Finding a one-owner classic in today’s market is usually a good thing, but when it looks like the car in question could be a bargain buy, things don’t seem to get much better. Hiding under this cover is a 1985 Chevrolet Corvette. Its overall condition is very respectable, and its original owner is only parting with it because he has had the good fortune to park a shiny new Corvette in his workshop. He admits that this would see our feature car sitting around gathering dust, so he would rather see it go to a new home. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder rex m for spotting what could be one of the great buys of 2021. The Corvette is located in Bullhead City, Arizona, and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. You could drive away in this classic for a mere $3,000.
There’s no mistaking this car because Chevrolet retained many of the styling cues that had become iconic during the production run of the C3 Corvette. However, the company also brought some new engineering philosophies to the table that made the C4 models slightly smaller and noticeably lighter than their predecessors. This included use of plastics in some areas which had previously been the domain of fiberglass, and these changes helped to bolster performance. Our feature car is a one-owner classic that wears its original Code 40 White paint. The overall impression is extremely positive. The paint shines beautifully, with no evidence of significant flaws or problems. The trim and glass are in excellent order. The combination of a dry climate and a history of this car being garage-kept means that it remains rust-free. Overall, the Corvette appears to need nothing, and its condition should be enough to turn heads wherever it goes.
When Chevrolet launched the C4 Corvette in 1983, it marked a clear departure in design philosophy from its predecessor. The company was still struggling with emission regulations, so they focused on vehicle handling as their first port of call. The C4 tipped the scales at a lower weight than the C3, and some significant suspension changes made the car more agile when the road began to twist and turn. However, our feature car clearly demonstrates they were also clawing back some ground on the horsepower front. A 350ci V8 occupies its engine bay while shifting duties fall to a four-speed automatic transmission. This V8 produced 230hp, and the drivetrain combination endowed the ‘Vette with the ability to cover the ¼ mile in 15.1 seconds. To place those figures into some perspective, it is worth considering what buyers got for their money if they purchased the last C3 versions. The 350 under the hood of those cars delivered 200hp, and the ¼-mile journey took 15.9 seconds. While it seemed to take forever, Chevrolet was undoubtedly making inroads on the performance front with the C4 Corvette. Our feature car is in excellent mechanical health. The owner admits that it has 97,000 miles on the clock but that it runs and drives perfectly. It has no mechanical gremlins or other issues, and it appears to be a turn-key proposition for its next owner.
If this Corvette has a weak point, it could be the interior. There’s nothing horrible to worry about, but it is showing its age slightly. Having said that, if potential buyers consider the car as an original survivor and factor in the asking price, that casts it in a new light. It features Carmine leather trim, being 1-of-8,272 Corvette’s thus equipped for that model year. Its overall condition is tidy, with no significant physical damage. The outer edges of the seats are beginning to develop wear, and there are a few character cracks that suggest that the leather may be becoming dry. However, I think that a leather specialist might be able to address this without breaking the bank. Some of the plastic trim is marked, with the worst being the pieces on the outer edge of the sills, which can be prone to scuffing as occupants climb in and out of these classics. The carpet is in good order, and there are no glaring flaws with the dash or pad. The Corvette might be a low-slung sports car, but it comes equipped with its share of comfort features. These include the funky digital gauge cluster, air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, cruise control, and a tilt/telescopic wheel. The car would have originally featured an AM/FM radio/cassette player, but it appears that the owner may have swapped this for a CD player.
The Corvette nameplate is one of the most enduring in automotive history. It nearly disappeared due to poor sales volumes in its earliest days, but it has marched on relentlessly for more than six decades. While the C4 versions aren’t as readily recognized or revered as the earlier cars, they were still significant cars for the company. The C4 brought some new design philosophies to the table and demonstrated that Chevrolet was thinking laterally about recovering some of the ‘Vette’s lost glory. This one is a tidy example with a known ownership history. There’s no doubt that it is affordable, and that’s why I think that someone might snap it up pretty quickly. Could you be tempted?
$3000? Something is awry at the Circle K
Yuppers.
J D Powers shows this car in fair condition at 7500 clams…either someone is going to get the deal of the year, or ripped off…
This is a tough one here. Not a Vette guy, but this looks way too good to be a 3K car. If it was near by I would go get it today. This seems to be either an owner who is willing to share his old ride at a give away price, or a scammer.
