2005 Corvette Part Six
Unlike the C5, where a convertible was not available until the second year of production, both the convertible and coupe could be bought in 2005 although the convertible did arrive a few months after the coupe.
Right: the "Waterfall" interior which was introduced in the C5 as a tribute to the C1 Corvettes was back and expanded on for 2005.
GM introduced the convertible at the March 2004 Geneva Auto show, a direct challenge to the European competition. A power top (RPO CM7; $1,995.00) was available and requiring only a delatching of the front bow, was fully automatic and took 18 seconds. The feature was last seen on the 1962 'vette but the 2005 rendition worked much better.
There was nothing held back in the Corvette ad campaign.
Somehow the politically correct police weren't around as the new C6s' resume was shouted out loud: 4.2 seconds 0-60 time, 400 hp engine output and the 186 mph top speed.
David Kimble cutaway drawings courtesy of GM
For the third time since 2002 and the seventh time since 1978, a Corvette paced the Indy 500. Former U.S. Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.) had driving honors.