Best more modern Corvette to buy?

[Quirkycars1967]

Having just sold my trusty 1975 LS5 454 cube, i'm looking for a more modern but still American car, preferably another Corvette.
The old beast had aftermarket heads, ignition, cam, valve gear, intake manifold and exhausts plus a bit more. It gave an easy going 504 bhp and about the same in ft/lbs. But time had caught up with her and plenty needed doing so it went this afternoon to a friend in France who will make it wonderful, i am sure.
I am torn between a 6.2 litre, the C6 with 430 bhp and the 7011cc Z06 version, with 505 bhp. Are there any big ups or downs with these two motors? Is it a no-brainer to go for the bigger engine with more power? From what i remember doesn't the bigger engine have some nice engine parts as standard?
Which would you buy? Oh and how does the older 7 litre motor compare with the later C7's 460 bhp 6.2 powerplant?

[Quirkycars1967]

Zarco said:

C6 Z06 is the one for me.

Engine/chassis/looks well worth it over the standard C6. Proper bit of kit.

Not that I've driven one. The day will come hopefully.

I do like the idea of over 7 litres of natural aspiration and the scope for easy bhp increases if i choose.

[Quirkycars1967]

I wonder what money the earliest 6.2 supercharged 'vettes are currently? Factory fitted i mean. ZR1?
640 bhp and over 600 lbs sounds good!

[Quirkycars1967]

Zarco said:

The Achilles heel of the LS7 is excessive wear to valve guides that some engines suffer due to a manufacturing error with the cylinder head.

Hence why there are lots of 'heads and cams' modified Z06 on the market. Problem solved.

Personally the main attraction of the C6 Z06 is the full monty 7 litres of NA power. A boosted LS3 doesn't do it for me.

640 bhp of American V8 sounds just fine!