Dateline: 10.1.11
With 13 Model Years and Eight Unique Special Versions, Vote For Your Favorite!
Cast your vote at the bottom of this post
When the new 1984 Corvette was shown to the automotive press in the Summer of ‘83, there was a wave of euphoria. “FINALLY!!! A New Corvette!” As there should have been. After all, the Shark had been with us since 1968 and the steel parameter frame and suspension since 1963. The chassis was designed somewhere around 1960! So you could say the car was a little over due for an update.
In retrospect the C4 was an extraordinary generation. It came with 205-horsepower, went out with the 330-horsepower LT4, and maxed out with the 405-horsepower LT5. Here are the highlights:
* Domination of 1985 to 1987 Showroom Stock Series
* 1986 Indy 500 Convertible
* 1987 to 1991 Callaway Twin-Turbo Option
* 1988 35th Anniversary Edition
* 1988 Callaway 254.76-MPH Sledgehammer
* 1990 to 1995 ZR-1
* 1990 Morrison ZR-1 24-Hour Speed Record of 175.885-MPH
* 1992 LT1 as the base engine
* 1993 40th Anniversary Edition
* 1995 Indy 500 Pace Car Replica
* 1996 Collector Edition
* 1996 LT4-Powered Grand Sport
C4 Corvettes are at rock bottom prices these days and there were so many built that if you cut one up and make it into a hot rod, no one will howl at you. That is, unless you cut up a Grand Sport. I’ve read comments from some fellows stating that for them, the appeal of a C4 is that it still has that “rough muscle car” feel to it. As a generation, the C4 had a lot to offer and today, they make excellent entry level Corvettes. I’ve seen early C4s with a little body kit work, larger diameter wheels, a little lower suspension, plus a few other goodies, looking like a pretty slick ride. I think the expression is, “HOT ROD.”
So, I’ll close this post with the following question. What’s your favorite C4 Corvette? – Scott
PS – My Illustrated Corvette Series has covered every important C4 Corvette, plus Chevrolet’s prototypes, engineering studies, show cars, tuner cars, and several C4 race cars. C4 art prints are available HERE.
Loading ...
Here’s the BEST way to keep up with K. Scott Teeters’ Corvette blog!
