UPDATE – Almost a year later and this Hugger Orange Corvette has been relisted here on eBay. The seller is now asking $17,900 with the option to make an offer. That’s a significant drop in their previous price, but is it now a good buy?
FROM 4/20/2018 – This 1984 Chevrolet Corvette is purported to be one of two made in Hugger Orange, a special order paint job orchestrated by a dealer kingpin and significant force in the racing world. Jim Gilmore was the previous owner of this 22,669-mile example, and as the stickers on the windshield denote, he was a partner to racing champion A.J. Foyt. In fact, the other Hugger Orange car was built for Foyt, and Gilmore’s untimely passing is likely the only reason this car is up for sale. Find it here on eBay in a classified listing with a $32,900 price tag.
The selling dealer notes that Gilmore owned multiple GM dealers in Florida and Michigan, and was involved in a long-time partnership with Foyt under Gilmore/Foyt Racing. The two were close, and Foyt won the 1977 Indy 500 under the Gilmore/Foyt banner, a moment captured in motorsports history not only by the checkered flag finish but also due to Foyt giving Gilmore his winner’s ring following the race conclusion. In fact, just last week it was announced that the Gilmore Car Museum in West Michigan will debut an exhibit chronicling A.J. Foyt’s career and his ties to the state.
The Corvette is a well-optioned example, as you might expect. According to the seller, it features “…. six-way power seat, power door locks, cruise control, Delco Bose stereo with cassette, heavy duty radiator, Z51 handling package, rear window and side mirror defrosters, and saddle leather seats.” It apparently was a longtime fixture in a museum exhibit and has otherwise seen little road use. It is now located in Anaheim, California, and it’d be interesting to know whether Foyt still has his Hugger Orange example.
The engine bay is pristine, along with the paint and nearly-new tires. I can’t imagine much, if any, refurbishment is needed, but I also wouldn’t expect the next owner to drive this car much. The exclusivity of owning a one-of-two car in what some would say is the most well-known muscle car color (or is it Plum Crazy?) is what’s most desirable about it, with the Gilmore connection (in my opinion) coming in second. An extensive list of documentation comes with the Corvette, which is essential to proving this isn’t an extremely well-executed repaint.
Cool. A $6000 Corvette with a $26,000 paint job. Best of luck to the seller.
Looks good for the age though too rich for my blood. You’d think though for that kind of $$ they’d have the rims on the proper corners. Can’t see if the tires are on correct and they just mounted them on the wrong corners or not.
How observant are you. Yes the rims and tires are arse about on the front?
At the end of the day, it’s still an 84 Corvette.
And that’s all it is.
One of these cars, perhaps Foyt’s, was raffled by the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen a few years ago. A unique car that might just be worth the substantial premium for a 1984 Corvette.
The market will decide.
Boring vette and a 8,000 at best
Dream baby dream
Stick it in a barn baby😳
The guys at RoadKill know what to do to an ’84 Corvette. :)
Well optioned with no 3rd pedal in a corvette? Pass.
Do you remember what manual transmission was available that year?
Doug Nash 4+3 and they work fine. Ask the man who owns one.
Maybe it worked fine for that man.
Ask the dealer that had to service them.
They did not work fine.
Sounds like a prob between the seat
and clutch Migel 😂 (kidding)
I consider myself blessed to apparently have the only 1984 Corvette in existence that has working Crossfire injection, digital dashboard and a 4+3 transmission. i might call the National Corvette Museum and see if they would like to display it.
Nice car but not 32,900 dollars nice.
Cross fire injection. Ugh. It’s clean though.
Just came for the C4 hate
LOL…. always a toss up on which is greater, C4 hate or Mustang II hate.
I’d vote Mustang II hate, by a unanimous decision.
Its not only C4 or Mustang II hate. EVERY single article i read is filled with HATERS. they hate on everything from price to style to options. i get tired of reading the articles because none of the comments are creative or offer advice that is actually constructive
I hear ya Racinron16….I made that comment a year ago and I can say I’ve seen the haters increase to a point I often don’t even bother commenting on stuff much anymore. It’s sad. Today over on another popular car site that starts with an “H” and ends with an “s” they are having a lively discussion about disabling comments due to the negativity. It’s a shame.
