Vehicle Description
In 1989, the Corvette was still the king of American performance,
and in roadster form it was one of the best examples of General
Motors' engineering. Full of technology and with performance that
could humble the best Europe had to offer, it is part of the
foundation that gave us today's amazing C8. This excellent example
shows just 72,518 original miles, and unlike so many of its
siblings, it hasn't been abused or neglected, making it one of the
best 'bang for your buck' examples we have in our inventory.
You could be forgiven for thinking that all C4 Corvettes were red
(it was the most popular color), but yes, it's true, there were
other colors available. Previously called "Medium Blue Metallic"
(yes, there was also a Dark Blue Metallic color option, but it was
not nearly as vibrant as this) the finish is nonetheless as
dramatic as red could ever be, and few colors look as right on the
C4's clean bodywork. The paint job is original, with a finish
that's on par for a 'specialty' vehicle with this mileage (if not
even a tad bit better), which is a fancy way of saying that it's
held up pretty darn well for a 33-year-old car. With that said,
it's certainly not a perfect finish, and you can find some
imperfections and inconsistencies as a result of the weathering
process of time and age, but the curb appeal is through the roof
and there's nothing quite like a droptop Corvette cruising down
Main Street. If you're looking for a strong driver, this is it. The
Bowling Green assembly plant's well-known quality standards and
excellent care throughout its life have helped to wonderfully
preserve this C4, and with only 72K miles on the clock it's going
to look pretty solid for years to come. It's pretty obvious that
this one has always been someone's fair-weather flyer and not a
daily driver (although it's certainly capable), and the 3 prior
owners treated it like a member of the family during its easy life
spent in California and Texas. The big clamshell hood fits well,
the doors close with that reassuring Corvette solidity, and there
are no stripes or other body add-ons to distract you from the
original design. Dialed-in and ready to show-off, what more could
you as for in a convertible under $15k?
The Black leather interior is about as futuristic as 1989 could
make it, with digital gauges, a trip computer, and enough buttons
to command the space shuttle. Both seats are power adjustable and
every bit as comfortable as they look once you master the unique
step-in procedure the C4 requires (step-drop-pull), and other than
wear spots on the high-traffic areas, the interior still shows
nicely. Factory A/C (needs to be serviced), an upgraded Sony
AM/FM/CD stereo, power windows and locks, as well as a tilt wheel
and electronic speed control were all part of the package, making
the Corvette a true grand touring car. And with so few miles on the
clock, everything is still in pretty good condition, including the
black door panels, the crack-free dash and center console (quite an
accomplishment on a convertible from the late '80s, especially
since we're talking about GM plastics and materials from that era),
and the plush black carpets below. Other than the aforementioned
wear on the seats that's visible in our pictures, a few mismatched
buttons (in that some appear newer than others), and signs of use
on the steering wheel, this cabin is very solid indeed. Even the
original black canvas top, which stows invisibly under the
flush-fitting decklid, shows minimal wear with a clear rear window
in great condition, and a color-matched hardtop comes with the car
as well.
The L98 350 cubic inch V8 received a slight increase in power,
boosting performance to 245 horsepower (for the convertibles;
coupes were rated at 250HP) thanks to the addition of one of the
world's most advanced fuel management systems, aluminum cylinder
heads, a high-lift camshaft, low-restriction dual exhaust, and
increased compression ratio registering at 9.50:1. These
improvements resulted in some of the best performance numbers
available in an American V8 at the time, and further boasts all
that 'bang for your buck' talk that follows a Corvette around its
entire life. Where it really excels, however, is torque production,
and with the standard 4-speed automatic transmission, tuned-port
fuel injection, and relatively low curb weight, this car simply
carves through traffic and is an incredible point-and-shoot
machine. And honestly, after years of the admittedly awkward Doug
Nash 4+3 manual transmission, the automatic really is the best
choice. It's in excellent operating condition and history has
proven that it's virtually indestructible no matter how hard you
drive it. Completely stock and neatly preserved, the engine almost
looks like a catalog shot from the '90s, although there is a wealth
of aftermarket performance parts should you ever feel the need to
pump up those stock horsepower numbers a bit. Underneath, this one
is ultra-clean, with evidence of its weekend-car history apparent
everywhere you look, and the less-restrictive dual factory exhaust
system is still in place, catalytic convertor and all. Stock
17-inch C4 alloys are still place, although they are wrapped in a
set of 275/40/17 BFGoodrich radials that are due for a change right
away.
Get your piece of fiberglass history for less than the price of a
used Kia. The miles are incredibly low, the performance is still
impressive, and there's still nothing quite like a Corvette
roadster. Call today!
