October 1996 included a tech piece on modifying a stock-appearing 327 for more power and endurance. We believe it was the first appearance of contributor Ron Ceridono, now the Technical Editor for Street Rodder, and he still owns the '63 featured in the how-to article. In the November issue, VETTE premiered the C5's new heartbeat: the 345hp, all-aluminum GEN-III LS1 small-block. As of the December issue, automotive journalists were still being kept in the dark about specifics on the upcoming, all-new C5, and would be for another two months.
1997The modern era of Corvette performance was upon us, with computer-controlled motors fully integrated into the hobby. The cast and crew at VETTE kicked off the year with a special TPI issue that included a TPI Buyers' Guide, an explanation and evaluation of Tuned Port Injection systems and their components, and two L98-equipped vintage Vettes, including a '65 soft top and a high-tech '57. February looked backwards, remembering the No. 4 Corvette piloted by Dave Heinz/Bob Johnson in 1972-the first Corvette to ever finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was also the only Corvette to do so until the factory-backed C5-R effort in 2000. VETTE was also there for Corvette's induction into the Route 66 Rendezvous' "Cruisin' Hall of Fame," and Abraham Bergian wrote a short how-to on replacing the carburetor on a Chevy small-block with TPI. Through February 1997, Marty Schorr was listed as Founding Editor, but his name was dropped from the staff box beginning in March.
The highlight of March was the unveiling of the long-awaited C5. Twelve color pages detailed the completely re-engineered '97 Corvette, including drivetrain, chassis, and dimensional specifications, performance data, comparisons with the competition, and evaluations of the latest and greatest plasticar. With the creation of the C5, GM has indisputably made the Corvette into a world-class sports car.
In Vol. 21, No. 6, K. Scott Teeters spotlighted the first Corvette, the '53, in the first installment of his Corvette Designer Series. As of August 1997, Senior Editor Jim Campisano, who began as a proofreader for VETTE in July 1989, goes to the Dark Side as he becomes Editor-In-Chief of sister publication Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords. September's issue included a special for fans of small-scale plastic Chevys, with a list of all known 1/24th- and 1/25th-scale Corvette model kits to date. October featured VETTE's very first aftermarket C5 hop-up: B&B Performance's Tri-Flo cat-back exhaust. December wrapped up the year with an intriguing interview of Larry Shinoda and four pages of tech on LT5 mods. Looking back from 2001, we are surprised by the unimpressive baseline dyno readings Richard Holdener got on the stock guinea pig ZR-1. The 375hp-minimum rated LT5 only put 305.5 ponies to the wheels, which is barely over a stock LS1, and 30hp less than we got on a '01 Z06 press car, rated at 385hp.
1998Major changes were again afoot in 1998. CSK Publishing, who had put out VETTE since 1979, was bought by K-III Communications and merged into their growing niche-publication empire. January's Vol. 22, No. 1 was the first issue to reflect the new ownership, and it brought a whole lotta confusion. The front-cover barcode reads "A K-III Publication," but it is not reflected at all in the editorial. The staff box remains "CSK," but it lists McMullen Argus art directors. To make matters even more muddled, the staff box shows this issue as Vol. 11, No. 1, and the circulation info at the bottom is for Bracket Racing USA. Otherwise, January was business as usual, with tech articles on replacing the steering linkage pivot ball in solid-axle cars and how to rebuild a Borg-Warner T10 gearbox.