1997 Chevrolet Corvette

First off, know this: We were not prepared to like the new Corvette as much as we do. From all the spy photos and inside info we were able to obtain (and scoop the world on) over the past several years, we knew the '97 model would be the most "all-new" car in Corvette history. Not even the original '53 Vette had as many unique, Corvette-specific parts as does the '97. Nonetheless, our jaded journalistic sensibilities had us expecting a car with far less refined manners and significantly lower levels of overall improvement.

We Were Wrong. Flat Wrong.

From the all-aluminum 5.7-liter LS1 OHV V-8 and rear-mounted transaxle to its incredibly rigid backbone frame with hydroformed steel side rails, the latest Corvette also is the greatest Corvette. Its power and sound say "pure American muscle machine," its handling is slot-car precise, and-the biggest surprise of all-its ride quality, quietness, and interior comfort rank right up there with German machines in the $60K class. Refined isn't a word you could legally use to characterize any Corvette to come before, but it's an entirely appropriate description of the '97.

This is the first all-new Corvette in 13 years. Yeah, 13 years. Back when the '84 C4 (Corvette, fourth generation) debuted, the car biz was substantially different from what it is today. That year, Ronald Reagan was still in his first term of office, Chevy was hawking its 1.8-liter diesel Chevette, Chrysler was barely getting its feet wet with minivans, and Ford was still two years away from introducing the first Taurus. In today's aggressive automotive product cycle, 13 years is an eternity, making the previous-generation ('84-96) Vette one of the oldest platforms still in production at General Motors.

You'd probably imagine the Corvette to be the multinational automaker's sacred cow, fat with engineering money and backed by executives with unwavering support, but that ain't exactly so. During its lifetime, the model referred to as "America's only true sports car" has been perilously close to death several times. In fact, this C5 model was originally scheduled to debut in 1993, but a series of severe budget cuts, timing setbacks, and narrow escapes from the hangman's noose ultimately relegated it to the '97 model year.

It's therefore not only amazing that the new Corvette is so great in so many ways, it's a miracle the car exists at all.