Is a 50 MPG Corvette Possible?

[Hersbird]

So a 2001 C5 6 speed just showed up on my favorite lot run by a friend. Now I too am intrigued. His is a nice 75k miles asking $13,000 but I have a feeling I could get it around 10. That made me look around and I seem some other decent examples within 500 miles for even $8500. My son and I had been looking for a hot rod or musclecar to build, but now I'm thinking a $5000 C5 with a blown motor might be the thing to wait for. Now I don't really care if I could get 35-40mpg but it is interesting. I would rather try and build a 200mph capable car but the aero goals might be similar.

[freebeard]

I've always wanted to see a 50/50 morph between a Corvette and the 1947 Volkhart-Saggitta.



With a windshield from a Lola or Porsche GTP or something raised above a cowl shaped like the Talbot-Lago, and three-place seating (two front/one back). Four wheel skirts over tall-narrow Bridgeport Ecopias on 19s.

[Grant-53]

The ecomodder rule is that a full aero package and dedicated hypermiling yields about double the rated fuel mileage.

[MPGeo]

Hi Everyone, I know this thread is back from 2019. But was wondering if there are any updates on an efficient C5 Corvette ??? Thinking on buying a C5/C6 and wondering how far this project got.

[Piotrsko]

Hard to overcome the need to stomp the pedal to the floor in a vette. If you can avoid that, lots of mods aero or engine economy improvements

[JRMichler]

The 1975 Corvette base engine was rated 165 hp, and that was sufficient at the time. The base 4 cylinder engine in my 2006 Canyon was rated 175 hp and was available with a 5 speed MT. The C5 Corvette is lighter, has lower Cd, and less frontal area. It would be even lighter with the Canyon engine and transmission.

If I could average 38 MPG in summer driving in that Canyon, I would think that 50 MPG in a Corvette with that engine and the same mods would be very attainable. See the discussion: https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...yon-17070.html. The Corvette might need skinny LRR tires to get to 50 MPG.

The 2017 to 2019 Colorado/Canyon was available with a 200 hp four cylinder engine and six speed MT that might be even better. It's been in the back of my mind for years, but I will never do it. I wish somebody would.

Maybe some ambitious person could start things by comparing the weight, Cd, and frontal area of a Corvette and 2006 to 2012 Colorado/Canyon? Then plug the numbers into the MPG calculator? Please?