Lingenfelter Supercharged Z06 Corvette 550 HP 6 Speed

The bottom line on John Lingenfelter is that he was a surprisingly humble guy whose equipment always worked the way he said it would. For a racer, his humility and sense of humor were always welcome, and as a competitor, his knowledge and dedication to his craft were legendary. Even when I was working for one of his competitors, we all had nothing but respect and admiration for the man, and our rivalry was always friendly and good-spirited. But I’d be lying if I said his cars were not the bogey we aimed for every single time we rolled something new out of the shop.

This 2003 Corvette Z06 benefits from a comprehensive makeover in the Lingenfelter shops, including a supercharged LS1 that boasts a whopping 550 horsepower. And as you can tell from the pictures, it’s more than just a hot motor, this car has had a comprehensive list of cosmetic and functional upgrades that make it a spectacular all-around performer.

Millennium Yellow was new on the Corvettes in 2000, and became one of the most popular colors in the subsequent years. The Z06 model, which was available only in the “fixed roof coupe” body style, was lighter, faster, and more powerful than the standard Corvette. Together, they create a very distinctive look on this ’03 Z06. The paint is mostly factory original, which was very good by 2003, and the new body parts were expertly painted to match. Up front there’s a domed hood to clear the blower living underneath, and it wears proud “550 HP Supercharged” badges on both sides. In back, a special ductail spoiler was grafted onto the Corvette’s rear fascia, ostensibly to improve traction and downforce, but also to give the plain coupe body some flair. In that same vein, slotted taillight covers were painted to match and installed over the stock lenses, along with a matching set for the back-up lights flanking the license plate. Standard Z06 pieces like the screens in the front fascia and the brake cooling ducts in the lower rocker panels ahead of the rear wheels remained unchanged, and only enhance the predatory look of this ‘Vette. If getting attention is what you’re into, this Corvette is exactly what you need.

But the real story on this Corvette lives under the hood, and the Lingenfelter banner on the windshield is your reminder that horsepower is their specialty. And you won’t miss it on this car, because sitting front and center on top of the engine is a Magnuson-sourced supercharger that compresses air into the stock Z06 LS1 engine, adding 145 extra ponies in the process. And this is no bolt-on job, either, because you’ll notice that it is powered by a jack-shaft running along the passenger’s side of the blower, turning the belts on the back of the blower. This was necessitated by the packaging constraints of the Corvette’s engine bay, and the execution is first-rate throughout and probably rivals OEM quality in every way. Additionally, the blower has been fully polished, becoming eye candy for when you pop the hood and show off the horsepower factory that lives underneath. Additional flash is provided by the special Lingenfelter coil covers that are gloss black with silver lettering, leaving nobody to guess who worked the magic on this small block. An upgraded fuel system makes sure the engine gets plenty to drink under full boost, and it has been augmented with a 180 degree thermostat and a heavy-duty Donaldson air filter. And if you have any questions about the quality of the workmanship, take a look at the bottom of the hood—that’s OEM all the way and it is extremely well finished.

The Z06 was heavily fortified compared to the standard Corvette in 2003, and was the ideal platform into which you could transplant an extra 145 horsepower. With the Z51 suspension option as standard equipment, along with lightweight titanium exhaust and upgraded brakes, it is more than capable of harnessing all that extra horsepower. This particular Z06 has taken its braking to the next level with a set of cross-drilled 2-piece rotors at all four corners and stainless brake lines for improved pedal feel. The chassis was lowered about an inch, giving the car an aggressive stance that eliminates the gap between the tires and fenders. A high performance exhaust system adds an aggressive sound and maybe a few extra horsepower, too. The wheels are Z06 style alloys, with painted black centers and wearing 265/40/17 front and 295/35/18 rear Goodyear Eagle  F1 Supercar  tires.

Inside, the Corvette’s all-black leather interior is in great condition and shows age and mileage-appropriate wear. Obviously well-maintained by a fastidious owner, the seats have a comfortable, lived-in look not unlike those bomber jackets you used to see WWII pilots wearing. The Z06 got special gauges and ‘Z06’ logos embroidered on the headrests, and while it was at the Lingenfelter shop, this one received a set of embroidered floor mats that match the Millennium Yellow body. LPE also added a lighted boost gauge on the A-pillar as well as a Hurst shifter that slices through the gears with far more precision than the stock, rubbery one ever could. This car is loaded with every option you could get on a Z06 in 2003, including the heads-up display unit and Active Handling, which was a form of traction and stability control. Door panels, carpets, dash and headliner are all in virtually new condition, and despite what the car magazines all say, I think it’s a great-looking interior that is more than up to the task of anchoring a world-class supercar like the Z06.

You can tell from the low mileage that this was never a daily driver, and we have all the original purchase documents from July 2, 2003 when this car was purchased for $50,792.19. There are also receipts and invoices from Lingenfelter Performance Engineering for all the modifications done to the car, as well as original manuals and owner’s CD. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there’s a dyno sheet from LPE showing this car making more than 450 horsepower at the rear wheels—impressive numbers and a torque curve that looks like Devil’s Tower.

There aren’t many better bargains in the performance world than a C5 Corvette. Even today, almost 15 years after they were introduced, they are still potent performers and exceptionally comfortable cruisers. With Lingenfelter Performance Engineering’s enhancements, everything that is already good about the Corvette is simply magnified, beginning with a huge power upgrade. Beautifully maintained since new, and with an outstanding list of options and features, this is a spectacular show and go piece that will be very welcome at any Corvette gathering or show. This car with all its upgrades is available for less than the cost of the car alone just 7 short years ago, and packs more performance than a new Z06 that costs 50% more. Just make sure you’re ready for all the attention this yellow ‘Vette is sure to attract. Call now!