Over the years, buying a Chevrolet Corvette, new or used, has become easier and easier thanks to the incredible aftermarket support that the sports car series enjoys. Got a C2 and something has broken, maybe a small piece of nuts and bolts? Fear not, there will be parts available for just about anything, no doubt.
At the same time, even though the eighth-generation C8 made the switch to a rear-mid-engine configuration for the first time in 2019 instead of the classic front-engine RWD design, the latest Corvette has remained one of the automotive industry’s best blank canvases to make your own. Since then, it’s been pampered, abused, abused, and transformed into everything from an everyday car to a supercharged quarter-mile exotica and from a full-blown hypercar to a true dream ride.
It all started in April 2019, when the C8 was announced, followed by the coupe debut in July and the crazy unveiling of the convertible in October at the Kennedy Space Center during an event timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. Production then began in early 2020, and the world of American sports cars is no longer the same. For example, after the first six months of the year, sales of the Corvette series are at their best since 2015!
Initially, Team Chevrolet put its faith in the C8 Stingray, the “base” model with a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 called the LT2 with up to 495 hp with the Z51 package. Instantly, with its stellar performance combined with everyday driving capabilities, the Stingray became a great alternative to mid-engined European sports cars. However, it wasn't until Chevrolet launched the C8 Corvette Z06 that it earned its new nickname, the “Ferrari killer.”
Plus, you can swap out the Prancing Horse moniker for any other sports car or exotic brand. Launched in late 2021, the homologation vehicle arrived for the 2023 model year and now starts at $110,100 with the new LT6 behind the seats. It's not just any V8, though: The new 5.5-liter naturally aspirated has a flat-plane crankshaft and develops 670 hp at 8,400 rpm along with 460 lb-ft (624 Nm) of torque. It's bested by the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG By the way, the Black Series' M159 engine will become the world's most powerful production V8.
But wait, there's more. For a little less money – $ 104,900, to be more precise, you can also have an early 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray C8. This is the first high-performance hybrid in the Corvette lineup and the model was announced early last year with the appearance of the Z06, but the Stingray LT2 is mixed with an electric motor drive unit and 1.9 kWh battery. At launch, it became the fastest production 'Vette in history and also their first high-performance hybrid or All-wheel drive model.
However, soon enough, that supercar-killer moniker will turn into a hypercar-killer moniker: On July 25, 2024, at a private event in Miami, Florida, Chevrolet unveiled the new LT7-powered 2025 Corvette ZR1. It uses the 5.5-liter V8, but along with extensive modifications and twin turbochargers, it now develops no less than 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft or 1,123 Nm of torque, making it more powerful than a V8-powered hybrid Ferrari SF90 Stradale but also a V12-powered Lamborghini Revuelto. Hybrid electric vehicle hypercar!
Of course, it’s easy to see that Team Corvette has been focused on the power arms race with the 495-hp Stingray, the 655-hp E-Ray, the 670-hp Z06, and now the 1,064-hp ZR1. Plus, the rumor mill hasn’t forgotten that a Zora hybrid is still on the way, and that one has the potential to outperform the ZR1! The same can be said for much of the aftermarket realm, at least when it comes to traditional companies like Lingenfelter, Callaway, or Hennessey: they all wanted to squeeze more oomph out of the C8 Corvette.
Alas, Caravaggio Corvettes, a small company in Concord, Ontario, Canada, has always focused on doing things differently. In addition to the big players, there are also many smaller outlets that provide Corvette accessories, aero kits, aftermarket wheels, suspension or exhaust modifications, and other small improvements. But Caravaggio is different from the big or small players: It is following in the footsteps of the big European coachbuilders with the Unica Series 1, a line of custom creations based on the C8 with a stunning carbon-fiber body structure.
When announced in early 2022, the new series focused on the C8 Stingray and was supposed to include only 30 units. However, things have changed almost two and a half years later, as only three Stingray cars have been built to date. That’s probably for the best, as the outlet has trimmed the limited-run production run to just 25 units and is now including the Z06 in the process. More specifically, they recently announced on social media that their first build focused on the Z06, which is a true “sleeper,” or at least as much of a “sleeper” as a C8 can be, has been successfully completed.
It’s easy to explain: As one Caravaggio fan noted, both the C8 Stingray and the Z06 share a lot of similarities in terms of styling. Of course, “no two cars will be the same,” as customers can choose from an “unlimited” amount of interior and exterior options, including fabrics, leathers, carbon, colors, and trim. There are also performance upgrades of the owner’s choice: supercharger, Brembo brakes, aftermarket wheels, and engine tuning. All cars will have their own special badges identifying them as Corvette Caravaggio Unica Series 1.
However, unless you know a small detail about the C8 Corvettes that are covered in carbon fiber inside and out, it will be impossible to tell if this is a Stingray or a Z06. According to Caravaggio, what will set them apart are the round tips on the Z06 and the square tips on the Stingray, because all cars will have the same exhaust system, with dual pipes on the far side of the fenders! One last thing or two to note.
For starters, since the announcement in early 2022, the price to start the transformation has jumped from $110,000 to $135,000, not including the base price of the Stingray or Z06, which you must secure before the build begins. Secondly, anything can be transformed into a bespoke work of art: Caravaggio even offers custom tooling for the wheel center nuts! How cool is that?