Nineteen ninety-six was a landmark year for Corvette enthusiasts.
- With the demise ot the ZR-1, Chevrolet offset the void by introducing two new
special edition Corvettes, the Grand Sport and Collector Edition models.
- The Grand Sport evoked memories ot its 1962-63 racing predecessors, sporting Admiral
Blue Metallic Paint, a white stripe, red "hash" marks on the left front fender and
black five-spoke aluminum wheels.
- Powering the Grand Sport and optional in all other Corvettes was a 330-hp 5.7-liter
LT4 V-8 featuring a specially-prepared crankshaft, steel camshaft, and water pump
gears driven by a roller chain.
- The LT4 was available only with the six-speed manual transmission.
- The Collector Edition Corvette was produced as a tribute to the final year of
production of the fourth-generation Corvette (the fifth-generation model was to debut
the following year).
- The 1996 Collector Edition Corvette featured exclusive Sebring Silver paint,
Collector Edition emblems, silver five-spoke aluminum wheels and a 5.7-liter LT1 V-8
fitted with a four-speed automatic transmission (the LT4 V-8 and six-speed manual
transmission were both optional).
- On all Corvettes, 1996 marked the introduction of the optional Selective Real Time
Damping system that employed sensors at each wheel to measure movement.
- Data retrieved from each wheel and the Powertrain Control Module was processed by
an electronic controller that calculated the damping mode to provide optimum control.
- Also optional was a Z51 Performance Handling Package available on the Corvette
coupe, and tuned for autocross and Gymkhana competition.
- Standard Corvette models again used the 5.7-liter V-8 with sequential fuel
injection and four-speed automatic transmission.
- Corvettes came in the following colors:
- Dark Purple Metallic
- Arctic White
- Sebring Silver Metallic
- Admiral Blue
- Black
- Bright Aqua Metallic
- Polo Green Metallic
- Competition Yellow
- Torch Red
- Interiors came in the following:
- Beige
- Black
- Light Beige
- Light Gray
- Red
- Red and Black
- White
- Standard features included a removable body-color roof panel for hatchbacks or a
convertible top.
- All Corvette convertibles except those with code 13, 28, or 45 paint colors could
be ordered with one of three cloth top colors: Beige, Black, or White.
- Sebring Silver Metallic (code 13) cars came only with Black cloth tops.
- Admiral Blue (code 28) Grand Sports came only with White cloth tops.
- Polo Green Metallic (code 45) cars came with Beige or Black cloth tops, but not
White.
- Leather seats were standard equipment.
V.I.N. NUMBERS
- The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate
on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the
windshield.
- The coupe serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY225*T5100001 to 1G1YY225*T5120536
- The convertible serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY325*T5100001 to 1G1YY325*T5120536
- The Grand Sport serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY225*T5600001 to 1G1YY225*T5601000
| Position |
Character |
Description |
| 1 |
1 |
US built |
| 2 |
G |
General Motors product |
| 3 |
1 |
Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle |
| 4 & 5 |
YY |
Corvette |
|---|
| 6 |
2 or 3 |
Body style number
- 2 = Two door hatchback style 07, 08, 77, or 87
- 3 = Two door convertible style 67
|
| 7 |
1 or 2 |
- 1=Manual seat belts
- 2=Active manual belts with driver and passenger inflatable restraint system
- 3=Active manual belts with driver-inflatable restraint system
- 4=Passive automatic belts
- 5=Passive automatic belts with driver inflatable restraint system
|
| 8 |
P |
LT1 5.7-liter Multiport-Fuel-Injection (MFI) Chevrolet or GM of Canada V8 |
|---|
| 5 |
LT4 - 5.7-liter MFI V-8 |
| 9 |
? |
A check digit that calculates the characters in the
serial number and gives it a single digit code and can be used to verify that the
serial number is legitimate |
| 10 |
T |
The model year where 1996 |
| 11 |
5 |
Bowling Green, KY |
| 12-17 |
100001 and up |
production sequence for coupes and convertibles |
|---|
| 600001 and up |
production sequence for Grand Sports |
- Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just
ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter
engine code suffix
- Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when
the engine was built
- The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
- The one or two numbers shows the month
- The last digit shows the year
- Engine suffixes:
| Code |
Engine |
Horsepower |
Compression |
Transmission |
Fuel Supply |
Extra features |
| ZXA |
LT1 350-cid |
300-hp V-8 |
10.4:1 |
automatic |
multi-port injection |
|
| ZXD |
LT4 350-cid |
330-hp V-8 |
10.8:1 |
manual |
multi-port injection |
|
- The 1996 Corvette exterior colors were:
- 05 = Dark Purple Metallic
- 10 = Arctic White
- 13 = Sebring Silver Metallic
- 28 = Admiral Blue
- 41 = Black
- 43 = Bright Aqua Metallic
- 45 = Polo Green Metallic
- 53 = Competition Yellow
- 70 = Torch Red
- Upholstery Codes
| Color |
Leather Upholstery |
| Light Gray |
143 |
| Light Gray Collector Edition |
144 |
| Black |
193 |
| Black Collector Edition |
194 |
| Black Grand Sport |
195 |
| Light Blue |
643 |
| Red |
703 |
| Red Collector Edition |
704 |
| Red Grand Sport |
705 |
IDENTIFICATION
| Model |
Model No. |
Body/Style No. |
Body Type |
Factory Price |
Shipping Weight |
Production Total |
| Coupe |
1YY |
Y07 |
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger
|
$37,225 |
3298 |
17,167 |
| Convertible |
1YY |
Y67 |
2-dr. Convertible - 2 passenger
|
$45,060 |
3360 |
4,369 |
ENGINE
| Feature |
Standard Engine (RPO LT1) |
Optional Engine (RPO LT4) |
| Type |
V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve |
V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve with 4 valves per cylinder and 4 overhead camshafts |
| Block |
Cast iron block and aluminum cylinder head |
Cast iron block and aluminum cylinder head |
| Displacement |
350 cid (5.7 liters) |
350 cid (5.7 liters) |
| Bore & Stroke |
4.00" x 3.48" |
4.00" x 3.48" |
| Compression ratio |
10.4:1 |
10.8:1 |
| Brake horsepower |
300 @ 5000 |
330 @ 5800 rpm |
| Torque |
335 lb-ft @ 4000 |
340 lb-ft @ 4500 |
| Main bearing |
five |
five |
| Valve lifters |
hydraulic |
hydraulic |
| Fuel supply |
Sequential Multi-port injection (MPI) system |
Sequential Multi-port injection (MPI) system |
TRANSMISSION
- Four Speed Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission (TMH 700-R4) with floor-mounted gear shifter
- Six-speed Manual with overdrive and floor-mounted gear shifter
CHASSIS
| Feature |
Coupe |
Convertible |
| Wheelbase |
96.2 inches (2.443 m) |
96.2 inches (2.443 m) |
| Overall length |
178.5 inches (4.534 m) |
178.5 inches (4.534 m) |
| Overall width |
70.7 inches (1.778 m) |
73.1 inches (1.857 m) |
| Overall height |
46.3 inches (1.176 m) |
47.3 inches (1.201 m) |
| Front tread |
57.7 inches (1.466 m) |
57.7 inches (1.466 m) |
| Rear tread |
59.1 inches (1.501 m) |
59.1 inches (1.501 m) |
| Standard Tires Front/Rear | P255/45ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT / P285/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT |
| Grand Sport Tires Front/Rear |
P275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT / P315/35ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT |
P255/45ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT / P285/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT |
| Steering | rack and pinion (power assisted) |
| Front suspension | Independent SLA forged-aluminum upper
and lower control arms and steering knuckle, transverse monoleaf springs, steel
stabilizer bar, and spindle offset. |
| Rear suspension | Independent five-link design with toe and
camber adjustment, forged-aluminum control links and steering knuckle, transverse
monoleaf springs, steel tie rods, stabilizer bar, and tubular U-joint aluminum
driveshaft. |
| Brakes | Antilock four-wheel power disc |
| Body construction | Fiberglass; separate ladder frame with cross-members |
| Fuel tank | 20 US Gal (16.7 Imp Gal) (76 liters) |
OPTIONS
| RPO AG1 |
Power driver seat |
$305 |
| RPO AG2 |
Power passenger seat |
$305 |
| RPO AQ9 |
Sports seats |
$625 |
| RPO CC2 |
Auxiliary hardtop for convertible |
$1995 |
| RPO C2L |
Dual removable roof panels for coupe |
$950 |
| RPO 24S |
Removable roof panels with blue tint for coupe |
$650 |
| RPO 64S |
Removable roof panels with bronze tint for coupe |
$650 |
| RPO F45 |
Electronic Selective Real Time Damping |
$1695 |
| RPO G92 |
Performance axle ratio 3.07:1 |
$50 |
| RPO LT4 |
350-cid 330-hp V-8 |
$1,450 |
| RPO MN6 |
Six-speed manual transmission |
no-cost option |
| RPO N84 |
Spare tire delete |
$100 credit |
| RPO UJ6 |
Low tire pressure warning indicator |
$325 |
| RPO U1F |
Delco-Bose stereo system with compact disc changer |
$396 |
| RPO WY5 |
Extended-mobility tires |
$70 |
| RPO Z15 |
Collector Edition |
$1250 |
| RPO Z16 |
Grand Sport package |
$2,880 with convertible or $3,250 |
| RPO Z51 |
Performance Handling package |
$350 |
