Vehicle Description
If there's a bigger performance bang for the buck than the C4
Corvette, I'm not sure what it might be. Even thirty years later,
this 1987 Chevrolet Corvette offers handling that'll embarrass more
than 80% of today's cars, powerful brakes, and the legendary L98
small block V8. With just over 53,000 original miles, this clean
and unmolested Corvette coupe is a heck of a lot of horsepower and
handling for the price of a 5-year-old Hyundai.
The low-key burgundy paint gives this Corvette a sophisticated look
that is a pleasant change from all the silver and black C4s you see
just about everywhere you go. Corvettes are plastic, so there's
obviously no rust or damage to the bodywork, and the doors, as with
most C4s, close with a reassuring thunk. The big clamshell hood
fits well, another bugaboo that haunts 'Vettes that have been
bumped, and the paint is in decent shape for its age although its
show days are probably over. Both the front and rear bumpers are in
good condition with no cracking or discoloration, and I, for one,
have always liked the high-mounted light atop the B-pillar hoop,
which reminds me of the mighty ZR-1. The chin spoiler hasn't been
terribly beaten up by steep driveways and the rockers show only
minor wear from those fat tires. If there's any real demerit, the
black trim is showing some signs of UV fading, but that's easy to
remedy with the right procedures.
The tan leather interior was part of Corvette's state-of-the-art
presentation, and GM poured every bit of tech they could dream up
into the 'Vette. The articulating sport seats are some of the most
comfortable ever fitted to a GM car, even today, and it's easy to
find just the right position. There's a bit of wear on the outer
bolster, as you'd expect, but the leather overall is in good
condition and certainly commensurate with its age and mileage. The
door panels are excellent the carpets are original, so there's some
soiling that could probably be addressed with a deep cleaning. The
digital dash was perfectly in tune with the tech-happy 1980s and
Corvettes came loaded with options like power windows and locks,
A/C (needs to be serviced), a tilt wheel, and a decent
AM/FM/cassette stereo, although the stereo in this car has been
upgraded to a later AM/FM/CD head unit. The trunk area under the
hatch is reasonably-sized and in excellent condition, too.
Power comes from Chevy's legendary 350 cubic inch V8, designated
the L98 in the Corvette. In 1987, upgrades like roller lifters for
the camshaft and a revised exhaust system, horsepower was up 10 to
240 and torque was an impressive 345. It starts with a bark from
the exhaust system and is at its best in cut-and-thrust driving
where it's perhaps the ultimate point-and-shoot machine. Linked to
a Doug Nash 4+3 manual transmission, it's a fine grand touring
machine whose road manners and performance were much improved over
earlier models. Of note, it has not been modified or abused and it
wears original wheels with a machined finish that still looks good,
all wrapped in 255/50/16 performance radials.
You probably won't find more performance for less cash anywhere
else, and there's no question that the C4 Corvettes have
bottomed-out the value scale, so they have nowhere to go but up
from here. If you need a low-cost way to have some fun and get into
the hobby with some of the best enthusiasts around, this might be
your chance. Call now!