft, just over 13 pounds, precluded the new system from being offered on the high-performance Z06, however, where every ounce of added weight was looked upon with disdain.

Production on the 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition was limited only
by the number of orders for the $5,000 package, a small price to pay for such
a fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of "America's only true sports car."

A host of equipment was made newly standard on coupes and convertibles for 2003, including fog lamps, sport seats, a power passenger's seat, and dual-zone auto climate control. Coupes received a standard parcel net and privacy shade for the hatch area. To accommodate future enthusiasts, special hooks were installed on the passenger's seat to facilitate connection of a specially equipped child seat (which was recommended only to be used in conjunction with a passenger-side airbag-cutoff switch engaged for added safety). All '03 Corvettes came with special silver 50th Anniversary emblems at the front and rear that featured the number "50" along with the car's signature crossed-flags logo.

Prices went up again for 2003, partly due to the birthday trimmings and other added features. The coupe now started at $43,255, the ragtop at $49,700, the Z06 at $50,485. Despite the hikes, sales held steady on model-year production of 36,026, a slim 88-unit gain over the '02 tally.

Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:

1997 Corvette1998 Corvette1999 Corvette2000 Corvette
2001 Corvette2002 Corvette2003 Corvette2004 Corvette

Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:

• Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
• Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
• Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
• Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
• Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
  
• Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.

2003 Corvette Specifications

In celebration of its 50th birthday, any 2003 Corvette coupe or convertible could be ordered with the 1SC package that included special anniversary and trim. Oddly, it was not available on the Z06. And as a birthday present to buyers, Corvette made a host of options standard for the 2003 model year. Here are the specifications for the 2003 Corvette:

The 50th Anniversary package for the 2003 Corvette included the new Magnetic
Selective Ride Control suspension with variable damping shock absorbers.

Vehicle Specifications
HatchbackConvertible
Coupe
Wheelbase, inches
104.5
104.5
104.5
Length, inches
179.7
179.7
179.7
Width, inches
73.6
73.6
73.6
Track, inches
front: 62.1 rear: 62.2
front: 62.1 rear: 62.2 front: 62.1 rear: 62.2
Height, inches
47.8
47.7
47.9
Curb weight, pounds
3,246
3,248
3,118

Mechanical Specifications (2-door hatchback/convertible/coupe)

Suspension
front: Independent; upper and lower A-arms, transverse composite monoleaf spring, tube shock absorbers, antiroll bar
rear: Independent, upper and lower A-arms, toe links, transverse composite monoleaf springs, tube shock absorbers, antiroll bar

Wheels/Tires
front: P245/45ZR-17 (Z06, P265/40ZR-17)
rear: P275/40ZR-18 (Z06, P295/35ZR-18)

Brakes
front: anti-lock 12.6-inch disc
rear: anti-lock 11.6-inch disc

Transmission
4-speed automatic
6-speed manual

Standard axle ratio
2.73:1 (auto) 3.42:1 (manual)

Engine Specifications

Type
ohv V-8
ohv V-8
Displacement, liters/cu inch
5.7/350
5.7/350
Bore × stroke, inches
3.90 × 3.62
3.90 × 3.62
Fuel management
Sequential Injection
Sequential Injection
Horsepower @ rpm
350 @ 5,600
405 @ 6,000Torque @ rpm, pound-foot
375 @ 4,400400 @ 4,800

Published Performance Numbers

Acceleration
350 hp, 6-speed manual
0-60 mph, sec
4.9
0-100 mph, sed
11.5
1/4-mile, sec @ mph
13.4 @ 101.1

Source: Road & Track

Vehicle Production and Base Prices

Car Type
Production Price 2-door hatchback 12,812
$43,895.00
2-door Z06 coupe
8,635
51,155.00 2-door convertible 14,022
50,370.00

Options and Production

Option Production Price Preferred Equipment Group (hatchback)
7,310
$1,200.00
Preferred Equipment Group (convertible)
6,643
1,200.00
50th Anniversary Edition (hatchback)
4,085
5,000.00
50th Anniversary Edition (convertible)7,547
5,000.00
Commemorative Edition (convertible)
2,659
3,700.00
Memory Package (Z06)
8,241
$175.00
Body Side Moldings22,243
150.00
Dual Removable Roof Panels 5,184
1,200.00
Removable Roof Panel, blue tint3,150
750.00
Electrochromatic Mirrors (Z06)
8,227
120.00
Magnetic Selective Ride Control
14,992
1,695.00
Performance Axle (3.15 ratio, automatic only)
9,785
395.00
6-Speed Manual Transmission8,590
915.00
Magnesium Wheels
293
1,500.00
Polished Alloy Wheels
10,290
1,295.00
Corvette Museum Delivery787
490.00
Stereo with Cassette (replaces std radio)
4,664
0.00
Remote 12-Disc Changer 15,979
600.00
Front License Plate Frame
20,605
15.00
Performance Handling Package
2,592
395.00
Millennium Yellow w/tint coat 3,900
750.00

Color Choices and Production

Color Choice
Production Color Choice
Production
Quicksilver2,387
Electron Blue
2,770
Speedway White 679
Black 5,597
Torch Red5,205
Millennium Yellow3,900
Medium Spiral Gray
3,299
Anniversary Red
11,632

Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:

1997 Corvette1998 Corvette1999 Corvette2000 Corvette
2001 Corvette2002 Corvette2003 Corvette2004 Corvette

Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:

• Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
• Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
• Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
• Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
• Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
  
• Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.