1987 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

If there's a bigger performance bang for the buck than the C4 Corvette, I'm not sure what it might be. Even almost thirty years later, this 1987 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 46,000 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 bright silver metallic paint gives this Corvette a sophisticated look that is a pleasant change from all the red 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.

The gray 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, but the steering wheel is showing some above-average wear that could probably be addressed with some conditioner and 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, a tilt wheel, and a decent AM/FM/cassette stereo, all of which are fully functional in this car. 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 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive, it's a fine grand touring machine whose road manners and performance were much improved over earlier models. Of note, the A/C has been upgraded to R134a refrigerant, so it'll be easy to service in the future, 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 the silver bullet. Call now!