If you want a Corvette but don’t have a big wallet, this 1989 C4 might be the car for you.
Despite a 12-year production run, the C4 generation of the ‘Vette has never really been hugely appreciated. That might be changing, though. It was a huge step forward from the C2 and C3 models, offering Porsche 944-killing performance thanks to its 179-mph top speed.
Design
In the past decade or so, many sports cars from the 1980s and ’90s enjoy a major renaissance, with models like the BMW M3 and Toyota Supra now widely considered some of the best vehicles ever made.
One exception to this is the Corvette C4. For some reason, the underrated ’Vette hasn’t enjoyed the same popularity or price boost as other performance machines from the same era. This is a shame because the C4 Corvette is truly an icon of its time.
Introduced in 1984, the C4 Corvette represented a clean break from the Zora Arkus-Duntov-designed C3 model and brought with it a sleeker, more modern look, but with plenty of classic features that car lovers were sure to love.
Designed by Chevrolet Chief Designer Dave McLellan—who had replaced the legendary Zora in 1975—and Lead Designer Jerry Palmer, the C4 Corvette was able to make its mark in the world of automotive design without losing sight of what had made the brand so successful.
The C4 was available in both coupe and convertible form, and it was powered by a 5.7-liter L98 small block V8 engine that was capable of producing 240 horsepower from its 350 cubic inches of displacement. It was mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission.
By the end of the C4’s production run in 1996, it had evolved into a sports car that was able to stand on its own among some of the staunchest competitors from around the globe.
Throughout the years, ongoing modifications ensured that the C4 could successfully mate with technology and horsepower, resulting in an automobile that was a joy to drive on any road.
This particular 1989 C4 Corvette is finished in a dark red color and contrasted with a tan hood and seats. Its interior is made with leather, a power tilt steering wheel, air conditioning, and a CD player.
This vehicle also has a few nice upgrades, including the addition of a head-up display and an LT4 engine that produces 330 horsepower. Other features include an auxiliary oil cooler, a rear spoiler, and a real-time damping system that monitors the road to reduce vibrations.
Performance
Corvettes have long been seen as sleeper supercars, capable of delivering performance far beyond their price tags. A C4 is one of the best examples of this, offering the kind of handling that European sports cars were previously only able to match for far more money.
When the C4 first arrived in 1984, it was a huge leap forward for Chevrolet.
The styling, construction techniques, and in-cabin tech were all huge improvements over the older C3 generation. The only area where the C4 fell short of its potential was engine output, but GM addressed this issue in later models using bigger camshafts.
For 1989, the L98 small-block V8 remained unchanged but was upgraded with a new Multec fuel injection that helped it to deliver 245 horsepower to the rear wheels. This was enough to propel the C4 to a very impressive 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds, and the car was also fitted with an improved suspension system and 17-inch wheels.
In the ZR-1, a more sophisticated all-aluminum V8 used four overhead camshafts and 32 valves to produce 375 bhp. This was mated to a wider rear body, larger brakes, and specially developed tires to create a car that was not only fast but handled brilliantly too.
A big reason that many people are drawn to C4 Corvettes is that the car is still a lot of fun to drive today. This is partly because the transmission shifts smoothly and quickly, while the steering wheel is light and precise.
The car also feels very well-built, with the sturdiness of a modern sports car.
As a result, the Corvette is an ideal option for anyone who wants to get a taste of supercar performance without spending a fortune. It is even possible to find outstanding examples for less than $15,000.
Of course, the car is not perfect, with some owners finding it a little bit noisy at high speeds and others complaining about a lack of driver aids like airbags. But these are relatively minor criticisms for what is otherwise a very good-value supercar that is surprisingly easy to live with.
Technology
In recent years, many cars from the 1980s and ’90s undergo a big renaissance. From the Porsche 911 to the Toyota Supra, they are now widely considered a desirable and practical purchase.
Unfortunately, one car that has been overlooked is the C4 Corvette. With sleek styling and pop-up headlights, the C4 reinvented the ’Vette for the new millennium but never quite achieved the same status as its predecessors.
During the 1989 model year, the C4 received its first major upgrade since its 1984 launch. For starters, the LT5 DOHC V8 engine that had been a regular option on the ZR-1 was now available in every C4.
The car also got a new six-speed manual gearbox that had been developed in collaboration with Germany’s ZF. It was a huge improvement over the execrable Doug Nash 4+3 nanny transmission that had been used in the previous generation of ’Vettes.
The most significant mechanical change for the C4 was a shift from traditional body-on-frame construction to what GM termed a unibody design. This meant that the door frames, windshield frame, and a U-shaped halo frame over the front seats were all welded to the main frame.
This helped reduce the car’s overall weight and improve the handling.
Another technological upgrade for the C4 was a digital dash that could be programmed to display any combination of information and warnings that the driver wanted to see. Unfortunately, as MotorWeek explains, this wasn’t without its problems.
The system could be over-sensitive and sometimes flash the tachometer when it shouldn’t.
For those thinking of buying a Corvette C4 convertible, it’s worth bearing in mind that they tend to be more expensive than their coupe counterparts regarding insurance premiums. This is because they are more likely to be stolen than the other models in the range.
However, if you do your research and shop around online, you should be able to find cheap quotes for your new ride. If you want to simplify the process, you can always use a website like Jerry to do all the hard work for you.
Value
Despite the fact that it’s often underrated, the C4 Corvette actually set the blueprint for the modern Corvettes of today. This generation was also the first to genuinely fuse power and technology into a car that could compete with some of the world’s best sports cars.
When the C4 rolled off of the assembly line in 1984, it was powered by an L83 small-block V8 engine with Cross-Fire fuel injection that produced 205 horsepower. This was a huge improvement over the old L83, which only delivered 155 horsepower.
Team lead Jerry Palmer designed the Corvette C4 under the guidance of chief engineer Dave McLellan, who succeeded Zora Arkus-Duntov. The design was a clean break from the shapes of its forefathers, but it kept some of the features that fans loved about the iconic car.
For example, the Corvette’s pop-up headlights remained, though they were now mounted inside of the front bumper instead of the fender flares. The new body was constructed from molding plastics instead of the fiberglass panels of previous generations.
Another big step forward for the C4 was its use of an electronic dashboard with a liquid crystal display.
This instrument cluster allowed drivers to keep track of their speed, rpm, and oil level. The C4 also introduced a transverse-spring suspension, which was lighter and more responsive than the coil springs of previous generations.
By 1989, the Corvette was a full-fledged sports car, thanks to its drivetrain and suspension improvements.
It now had seventeen-inch wheels, tires, fast-ratio steering, and Delco/Bilstein gas-charged shocks. Chevrolet also incorporated its LT5 5.7L small-block V8 into the ZR-1 model, which boosted its power to an astounding 375 horsepower.
Despite these advancements, the 1989 Corvette was still very much a driver’s car, not a show car. Its two-door coupe body, rear-positioned engine, and standard transmission all helped to make the Corvette C4 an excellent performer on the road and the racetrack.
This combination of performance and handling, plus its sleek appearance, made the 1989 Corvette a hit with enthusiasts.