The Corvette C4 is now cheaper than ever before, and it is a car that you should seriously consider adding to your collection. It’s not the fastest Corvette ever and neither is it the nicest, but with some going for under $5000 it sure is the cheapest. The C4 spanned a very long lifespan from 1984 to 1996, which is twelve years. A very long time for a sports car, but it stood up against the test of time and it was widely successful. The C4 was the 4th generation of Corvette and it was massively different from the previous two generations. It wasn’t badged a “Stingray” first of all, and secondly, the whole design had completely changed.
The C4 was a very boxy car that was very fitting for the era it was brought out in. The lines were sharp and the whole car looked so much sleeker. It had definitely lost its muscular looks from the C2 and the C3 Corvette, but this was the trend for American cars in the 1980s. In my opinion, the C3 looks more exciting but get a C4 in the right specification and it will look a million times better overall.
The C4 was strained from the word go though. Taxes and regulations made the original models slightly underpowered. However, Chevrolet prioritized handling with the C4 hence why the car got transverse mono leaf springs instead of standard coils at the front. However, this really did reduce comfort massively especially on the cars with the Z51 handling pack. In 1985 though, a year after the launch the whole suspension setup was softened a bit. The door sills were also quite deep due to the Targa top. This doesn’t sound like an issue, but it made it even harder to get in and out of the car.
All the engines were 5.7 liter V8’s but power varied depending on the model. The original 1984 model had only 205hp which was really poor. Later 1980s models had 240hp which was a big increase. The fastest model made by Chevrolet was the ZR1 model with 405hp. Most cars had between 230hp and 300hp. Most C4 models are reasonably fast doing a 0-60 in around 6 to 7 seconds. The ZR1 model hit 60 though in just under 5 seconds which was crazy back in the day.
So why should you buy one? Well, let’s take a look.
picture via: caranddriver.com
The Corvette C4 Is a 1980s American Icon
picture via: motortrend.com
Sure, most American 1980s cars were terrible. Except for cars like the C4 Corvette. It was cool, classy and even today it looks sexy. Just take one look at it and you feel nostalgic, as it is a car that defines the 1980s. It’s a car that definitely has more show than go (unless it’s the ZR1 model).
The C4 Corvette was owned by many famous celebrities. George Clooney had a blue roadster model, Micheal Jordan had a 1990 ZR1 model, Barbie had a pink model, Nicolas Cage had a 1991 ZR1 and astronaut Scott Altman had a C4 too. It was a very popular car, with over 50,000 units selling in 1984, the first proper production year of the car. However, sales declined massively for the years to come with later cars not even surpassing the 40,000 mark. The reason for a decline in sales was increasing prices, taxes, financial woes, etc as well as tough competition.
Despite the tough competition, the C4 managed to stay somewhat competitive. It was definitely a poster car for many American kids back in the 1980s, and this was a big deal because cars like the 930 Porsche, the Testarossa, and the Countach were at their peak in the eighties.
Why Did The C4 Become So Cheap?
picture via: classicsportscar.com
These cars new were not the most expensive. A 1988 model was around $29,480, which in today’s money is just over $66,000. Final models in 1996 cost a new $37,225 in 1996, which in today’s money is $62,842.87 which is just under $4000 or so less than the earlier cars. It was, however, one of the cheapest exotic sports cars on sale during the 1980s.
The C4 had many faults though. The build quality was horrific, parts were somewhat expensive and supply and demand for used cars are pretty low. Cars in bad condition and high miles are common on car trader websites, and of course, they are usually the cheapest. You could restore one quite easily, but parts are pretty expensive and some of the parts such as the flywheel for the ZF transmission are very hard to get hold of. All of a sudden, this car becomes a pain in the backside to own.
Almost 400,000 of these cars were sold, so it is very likely that many will be left in horrid condition. The bodies are rusty, the mechanics are far from precise and the whole car is just slow. That’s before you get onto the interior. Some of these cars have been kept in top condition or have been restored. Those cars are more expensive, but not so expensive that it breaks the bank (unless it’s a really clean ZR1 or Callaway model).
Should You Buy a C4 Corvette?
picture via: corvetteforum.com
For $3000 you can get a C4 Corvette beater. It will be in terrible condition, but for $3000 that is a lot of car for the money. You get a 5.7 liter V8, sleek sporty looks, and an RWD setup. The best part is though because it is so cheap you don’t have to worry about scraping the underbody on speedbumps or worrying where you park it. You can actually enjoy this car stress-free, and this cannot be said about most sports cars.
If you want to restore it, then sure it may be a good starter project for a new mechanic. Just know paintwork on these things and body panels are expensive and a pain to do. Engine though is pretty reliable and easy to work on as well as the transmission, suspension, etc. It is a very simple car.
If you are after your first sports car or you want something cool on a limited budget, look no further. You could bag yourself a Camaro, but there are no guarantees you will get a V8 one since most Camaro’s at beater C4 money are 6-cylinders. The C4 is also a great choice for teens since it is cheap and you won’t have to worry about dents or scratches because it is a beater. Unfortunately, insurance is still pretty high for teenagers on this car, but there is surely a possibility to get insurance.
The only real expense is gas. It has a big 5.7 liter V8 under the hood, and that is not good on gas at all. Good luck if you live in states like California as emissions tax will also kill. but hey, life is for living so why not enjoy it with a classic Vette? You never know, it may increase in value over the next few years.