[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2000 issue of Grassroots Motorsports. Some information may have changed, and prices have been left as they originally appeared in print.]
The Chevrolet Corvette has been an important piece of Americana since its 1953 debut&ndash…
I wish everybody would shut up about C4's. They'll drive the price up before I have a chance to buy one...
In reply to stroker :
If it helps, this article was written back in 2000, so maybe C4s have gotten worse, and perhaps nobody wants them anymore... 
Even with the recent breakdown, I believe you know my feelings on the subject...
Almost every single day, my friends and I send each other a sub-$5k (and usually sub-$3k) C4 Corvette to egg each other on to be the first of our friend group to buy one. They are unbelievably cheap right now. Over the weekend, we missed out on a 1994 with just 80K original miles for $1200. Guy couldn't get it started off the gas tank and didn't want to mess with it. None of us could figure out a trailer/shuffling our stuff around/convince our spouse before it sold. But again, there's one every day, so it's not a huge loss.
We've toyed around with an idea we call the Cheap Corvette Challenge, where we all buy cheap C4's (or late C3's) and do a vacation cruise with them, and maybe hit up a cruise night or two dressed in the "Corvette Uniform" to mess with people and parody weirdo Corvette guys. We were originally supposed to do this when we hit around 40, but I think it's been pushed to 50 now. One of these days....
Tony Sestito said:Almost every single day, my friends and I send each other a sub-$5k (and usually sub-$3k) C4 Corvette to egg each other on to be the first of our friend group to buy one. They are unbelievably cheap right now. Over the weekend, we missed out on a 1994 with just 80K original miles for $1200. Guy couldn't get it started off the gas tank and didn't want to mess with it. None of us could figure out a trailer/shuffling our stuff around/convince our spouse before it sold. But again, there's one every day, so it's not a huge loss.
We've toyed around with an idea we call the Cheap Corvette Challenge, where we all buy cheap C4's (or late C3's) and do a vacation cruise with them, and maybe hit up a cruise night or two dressed in the "Corvette Uniform" to mess with people and parody weirdo Corvette guys. We were originally supposed to do this when we hit around 40, but I think it's been pushed to 50 now. One of these days....
I am IN!
In reply to Tony Sestito :
What is this "uniform" you speak of??
Tony Sestito said:Almost every single day, my friends and I send each other a sub-$5k (and usually sub-$3k) C4 Corvette to egg each other on to be the first of our friend group to buy one. They are unbelievably cheap right now. Over the weekend, we missed out on a 1994 with just 80K original miles for $1200. Guy couldn't get it started off the gas tank and didn't want to mess with it. None of us could figure out a trailer/shuffling our stuff around/convince our spouse before it sold. But again, there's one every day, so it's not a huge loss.
We've toyed around with an idea we call the Cheap Corvette Challenge, where we all buy cheap C4's (or late C3's) and do a vacation cruise with them, and maybe hit up a cruise night or two dressed in the "Corvette Uniform" to mess with people and parody weirdo Corvette guys. We were originally supposed to do this when we hit around 40, but I think it's been pushed to 50 now. One of these days....
Whoa, really? That's giving me bad ideas.
Can I assume people have figured out LS swaps, big brakes, and how to cure any handling woes?
They handle and stop pretty good out of the box. 1988+ cars are better. The J55 brakes or C5 calipers are an easy upgrade. They're just small block Chevys with a fancy wrapper so parts are easy and LS swaps are out there.
I still think they are the best looking Corvette. (dodges shoe)
I don't know if it's just that they were the Corvette when I was growing up or what, but they just seem to have a presence and exotic style that the ones that came after never had. The rear tires always looked so wide to me too, like wider than a C5. When I think of Corvette, it's still the car that comes to mind.
I haven't heard the driving experience is great, so I've never really longed for one.
Having raced, AXed and track dayed C-4's for about 25 years and having read the article, I did notice an omission.
The LT1 and LT4 were notorious for the infamous "Opti=spark" (OS) distributor. Failures were common and the part was a challenge to replace. Thus some aftermarket parts came along to help. I'm lucky I have small hands because the wiring on these was quite challenging.
The "Opti-spark" was located just below the water pump and any leakage migrated into the OS an caused problems.
If I remember right this was a time when GM had a cost cutting parts person that came from VW. He soon departed. lol
In reply to CyberEric :
I 100% agree with you. My 10 year old and I were in a car show a few weeks ago that was all makes but sponsored by a local Corvette club. There were nearly 60 Corvettes there from 1965-current. I happen to think that the C4s there (mine included) were some of the prettiest Corvettes there. While I think the C8 is a technical marvel with true supercar performance, the longer I look at them the less I like the appearance (or the large overall size). I feel similarly about the C7, most potent of the front engines cars.
When viewed critically, however, C4s are filled with fiddly plastic bits that fade, crack and squeak while going down the road. They aren't well braced and wiggle and squeak their way down the road. There are options for stiffening the chassis, but that carries an additional cost.
I literally have an ear to ear grin every time I drive mine, but I have owned many vehicles that were faster, handled better, and were better engineered.
All of that being shared, you can buy a decent L98 version of this car for very friendly money. I paid $5500 for my two owner 0 accident 64k mile automatic coupe. A higher mileage 89 (the sweet spot among L98 cars) could be had in decent shape at or under $4000. Replacement parts are super cheap and widely available, and rarely do i drive mine that somebody doesn't approach me to talk about it.
This is my first Corvette (out of over 170 cars I've owned in total) and I like it so much I am looking for a 2008-2010 Z51 coupe to share the garage with it. If you come into the ownership experience eyes-wide-open they are a great car!
One last fun note that I find ironic: you can buy a C4 Corvette in nice condition cheaper than a comparable Camaro or Firebird of the same vintage. I find that mind-blowing!
Yeah they tell people not to even buy 3rd and 4th gen F-bodies anymore because C4s and C5s were taken care of better and offer more performance stock for equal or less money.
In reply to Loweguy5 :
You can't just drop that one photo and dip. I need more!
I'm a manual transmission guy. I've been ramping up my "keeping an eye out" for a C4 in recent weeks and have been skipping right over auto cars. My use case will be the typical Sunday drive, cruise night, etc. with the occasional AX (as a total newb). Maybe I shouldn't overlook the automatic? Thoughts? Experience?
In reply to Paris Van Gorder :
Im pretty sure I only have one photo of my NB shoes...
In reply to Motojunky :
Most coupes with an automatic also have the 2.56 rear end; the farthest thing from quick off the line. Mine has ripped off "as fast as" a 6.5 second 0-60. Its an odd sensation since my Lightning will get there in about 5 seconds...
LT1 cars are significantly quicker with +55 hp but are more expensive and early models suffer the Optispark issues that are well documented.
Rear ends can be harvested from convertibles and manual transmission cars with as low as 3.33 gears but wheel to wheel they often bring $1500 or so. I have been passively watching the classifieds for a wrecked convertible that I could grab whole to rob the rear end from.
I have found, however that the footwell is so small that I question if I could actually drive a 3 pedal car. I wear a 14 4E shoe and some of my shoes are too wide to wear when operating just the two pedals (throttle foot inadvertently hits the brakes). You would need to get into one to see how your feet fit particularly if you wear skis like I do.
Loweguy5 said:In reply to Motojunky :
Most coupes with an automatic also have the 2.56 rear end; the farthest thing from quick off the line. Mine has ripped off "as fast as" a 6.5 second 0-60. Its an odd sensation since my Lightning will get there in about 5 seconds...
LT1 cars are significantly quicker with +55 hp but are more expensive and early models suffer the Optispark issues that are well documented.
Rear ends can be harvested from convertibles and manual transmission cars with as low as 3.33 gears but wheel to wheel they often bring $1500 or so. I have been passively watching the classifieds for a wrecked convertible that I could grab whole to rob the rear end from.
I have found, however that the footwell is so small that I question if I could actually drive a 3 pedal car. I wear a 14 4E shoe and some of my shoes are too wide to wear when operating just the two pedals (throttle foot inadvertently hits the brakes). You would need to get into one to see how your feet fit particularly if you wear skis like I do.
My New Balance are 10.5 so I should fare better in that regard. The idea of an automatic sports car is a little bit of a contradiction for me, but in reality it may be a non issue. I have no illusion of a C4 being fast - I just don't want to be disappointed on twisty roads or coned parking lots. I really need to drive one. I drove one (4+3) that ran terribly about 5 years ago that I'd have bought if it wasn't red. Before that I drove my brother's 84 (auto) a few times in the early 90s.
I'm still counting on coming for yours when you're done with it. 🤣
My brother-in-law bought a mint condition '85 in the early 1990's. His older brother inherited it and told me a few months ago to look for it at the Westmont, Illinois car show on summer Thursday nights.
Last week I went and didn't see him but I believe there was 4 other red C4's there.
In reply to Motojunky :
Haha.
I just realized I've already had this car nearly a year now! I don't think it's leaving me any time soon. I look way too cool when I have it out on the road!
Or just chop one up. Drives pretty nice with a 20" longer wheelbase
C4's being overwhelmingly automatic transmissions kills it for me. I would love a nice C4 or similar vintage Camaro to sit next to my Foxbody Mustang that sits next to my 190E.
Hmm maybe I need a Japanese radwood car instead to complete the look.
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