Corvette Showdown: 1969 427 vs 1999 LS1 Hardtop
Motor Trend’s Slug Fest: old Vette, versus modern Vette!
To read the Motor Trend Magazine September 1998 article SHOOT OUT! The classic 1969 427 Big-Block Corvette vs the 1999 LS1 HT Corvette, CLICK HERE!
What’s not to love about big-block 427 and 454 Corvettes? When you combine big cubic inches and high compression, you get LOUG, GUTTERAL music to our ears!
When the 454 Corvette made its debut in the fall of 1969. However, we didn’t know that the big-blocks would carry the Corvette legend for such a long time. In our hearts, big-blocks were legends, while engineering and electronics caught up with old-school performance numbers. By the time the C4 Corvette was retired after 1996, all manual transmission Corvettes were powered by the same LT4 engine as the flagship Grand Sport special edition Corvettes.
The all-new, all-aluminum LS1 was underrated
Underrated at 330 horsepower, the horsepower was over 375, giving the 1996 manual Corvette better performance than the mighty big-blocks of old. The next-generation C5 Corvette was, to that date, the most radical generational change in Corvette history. The all-aluminum LS1, with its transaxle, superior frame, and suspension, set up the C5 Corvette to become a world-class road racing champion many times since then.
Get FREE Access to the Latest Posts
The Motor Trend writers must have had “TOO MUCH” fun. Imagine, pounding around in an old 427 big block and the new LS1 Corvette, comparing the old with the then-new. A big factor in making the C5 significantly better than the C3 is the transaxle. Thanks to the 6-speed manual with 6th gear as overdrive, the C5 can get 30 mpg on the road! What a difference 20 years makes! – Scott
To read the Motor Trend Magazine September 1998 article SHOOT OUT between the classic 1969 427 Big-Block Corvette, vs the 1999 LS1 HT Corvette, CLICK HERE!
Check out our Corvette swag in our Car Guy Merch Etsy Store, HERE.
Check out our Corvette swag in our Car Guy Merch Etsy Store, HERE.
Click for Corvette Model Cars, C1 to C8 Generations
Get FREE Access to the Latest Posts
