The Legend Lives Again: The LS6 Engine

The LS6 engine RPO has been offered only once before in Corvette history, and for only one year, the 1971 model year. With a 454-cid V-8 (7.4 liters), cast iron block and aluminum heads, the LS6 is second only to the full-blown L88 racing engine of 1967 to 1969 — in terms of both power and legend. The LS6 produced 425 bhp (gross) and was the most powerful Corvette engine offered in 1971, with only 188 versions produced (less than one percent of total 21,801 production for that year). The option price was $1,221, or twenty-two percent of the coupe's $5,496 base price.

A ZR2 package was available for $1,747 and included the LS6, a heavy-duty, close-ratio four-speed manual transmission, heavy-duty power brakes, transistor ignition, a lightweight aluminum radiator, and special springs, shocks, and front and rear stabilizer bars. A total of twelve ZR2 Corvettes were produced, making it one of the rarer models in Corvette history.

The Corvette Team specifically has chosen the LS6 designation for the 2001 Corvette Z06 to pay homage to one of the most powerful production Corvette engines offered and to stake its claim to its high-performance, street-legal heritage.

The 2001 LS6

"One of the first decisions the Corvette Team made was that the Z06 was to be far more than simply a hot-rodded engine tucked under the hood of a Corvette," emphasizes Dave Hill. "And although the engine is extremely powerful, the rest of the car has been upgraded to complement that power. The Z06 is a balanced car, with total all-around performance."

The new LS6 engine for the 2001 Z06 Corvette has undergone an amazing transformation in the pursuit of better performance. With its operating range extended, breathing and exhaust capabilities enhanced, and all necessary components strengthened for the increased output, the LS6 is the latest evolution of the Gen III engine, and a fitting powerplant around which to build the quickest, most versatile, and well-balanced Corvette so far.