Foyt liked to paint his race cars Poppy Red, which was a one-year Mustang color in 1965. I think the special order Hugger Orange on the Corvettes was an attempt to replicate the Poppy Red on a Chevy.
“Gilmore’s untimely passing is likely the only reason this car is up for sale”
It should be noted that Jim Gilmore died in a traffic accident in 2001
Personally, I like my one-year only “Monaco orange” on my vette. Plus no top.
Seriously, orange and BEIGE interior? AND a hard top? uugh.
Again more hate. Wth. The 84 corvette was a technological tour de force when it came out. Beautiful example of Corvette evolution. I love the 84 styling and especially orange over saddle. Wish i had the extra cash.
Come back next year when it is $8,000 which will only be $2000 more then it is worth.
A regular color 1984 Corvette with this mileage is probably a $6,000 car, I think you’re about right. The color will bring some slight premium but nowhere near 12 grand!
Mmm hmm,,,
This has been for sale on eBay for over year.
It’s still got the front rims installed incorrectly on the front. Again, for what they are asking, you’d think they could at least fix that simple issue. Still overpriced IMO.
When I sold my ‘64 I really didn’t miss it. When I sold my ‘76 I cried. Literally. But I had owned it much longer than the ‘64. This Hugger Orange? I wish I could afford it for my grandson as his favorite color is orange. Maybe a ‘75 convertible when he turns 16? Wha-? Guess I was dreaming. No C4 ragtop for a teenager! LoL
Lowest horse power corvettes were the 80’s I’d give you $1000 for it put a new LS motor in it and make a drift car out of it!!
TimM, you’re wrong, but don’t worry, we’ll give you two more trys…and go
There have been numerous low-mileage ZR-1s selling for similar money. I wonder if C4s will ever have collector appeal?
Brian that’s been a good debate for a long time and I think there is still a big “?” about that. Last year I went looking to buy a C4, it had to be 1988 or newer because I wanted the aluminum heads and the redesigned front end. I also did not have a ton of $$$ and wanted to keep my purchase price around $5000.
What I found was that a good chunk of C4’s have had this sort of a life: owned by 5-10 different people, each who bought on a whim, midlife crisis, or because of the low entry price point for a sports car, fixed 1-2 things, decided they were too hard to get in and out of, difficult to work on, etc. Most had been ridden hard, needed tires, brakes, shocks, electrical work, re-upholstery work, AC work (R12), and so on.
Most sellers I talked to were pretty eager to get rid of their C4, and very negotiable on price. I’ve watched prices on the C4’s for a few years, and while I think the prices have stabilized, they are still fairly low. Outside of Callaway vettes, ZR1’s, and convertibles, I honestly do not see C4’s becoming overly collectible due to the limited appeal of a 2 seater (“honey, you bought a car we can’t put the kids in?!?!”), the “that’s not a real Corvette” attitude of a lot of ‘Vette (and non-Vette) owners, and the fact that so many of them were produced and still seen on a regular basis.
Having said all that, I bought an ’88 Targa Top Greenwood that was a 2 owner car, in a rare color (Medium Charcoal Metallic), that I have been updating all winter (tires, brakes, interior, etc.). I have so far enjoyed it. At the end of the day, if YOU enjoy something, that’s what matters most.
I am of the opinion the C4 “sleeper” is a 1996 with the 330 hp LT-4/6-speed combination. Plenty of performance for anyone who visits Barn Finds.
They are going to skyrocket in value…right about 2 months after I sell my 89 ragtop. So all you folks should thank me for keeping the prices low.
Not planning on selling mine yet, but it is rare, for a C4. It is an early production 89, in metallic gray. They discontinued that color, and just 54 convertibles were painted that color, in 89. Replaced the color with a different gray. I don’t think that will add to it’s value ever… but hope some day it might matter, and Barrett Jackson can get me a million dollars for it.
So that’s the way it works for you, too huh? At least I know I’m not the only one. Your Vette sounds like it’s a beaut.
I remember back in the 70’s you couldn’t give away a 1968 corvette they we filled with issues. Now they have gone up I price so there is hope.
Correct me if I’m wrong Mel T but I believe the 85 Buick with a V-6 and a turbo was the fastest production car by GM that year!! I may have the year wrong I didn’t fact check but no matter how you look at it that’s shameful to even say!!!
I don’t need another try!! Its pitiful!!!