I have literally given away cars (free) that would be 40-60K easy because of various reasons, always wanted to pass them on rather than sell to some fool who would ruin/destroy them. The money was not the object to me. Maybe the guy is legit here, but one has to wonder…
What kind of world are we living in? Nothing seems to make sense, and this car proves it again. Nice looking older Vette here. YMMV.
Ralph, I recently did the same. I gave away my ’94 mint 49k Vette to a guy who would love it like I did. 3K for this car? Probably about what the dealer offered him on trade so he’d rather let someone have it at that price.
$3K is fair, at the very least that engine is ready for a rebuild or better yet replacement after 97K miles.
Phone number is located in Nephi, Utah., for what that’s worth.
Strange Google search results.
That’s not a 1985 corvette with that motor. Be careful.
I thought the center brake light came after 1985 too. Would like to think the owner made a mistake on the listing but there’s a few things here that just don’t add up..
1986 first year for center brake light.
1985 Was the year of the Cyclops light…….
85 was the first year for TPI.
My spidey sense says this is a scam ad. Caution advised.
Sold
It’s Fraud. Won’t meet in person with cash. Got mad after I changed my mind on $500 deposit by Apple Pay.
Frank Sumatra? Ahhhhh…..we need you here buddy……..
Thanks but there is nothing I could possibly add to this enlightening and informative conversation.
Ok, but I was thinking we need your opinion to bring reality to this post, an opinion of real life value not linked to hype.
Craigslist. It’s the Florida of periodicals.
I’ll take two please.
If I had the extra cash, I would definitely go for it. 3k is nothing. If the engine is blown. You can easily recoup your money selling the parts.
Next up Ferrari 288 GTO for $15k.
Haha!
Cadillac was the first to come out with the third brake light in 1985. The rest of GM products with the third brake light came out in 1986
FIERO had 3rd brake light in 85
Who would buy a brand-new corvette in 1985, drive it for 36 years and then sell it because he wants to replace it by a new 2021 corvette. This guy, who can afford to buy brand new corvette, buys a new corvette once every 36 years…at this rate, assuming he was 30 when he bought his first brand new corvette, would be 66 now that he decides to buy his second corvette….and will be 102 when he will be ready to buy his third car (a corvette, of course!)…some people probably manage to buy a car every 36 years, but not a brand new corvette. And if there was such a person, he would most likely give (for free) his corvette he bought new and cherished for 36 years, or selling it a top $ price…but not sell it for 3000$ : This doesn’t add up.
Just a personal opinion here… I love good deals but I think BF could skip these crazy-low-price listings. Either it’s a scam or it’s SUCH a good deal that it’ll sell so fast on it’s own that it’ll be gone before any of us BF readers have a chance to buy it.
Know what I mean, jelly bean? Would you post a $500 Lambo?
Respectfully submitted…
~Lothar
There is probably a $500 Lambo on Craigslist right now.
1986 first year Corvette center brake light, Not 1985…
This doesn’t add up Mr. Clarke.
Ads on CL like this are the bane of the gullible. Reminds me of the Breitling or IWC watches advertised on Facebook for “the clearance price of only $89.95”! The web has merely reinforced the concept of too good to be true. The sad thing is that the overseers of these sites only have enough safeguards to keep an honest man honest.
Send a clergyman over to verify and report back! Sounds too good to be true.
This is an absolute scam. When they need a deposit up front without visual contact, or “When they are listing it for a friend and you have to email the friend?????? IT’S A SCAM. If you want an address, and they give you one, cross check the address ( BING MAPS, GOOGLE MAPS), see if the address even exist, then cross check the owner of the property. This all takes about 10 minutes. Lastly, if it is being sold on CRAIGSLIST, it is an absolute FRAUD.
Sorry you talk about 1983 Corvette, no 83s were made 1984 was the new style! Really surprised no one caught this and I am a Ford guy lol.
He didn’t say it was an 83 corvette, but rather a true fact that the first year C4 Corvette did in fact come out in 1983, but was called an 84 model year
Not to fret anymore, people. It’s gone as of midnight EST.
I just bought an 89 white convertible with red interior and white top for $5500
Real low clicks at only 46,000 kilometers, so there are good deals out there but one has to be ready with cash in hand to get it