AutoHunter Spotlight: 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary

Several years from now, Chevrolet will be able to celebrate the Corvette’s 75th anniversary. The Vette – in production since 1953 – is without a doubt one of the most iconic symbols of automotive Americana. Featured on AutoHunter is a car that was part of anniversary celebrations a couple of decades ago: it’s a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition Convertible listed by a dealer in Easton, Maryland. The auction will end on Monday, January 5, at 11:00 a.m. (MST).

All the 50th Anniversary Corvettes were finished in Anniversary Red paint over a Shale leather interior, but there were a lot of smaller details that set them apart from the rest. Standard features included a unique wheel finish, a head-up display, a premium sound system, unique embroidery, and an upgraded suspension (more on that shortly). Chevrolet put the car on prominent display throughout 2003, including using it as a festival/event car during the Indianapolis 500 in May of that year. (The “official” pace vehicle that year was the then-new SSR pickup).

The current odometer reading for this C5 shows just 58,405 miles. The AutoCheck report shows a clean history, too, with no brands, accidents, or recalls on record. The report also shows just two owners, with consistent registration renewals in New Jersey for the last 22 years. Based on what we can see in the photos, the car looks unmodified – something that should make the purists in the community happy. Power comes from an LS1 5.7-liter V8 mated to a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Chevrolet rated the car at 350 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque.

One of the C5 Corvette’s engineering innovations was the “F55” Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension. Instead of being filled with standard oil, the dampers were filled with magnetorheological fluid – a synthetic oil with tiny iron balls suspended in it. They reacted to magnetic fields generated by an electric coil, which could change the viscosity. Car and Driver explained, “A dual-processor computer adjusts the current about 1,000 times per second based on wheel travel and speed, vehicle speed, steering-wheel angle, lateral acceleration, brake application, and temperature.” The end goal was maximizing contact of the tires with the pavement while keeping things stable.

The F55 suspension was just one feature that made Corvettes – especially the Anniversary Edition cars – showcases of technology over the years. This clean 50th Anniversary Corvette will come with promotional materials and an instructional CD. What do you think Chevrolet has in store for the upcoming 75th Anniversary Corvette?

The auction for this 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition Convertible ends Monday, January 5, at 11:00 a.m. (MST).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery