Category: C4 Corvettes

Pricing: $27,027.00 (Coupe), $32,032.00 (Convertible)

Engine options: 350CI, 230/235 Horsepower, Tuned-Port Fuel Injected L98 V8 Engine.

Transmission: 4-speed automatic (standard), 4+3 speed manual (optional)

Top speed: 150mph

Units Produced: 35,109

Available Colors: Silver Metallic, Medium Grey Metallic, Medium Blue Metallic, Yellow, White, Black, Gold Metallic, Silver Beige Metallic, Copper Metallic, Medium Brown Metallic, Dark Red Metallic, Bright Red, Silver/Grey, Grey/Black, White/Silver, Silver Beige/Medium Brown, Silver Beige/Black

Highlights of the year:

The arrival of the 1986 Corvette came with “VATS” or “Vehicle Anti-Theft System” in addition to the existing alarm system and as a result, Corvette theft dropped from 7% to less than 1% in 1986 and to near 0% by late 1987/early 1988.

Another advancement of the 1986 model year involved the introduction of the first anti-lock braking system to the Chevrolet Corvette.  Antilock brakes (or ABS), which utilized the latest ABS II setup from Bosch in Germany, prevented wheel lock-up in extreme braking conditions and reduced/eliminated skidding and subsequent loss of control of the car.  ABS was relatively new in 1986 and its usage was limited mainly to high-cost luxury cars.

The engines that were fitted with aluminum heads were rated at 235 horsepower, which was a 5 horsepower increase from 1985 and early 1986 models that were fitted with cast iron heads. Additionally, “low coolant” and “anti-lock” (in reference to the anti-lock brakes) instrument displays were also added.  Wheels were given raised hub emblems and a bright brushed finish which replaced the black centers of the 1984 and 1985 models.

But for all of this, the most significant change didn’t come as an optional component, but rather as an entirely optional model type – the Corvette Convertible.  Chevrolet engineers, aided in part by engineers from the “American Sunroof Company”, had stated that the C4 Corvette’s design had always been intended to support a convertible variant of the beloved coupe, and so they knew that transforming the car from coupe to convertible would be a straight forward process.

Interestingly, the arrival of the new Corvette Convertible in 1986 resulted in less than stellar sales. Probably due in large part to “sticker shock”, there were only 7,315 Corvette convertibles sold that year.  While there was certainly no question that Corvette engineers, workers, and fans alike welcomed back the nostalgia-filled convertible, its price proved to put the car just out of reach for most consumers looking to purchase a convertible sports car that year.

Instead, sales of the Z51 Corvette continued to lead the way, although this option was only made available in coupe form.  Even with its integral X-member reinforcement, the convertible chassis was still no match for the hearty, bone chattering Z51 performance package.

In all, 35,109 Corvettes were sold in 1986.  While this number was still considered to be very respectable, it was the second year in a row that overall Corvette sales numbers had slipped.  Despite these diminished numbers, there was no question that Corvette was continuing to move in the right direction.

Photos of the 1986 Corvette:

Sources:

https://www.corvsport.com/1986-c4-corvette/
https://www.corvsport.com/1986-c4-corvette-image-gallery/

 

Pricing: $24,403.00

Transmission: 4-speed automatic (standard), 4+3 speed manual (optional)

Engine options: 350CI, 230 Horsepower, Tuned-Port Fuel Injected L98 V8 Engine. 

Top speed: 150mph

Units produced: 39,729

Available colors:  Silver Metallic, Medium Grey Metallic, Light Blue Metallic, Medium Blue Metallic, White, Black, Gold Metallic, Light Bronze Metallic, Dark Bronze Metallic, Bright Red, Silver/Grey, Light Blue/Medium Blue, Light Bronze/Dark Bronze 

Highlights of the year:

When the C4 Corvette returned for a second year in 1985, it did so with some much-needed improvements. It had the Cross-Fire Injection System replaced with “Tuned Port Injection” fuel delivery which in turn aid in the car’s improved performance. This along with a half-point compression increase (9.5:1) improved the engine output by 25 horsepower, pushing the engine to a total of 230 Brake Horsepower (BHP) at 4,000 RPM.  Similarly, the engine’s torque was increased by 40lbs/ft, taking it to 330lbs/ft at 3,200 RPM (versus the former 290lbs/ft at 2,800 RPM found on the 1984 C4 model.

With regard to the Z51 package, other suspension changes were introduced as well.  This option now included larger fore and aft stabilizer bars which helped to offset total roll stiffness after GM introduced the softer suspension calibrations.  Further, the package included wider, 9.5 inches wide tires to be mounted in the front (as well as the rear) of the car.  Also included were Delco-Bilstein gas-pressurized shocks and a revised heavy-duty cooling system.  The Delco-Bilstein shocks were also offered as a separate option on the base level Corvette.

