1987 Chevrolet Corvette C4 – Today’s Tempter

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 23.04.2018

Collector’s edition replica offers all the thrills

1996 saw the C4 Corvette living on borrowed time as the new and improved C5 was almost ready and was waiting in the wings. The C4 first arrived in 1984 and was an evolutionary leap from the C3’s wild and swooping 70s style.

With an all-new chassis, electronic dash, and a wedge-shaped silhouette, the C4 was an instant hit and was propelled firmly into the hearts and minds of 1980s customers.

With a sharply raked A-pillars, and a low protruding bonnet line, it was a massive visual update from its predecessor and, to this day, offers a ubiquitous and nostalgic 80s charm.

As they did with the outgoing C3 some 12 years earlier, a Collector’s Edition was released in Sebring Silver paint, badging and wheels. 5412 Collector’s Editions were built, 1381 of which were convertibles.

This however, is not one of those final Collector’s Editions.

In actuality this car rolled off the line nine years earlier as a 1987 model, but has undergone a thorough restoration as well as an amalgamation of retro-fit OEM upgrades spanning the entire C4 life cycle.

Visually, the car looks like one of those last Collector’s Edition cars. In what looks to be the same Sebring silver hue, full 1996 body kit and bumpers, Collector’s Edition badging, and correct factory C4 ZR1 wheels.

Underneath the long bonnet, sits the factory V8 which has been stroked to 383ci and boats a rebuilt head.

A host of other factory and aftermarket upgrades have been carried out- rendering the build list far too long to be outlined here. The build list however, also shows a level of curation, a build that’s been well thought-out by an owner who clearly loves and knows the C4 lineage.

Our Buyer’s Guide puts early 84-87 C4s at low-mid $20,000s, and late-model 94-96 examples up at $41,000. This car is one the higher end of that scale, but falls behind the most expensive ZR1s at upwards of $60,000.

Listed at $39,900; the car looks like a rare collector’s item, and has the performance to boot. While not an authentic rarity though, at least you won’t be scared to take this beauty out of the garage.

It’ll look special, and it’ll feel special - but on any sunny Sunday, you can drop the roof and go for a drive with confidence. That’s what you want isn’t it?

You can check out the full listing here!

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