Once in every collector’s lifetime, it’s essential to own a Corvette. That’s a sentence that went through my head the other day. Perhaps you’ve thought the same thing. Well, here’s our chance. This 1988 Coupe model, as seen on ebay, is starting out with an asking price of just $10 grand. Not a bad entry point for a car that’s at least a little bit practical for daily use despite also fulfilling a dream. If this is for you, then made a “Best Offer” to try to pry it out of the seller’s hands just a bit cheaper than his full price, and head the The Colony, Texas to claim your prize.
I’m thinking of this as a low-investment ask, not a mortgage-the-house-for-a- split-window 1963 model, one of the most beautiful cars ever made by any manufacturer, domestic, exotic, or foreign. (Of course, as we know, sometimes those categories overlap one another.) You might even pretend you’re driving a Ferrari when you spy the red-exterior, saddle-interior color scheme, and you could certainly do a lot worse than the low-slung body and quad round taillights which hearken back to earlier eras of Chevrolet’s long-running Vette model. What you might be surprised at, however, is that the market is kind of crammed with other, similar models, some of which are even cheaper than the present example. Who knew?
What you’re gaining with this car is an all-original configuration, inside and out, and super-low mileage (just over 20,000) from two owners. As a Texas car, this red roadster is unlikely to have any rust on the chassis and other places which do host the tin worm even on a fiberglass-bodied car. What might be hard to maintain over the years is the 1980s-style electronic dashboard, but assuming it continues to function, you’re going to enjoy the video-game styling it offers.
Mechanically, there’s least one need, and that is a coolant leak at one of the intake manifold gaskets. The seller dismisses this as normal for the generation represented, but I say why not fix that? For one thing, it shows care and attention to detail. For another, it means that a new owner doesn’t have a nagging worry, or even the need to take what is to him or her a brand-new ride to the garage as soon as it arrives home. What a way to detract from the thrill of finally owning the iconic American sports car! But if you’re inclined to host a copy of this dream in your driveway, this 5.7-liter V8 beauty with three of four original tires and an automatic transmission on board might be a good one to peruse.
I have a 1 yr newer convertable same colors, interior and automatic. 72k miles currently. Bought it at auction sight unseen in Salem, NH.. Had it shipped to Tampa, Fl in the glorious days of cheap shipping ($500.00). Cheaper than flying up and driving back. Don’t want to jinx myself, but it’s just needed oil changes in the several yrs I’ve owned it. Wish I could find the seat material as the driver centers are starting to fail. The driver and passenger window scrapers are crumbling (looks like a job to replace…). Paid $7,700.00 delivered.
Most beautiful wheels ever on a car. Original twisties from 90’s Ford Lightning a close second!
Something seems off to me about this one. Three original tires from 1988! As mentioned why not fix the coolant leak? It presents nice and I like the rarely seen cloth seats, but I’ve seen cleaner 40,000 mile cars.
I owned a dark red ‘89 for over 25 years without much of anything bad happening with it BUT the infamous intake manifold gasket, which needs to be repaired.
Own a Corvette? Check, 1964 & ‘76. I would add to at least once own a convertible. Mine was a 1973 Fiat 124 Spider.
The manual transmission (Doug Nash 4+3) cars used a beefier Dana 44 differential with a more durable limited slip than the automatics. The 1988s and later C4 Corvettes have one advantage over the 1984-1987, that former Pontiac engineering manager, Herb Adams, identified and fixed with a retrofit kit for the earlier ones. The mounting points for the lateral rear suspension struts were located closer to the ground, which meant they didn’t snap oversteer at the limit. In engineering speak, this was because the camber change was less during roll, and the roll center was lower. You can retrofit by using the stamped steel/welded brackets from the ’88+ years, drilling the holes out in the differential case (they increased the bolt diameter). You can do the mod in about an hour without removing the diff from the car. The chassis stiffness of the C5 was much better, but you can make the C4’s handle as well as a C5-C7 without spending much.
I owned one once, ordered new from the factory. Worst car I’ve ever owned. Never again.
Sometimes I miss my 1972. But then I remember how I couldn’t really sit up straight in it without my head jammed into the underside of the T-top. And who could forget the heat that boiled up through the firewall and floors on a nice hot summer day? And yet I still want another. Or not.
As someone who worked at the Saint Louis Corvette plant & Bowling Green plant from 76/ 06 the C4 had issues. We had guys flying to different Dealerships, for a few years to help the service dept figure out & fix issues. I owned a 85/86 /00 & a 02 the C5’s were so much better. You ask why I had two C4’s we use to get a REALLY good discount on them. Keep them 6 months sell for a tidy profit
I own an auto repair shop and service a customer’s 1989 C4 convertible. He loves the car and that is all that matters. But, having had the “fun” of working on it and of driving it for test drives, I am HAPPY to hand him the keys and let him drive it away. I have had the “pleasure” of test driving and repairing a C3 and a C5 Corvette as well and, maybe it’s just me but, there is NO way I would ever want to own a Corvette. I know it’s pedestrian, but I will stick with my 2000 Mustang convertible and my recently bequeathed 2004 Sebring convertible for summer fun.