1985 Corvette was lowered ¾ of an inch to reduce the drag coefficient to 0.33. As GM, engineers set out to have Corvette achieve higher speeds, it was determined that the steering caster angle should be increased by one degree (to a total of four degrees) to produce better straight-line stability.  Similarly, the braking system was bolstered to produce greater braking power by the addition of a larger brake master cylinder and brake booster as well as different brake pad linings.

The interior received a minor facelift which included revised instrument graphics and optional leather upholstery for the more expensive Lear-Siegler Seats which further solidified the overall aesthetic quality of the car.

However, the cost of these improvements caused a sizable increase in the sell price of the 1985 Corvette.  The cost of the C4 (base price) jumped from $21,800 in 1984 to $24,403 just a year later.  As a result, the C4’s sales dropped dramatically, resulting in the lowest number of annual sales in more than ten years.  Despite the decline in sales, General Motors knew that they were moving in the right direction with this new design and continued to layout further design revisions which would help the Corvette gain greater success in the years to come.

Photos of the 1985 Corvette:

 

Sources:

https://www.corvsport.com/1985-c4-corvette/
https://www.corvsport.com/1985-c4-corvette-image-gallery/
https://www.ryanfriedmanmotorcars.com/1985-chevrolet-corvette-c-593.htm

The 1984 Corvette was unveiled to the public in March, 1983.  Although there had been rumors and silent rumblings of a new Corvette for several years prior to it’s unveiling, the arrival of the C4 Corvette was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from both the press and the public.  Although the car was a departure from its predecessor in both styling and form, it was still unmistakably a Corvette – although it was definitely a more technologically advanced Corvette than any that had come before it.

Pricing: $21,800.00

Engine options: 350CI, 205 Horsepower, Crossfire Fuel Injected V8 Engine

Transmission: 4-speed automatic (standard), 4+3 speed manual (optional)

Top speed: 140mph

Units Produced: 51,547

Available Colors: White, Bright Silver Metallic, Medium Grey Metallic, Black, Light Blue Metallic, Medium Blue Metallic, Yellow, Gold Metallic, Light Bronze Metallic, Dark Bronze Metallic, Bright Red, Silver/Medium Grey, Light Blue/Medium Blue, Light Bronze/Dark Bronze

Highlights of the year:

Conscious of maintaining the highest possible emissions standards, it was decided early on that, at least for the first model year, the C4’s primary focus would not be horsepower (as was the norm for generations of Corvettes before it) but handling.  Many increases to the overall drivability of the Corvette were made, and a special performance handling package – option Z51 – was introduced for the 1984 model year.

While sales began almost immediately after the arrival of the new Chevy Corvette, GM continued to make on-going changes to the car’s final layout and design.  These “running changes” were made even after sales began.

The most significant changes that were made to the 1984 Chevy Corvette from the earlier prototype models included an engine-oil cooler that was to be included as part of the standard equipment package.

Other changes to the design of the C4 also helped differentiate the new Corvette from all of its predecessors.  Prior to the 1984 model, all Corvettes had been built to include a front grill.  Since it’s inception in 1953, the Corvette front grill had served as a trademark that was synonymous with Corvette.  Of course, in the 30 years that followed, the design of the grill had grown smaller and smaller.  At the onset of the 1984 Corvette, it was removed completely.  Corvette engineers had developed an under-car ducting system that provided adequate airflow to properly cool the radiator. Replacing the grill was a pair of halogen fog/running lamps which were inspired by the Porsche 928 (and other European sports cars of that era).

Another item that disappeared completely from the C4 Corvette’s design was the existence of actual bumpers on the car. While the new Corvette actually did have bumpers integrated into its design, (which were rated to absorb impact speeds of up to 5 miles per hour), it was done in such a way that they were not differentiated from the rest of the car, giving the car a “bumper-less” appearance.

As commercial production of the C4 Corvette began, so did the criticism.  Because of the long lead/build time on the 1984 Corvette, General Motors had, perhaps mistakenly, provided many late ’83 model Corvettes to the automotive press for review.   Chevrolet engineers invited the automotive media to test the Corvette to the Riverside Parkway as early as December 1982.  These first, regular production Corvettes were being driven – and evaluated – by automobile reviewers all over the country.  Initial reviews praised the Corvette for its quick acceleration and drivability.  They focused on how well it cornered and handled road courses.  At the same time, there was significant criticism about how the car treated its occupants.  The ride was rough, especially in Corvettes equipped with the Z51 suspension package.  While the car was deemed a superior car for the track, it was generally judged as being too harsh-riding for daily driving.

Despite the lukewarm reviews that began to circulate about the first model year of the C4, the excitement of being able to purchase an all-new Corvette for the first time in 15 years made the 1984 Corvette a quick sellout.

Photos of the 1984 Corvette:

 

Sources:

https://www.corvsport.com/1984-c4-corvette/
https://www.corvsport.com/1984-c4-corvette-image-gallery/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/482659285037352678/