Why This Car Is Special

The fifth-generation Corvette, known as the C5, arrived for the 1997 model year and immediately reset expectations for what an American sports car could be. General Motors had spent years engineering it from the ground up, and the result was a car that was lighter, stiffer, and more powerful than the C4 it replaced — while also being significantly easier to live with every day. The 1998 model year brought one notable addition to the C5 lineup: the convertible. This was the first year a Corvette ragtop was offered in the C5 generation, and buyers responded immediately. For the 1998 model year, Chevrolet produced approximately 11,849 C5 Corvette convertibles, making them notably less common than the coupe.

This particular 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is finished in silver over a black leather interior and carries just 46,000 actual miles. That mileage figure is significant for a C5 of this generation — these cars were frequently driven and enjoyed, so finding one with this kind of documented, low use puts it well ahead of most comparable examples on the market today. The combination of the LS1 engine, the convertible body, and the full factory equipment list makes this a strong representative of what the C5 Corvette was designed to be.

Like most of Chevrolets Corvette's, this Corvette came loaded with options. It has the Famous LS-1 V8 5.7 engine, with the Automatic overdrive transmission, power steering, 4-power disc brakes, and factory A/C. It also has power windows, power door locks, tilt, cruise, power mirrors, dual climate control, memory recall seats, traction control, rear defrost, and leather reclining seats. This Silver exterior, and Black interior and convetible top is one of the most sought-after color combinations.

That's very low miles. A 12 disc CD player, and Chrome 5 spoke Corvette wheels are also one this Beauty. This is the perfect cruise around and enjoy Classic car. Fly in and drive this beauty home!

The engine under the hood is the LS1, a 5.7-liter all-aluminum V8 that was rated at 345 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque when new. The LS1 was a complete departure from the LT1 and LT4 that preceded it in the C4. It featured an all-new block architecture, revised cylinder head ports, and a more efficient combustion chamber design that produced more power with less weight than the old iron-block small-block it effectively replaced. The LS platform went on to become one of the most influential American V8 designs of the modern era, and this 1998 Corvette Convertible carries one of the earliest production examples of that engine in its most original context.

Features List

• LS1 5.7L V8, 345 horsepower
• 4L60-E 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission
• Independent rear suspension with aluminum cradle
• 4-wheel disc brakes with red Corvette brake calipers
• Traction control
• Power steering
• Power windows, locks, and mirrors
• Tilt steering wheel
• Cruise control
• Factory dual-zone air conditioning
• Memory recall seats
• Black leather seats with Corvette embossed headrests
• Factory Bose sound system
• 12-disc CD changer
• Dual front airbags
• Heated rear glass window
• Pop-up headlights
• Black convertible soft top
• Chrome 5-spoke wheels
• 46,000 actual miles

Mechanical

The LS1 in this 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible displaces 5.7 liters and is built from an all-aluminum block and heads, which contributed to a significant weight reduction compared to previous small-block Chevrolet engines. The factory rating was 345 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, with power delivered through the 4L60-E four-speed automatic overdrive transmission. The 4L60-E was a well-proven unit by this point in its production life, and when paired with the LS1's broad torque curve, it makes the car very capable in everyday driving without requiring any driver-side compromise.

The C5's chassis was a major engineering achievement. It used a hydroformed perimeter frame rather than a traditional ladder frame, which gave the structure exceptional rigidity without adding significant weight. The result was a car that weighed around 3,245 pounds in convertible form — lighter than many contemporaries with far less power. The front suspension uses short-long arm geometry, and the rear uses a fully independent five-link setup mounted to an aluminum cradle. The transverse composite leaf spring rear setup was a Corvette hallmark and contributed to the car's flat cornering behavior. Under the car on the lift, the aluminum rear cradle and suspension components are visible and show the kind of clean, dry condition you would expect at 46,000 miles. The underside has no significant corrosion, and the exhaust system exits through the signature quad-tip arrangement at the rear bumper.

Braking is handled by four-wheel disc brakes at all corners, with the factory red Corvette calipers clearly visible through the chrome 5-spoke wheels. The red calipers were a visual signature of the C5 and remain one of its most recognized styling details. Traction control is standard equipment on this car, working in conjunction with the rear-biased weight distribution to manage power delivery under acceleration. The factory also included power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, which gave the C5 significantly more feel and precision than the recirculating ball setup used in earlier Corvette generations.

Interior

Inside the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, the cabin is finished entirely in black leather. The seats are power-adjustable and include a memory recall function, which stores preferred seating positions and is particularly useful when two drivers share the car regularly. The seat bolsters and cushions show the kind of wear consistent with a car that has been used but not abused — the leather carries some surface crackling in the seating areas, which is typical for C5 Corvettes of this age and is cosmetically addressable. The Corvette script embossed into each headrest remains intact and legible.

The dashboard layout in the C5 was a significant upgrade from the C4. The gauge cluster is driver-focused, with a large tachometer and speedometer flanked by auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, battery voltage, and fuel. The speedometer reads to 200 mph, which was a deliberate design choice that reflected the car's actual capability rather than being merely decorative. The center stack houses the factory Bose sound system head unit above and the dual-zone climate control system below, with the secondary 12-disc CD changer mounted beneath. The Bose system in the C5 used door-mounted speakers tuned to the interior acoustics of the car, and the factory setup remains intact and fully functional.

Additional interior equipment includes power windows, power locks, power mirrors, tilt steering wheel, and cruise control. Dual front airbags are standard. The convertible also includes a heated rear glass window integrated into the black soft top, which is a practical feature that prevents having to use the defroster in colder conditions and keeps the rear window clear without compromising the top material. The top itself operates manually and is in good condition.

Exterior

The 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible wears silver paint, a color that works well with the C5's body lines and highlights the shape of the fenders and hood without being visually busy. The body panels are all fiberglass and SMC composite, which means they do not rust and are relatively resistant to minor impact damage. The panel gaps are consistent, and the paint shows its age appropriately at 46,000 miles without significant defects visible in the photos.

The C5 convertible uses the same basic body structure as the coupe but adds a padded convertible header and revised rockers for added structural reinforcement to compensate for the absence of a fixed roof. The result is a body structure that, while not quite as rigid as the coupe, is significantly stiffer than earlier Corvette convertibles. The black soft top fits cleanly and seals properly, and the heated rear glass remains clear and undistorted.

The pop-up headlights are one of the last iterations of this design to appear on a production Corvette. They were eliminated on the C6 in 2005 in favor of fixed units, making the C5 the final generation to carry this look that traces back to the 1963 Sting Ray. At the rear, the quad exhaust tips exit cleanly beneath the rear fascia, and the round taillights — a visual callback to earlier Corvette generations — are intact and undamaged. The chrome 5-spoke wheels are present at all four corners and are in good condition. Red brake calipers are visible through the spokes at all four wheels.

Conclusion

The 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible represents the first year of the ragtop in the C5 generation, powered by the original LS1 V8 in a specification that has aged well mechanically and remains highly capable by any practical standard. At 46,000 actual miles, this car has been used modestly for its age and presents as a solid driver with the full factory equipment package intact — including the Bose audio system, dual-zone climate control, memory seats, and red brake calipers. The undercarriage is clean, the top is functional, and the LS1 continues to be one of the most parts-supported V8 engines in the country, making long-term ownership uncomplicated.

If you are looking at 1998 Corvette convertibles, this example at Skyway Classics checks the boxes that matter most: actual mileage you can verify, factory equipment that works, and a drivetrain that has nothing to prove.

To arrange a walk-around, ask questions, or discuss this 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible in detail, call Skyway Classics at 941-254-6608.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.