I am pondering a purchase of one of these as a second car/fun car. It would not be a daily driver.

In my price range, I'm probably looking at an 84 up to a 92-ish version. I'm not dead set on any particular feature or variant, but I'm trying to avoid two particular issues: 1 - the 1984 model because Crossfire injection is a terrible set-up and severely underpowered, and 2 - any combination of red on red that was very popular in these mid-80s, early 90s 'Vettes.

What else do I need to know?

(Other than to somehow find a unicorn - ZR1 under $10k)

I'm basically looking in the $5-8000 range, at these cars specifically because A. I like to go fast, and B. I believe they are at the bottom of their depreciation curve and will be on the way up from here. Not huge, mind you, but a car you could buy, drive for a couple years, sell, and not lose your ass on.

ETA: I have access to a fully-tooled shop with a lift. Working on my own stuff has never been an issue. (Mechanical, not body) This is not a car I would take to somebody - especially not a dealer - and have work done. That would be a sudden and certain loss of any investment almost immediately.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-general-103/

Heres a link to the c5 portion of the Corvette Forum. I'd ask there, as well as take a look at the various stickies they have on that generation.

Good Luck.

One issue with C4's were the electronic dash boards. If you jump started the car the "wrong way" is would short out the dash.

Been a long time, but I seem to remember you had to pull the fuse before you attempted to jump them.

So if you find one that the dash is not working but the guy says its a "fuse", more than likely it is cooked. But understand we sold our shop in 2001 so there could have been upgrades I dont know about.

Personally, I would go for a C5. They are much better and you can find one for under 10k now.

If you are stuck on a C4, avoid the early years for sure. Do you really want a 200 hp Corvette??

A corvette between those years is only good for 70-80k before just about everything on the car falls apart. ( I worked at a Chevy dealer in the early 90's) I would strongly suggest something after 98 with the LS1 engine. They finally started making good power around then and the reliability improved vastly.
The one caveat would be if you could find a 96 Gran Sport with the LT4 350. That engine was a ripper.

Had an 86, no real issues with it other than a few spots of paint quality, biggest PIA is getting in and out with the large tall side sills.

Easy to work on, parts are not expensive, Ecklers/Mid America sell about every part and
bolt on stick on geehaw.

Low HP, high rear gears long distance cruisers, hot rods they are not, however, you can build one into a pretty quick street car, Just change the rear diff, fix up the shift points, higher stall tq converter and a 150 shot of NOS and it's a mid to low 12 second car...

If you can get a c5 for similar money, go that route, enjoyed mine for several years, and it has the flip up headlights which IMHO should always be on a Vette...

quote:

and it has the flip up headlights which IMHO should always be on a Vette...

And the congregation said: "Amen!"

And I also agree that the huge clamshell hood was a wonderful idea for working on your own car. Open it up and boom! Everything is right there. (At your ankles, but still.)

Thanks for the information. The strongest contenders right now are a low mileage 89 at around 5500 and a nicer low mileage 96 at just a tick over 9000.

I should have stated that I'm mainly looking at coupes - unless I just find a killer deal on a vert. I know the C5 is a better car in almost every regard, but around here the only sub $10K versions of it are all high mileage. (100,000+)

Stay away from anything with the LT-1/Optispark distributor.

Optispark distributors are not cheap. If the fail or if you need to replace just the distributor cap be prepared to remove the drive belts and water pump. For those that do not know, GM moved the distributor from the rear of the SBC to the front of the engine behind the water pump due to the design of the induction system.

On that issue, there were two model changes in the LT-1 and parts were getting hard to find, a lot of them were already discontinued when I left the dealership world in 2017. One big stumbling block was just that, the engine block. The casting was different due to the front mounted distributor. There were no service replacement engines in either the GM Performance Parts or GM Powertrain lineup so the only way to fix one with a broken block would be a salvage yard engine. While I was selling GM Performance Parts at the big meets like GOODGUYS, NSRA, Corvette Homecoming I could count on at least one "Can you get me a new LT-1 for my Corvette/Impala/Camaro/Trans Am", (You get the idea) per meet.Wish I could have helped them but there was nothing available.

I too vote for an LS powered car. That engine just amazes me with the horsepower potential it has.

I would look for a 1996 LT4 that only came in 6-speed manual. God Bless !!!