1998 Chevrolet Corvette Base Convertible

1998 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Convertible — Sebring Silver, LS1 V8, 46K Actual Miles Why This Car Is Special The fifth-generation Corvette, introduced for 1997, was a ground-up redesign that gave Chevrolet's sports car a legitimate claim to world-class status. When Car and Driver tested the C5 coupe against a Porsche 911, the Corvette held its own on performance metrics while costing roughly half as much. The convertible version arrived for 1998 — its first model year — and quickly became the volume seller of the C5 lineup. What made the C5 convertible particularly notable from an engineering standpoint was its hydroformed frame rails and a backbone tunnel structure that gave the convertible exceptional rigidity without the added weight of a traditional chassis brace. Chevrolet engineers managed to keep the convertible within about 90 pounds of the coupe's curb weight, which was a significant achievement for an open-top car of that era. This specific 1998 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Convertible checks the boxes that matter most to an informed buyer: a verified 46,000 actual miles, the desirable LS1 V8 engine, the factory Sebring Silver Metallic paint, and a full suite of comfort and technology options that make this one of the more complete C5 convertibles you will find at this mileage. The C5 generation is now firmly in collector territory, and low-mileage, well-optioned convertibles in clean colors are becoming increasingly difficult to source. Features List - LS1 5.7L V8, 345 horsepower - 4L60-E 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission - Independent rear suspension with aluminum-intensive rear cradle - 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS - Red Corvette brake calipers - Traction control - Power steering - Polished aluminum 5-spoke wheels - Black convertible soft top - Pop-up headlights - Quad exhaust tips - Factory dual-zone climate control air conditioning - Factory Bose sound system - 12-disc CD changer - Power windows, locks, and mirrors - Tilt and telescoping steering wheel - Leather-wrapped steering wheel with Corvette emblem - Cruise control - Memory recall seats - Leather bucket seats - Dual front airbags - Heated rear glass window - 46,000 actual miles Mechanical The engine in this 1998 Chevrolet Corvette is the LS1, a 5.7-liter all-aluminum V8 that was new for the C5's introduction in 1997. It replaced the long-running LT-series engines and brought Corvette into a new era of small-block design. The LS1 used a deep-skirt block, cathedral-port cylinder heads, and a composite intake manifold to produce 345 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque — numbers that were previously associated with purpose-built performance cars, not factory production vehicles with air conditioning and a stereo. The engine's all-aluminum construction contributed to a near 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution, which the C5 achieved in part by mounting the transmission in the rear as a torque tube assembly. That rear-mounted 4L60-E 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission is also notable: the torque tube connecting the engine to the transmission eliminated the traditional driveshaft and contributed to the car's flat, efficient floor tunnel design. The suspension is fully independent at all four corners. The rear uses a five-link aluminum-intensive design with a transverse composite leaf spring — an approach Corvette has used since 1984 but significantly refined for the C5. The result is a car that handles body roll predictably and communicates well through the steering. The undercarriage photos on this listing show the aluminum rear cradle and control arms in their original, unmodified state — no visible accident damage, no aftermarket modifications. The four-wheel disc brakes are equipped with ABS and the factory red Corvette calipers that give the brake package a finished look through the spokes of the polished aluminum wheels. Traction control is present as a factory system, working in concert with the ABS electronics to manage wheelspin under ac