For the C4 Corvette, Chevrolet started with a clean sheet of paper to create a more modern design than its predecessor. However, they wanted to retain some of the C3’s visual design queues so that the car was immediately identifiable. This they did, and even though engine power outputs didn’t reach the heights of the Corvette’s glory days, it was still capable of offering reasonable levels of performance and fuel economy. This 1984 model is looking tired, but it is said to run. With a sale price of a mere $1,500, it would be hard to find a cheaper C4 project car. It is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and has been listed for sale here on Facebook. It is worth considering that the owner might also entertain a trade on this tired classic.
The Corvette wears a pretty ruined coat of Light Bronze paint, and there’s no disputing the fact that this has seen better days. A repaint will be on the cards, but it looks like the buyer isn’t going to be faced with tackling the challenge of panel repairs. It seems like everything below the paint is in good order, with no evidence of cracks or other problems. The owner makes no mention of rust issues, so we have to hope that the vehicle is structurally sound. It does appear to be complete, so even if the Corvette is beyond salvation, it does offer the prospect of making a great parts source for another project car. The trim and glass appear to be in good order, and the distinctive alloy wheels look like they would respond positively to a polish.
The owner supplies no engine or interior photos, but we know that the mighty 350ci V8 powers the Corvette, and in this case, it is backed by a 4-speed automatic transmission. This combination offered 205hp, and while it wasn’t a massive amount of power, it still allowed the Corvette to cover the ¼-mile in 15.5 seconds and top 147mph. Fuel consumption was also a strong point because this is a V8 sports car capable of breaking 20 mpg. The owner says that the 350 does run but that the vehicle has been sitting for a while. It will take some TLC to return it to a roadworthy state, but it sounds like the buyer will be starting this process from a reasonable base. There is no information on the interior’s condition or what sort of trim and options it might feature. However, there are some assumptions that we can make. Chevrolet built 51,547 examples of the Corvette in 1984, and 96% of these came equipped with a power driver’s seat, cruise, power locks, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player. Therefore, the odds are stacked in favor of this car being equipped with these features. More than 80% also featured leather seat upholstery, while standard equipment included air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, and a tilt/telescope wheel. That made the Corvette more comfortable and civilized than its predecessor and should offer the buyer an enjoyable driving experience.
There’s a lot that we don’t know about this 1984 Corvette, but the big question is whether it is a viable restoration project. The owner refers to it as a “fixer-upper,” which suggests that he thinks it can be saved. These are not the most popular Corvettes to ever roll off a production line, but values have been creeping up slowly in the past couple of years. Whether this will continue is hard to say, but if you are the sort of person who fancies tackling a hand-on Corvette restoration, you will struggle to find a cheaper starting point.
I was reading some magazines,& what they about it when
it was new,& about the ’85 Vette.They weren’t overly impressed
with the ’84,but said that the ’85 was a much better car.
The ’84s don’t seem to go for much money,so you could be
underwater on this one in a short time.
It’s a parts car. Only naive beginners would consider this on as a viable project. It would only take a few minutes of research to realize there are infinitely better Corvettes to be found for a little more money.
Steve R
These were the bottom of the barrel as far as Corvette goes. If it’s a crossfire injected car, it’s junk for sure.
I had an 84 with a 4+3 and drove it for 120k plus. Not the best performing car but in 84 it was the best performing production car in the world. I sold it and regretted it – I found another 18 years later that was very close to what I sold and only had 12k on it. With the top off it is a great car to drive – lots of fun.
I don’t expect the c4 to ever be a collectable. I do however think the c4 is a great foundation for a rebody. The chassis is pretty good and the engines are easy to upgrade. I’ve long thought an Iso Griffo rebody would work well on a c4. -R
5 years before its bankruptcy, the Bertone design company did something like that with a C6 Corvette ZR1. They called it the Bertone Mantide, and only one was ever made.
Hence the bankruptcy proceedings.
Mighty 350 LOL my wifes Honda Odyssey with the 3.5 v6 makes 75 more horse than this car out of the box.
And once again we have someonewho just has to make a pointless comment about how their disposable modern vehicle makes more power than an almost 40 year old vehicle. We all get that, so please give it a rest…
Hey Tom, give people some slack! :-)
Hey Steve, you’re right! I didn’t mean to sound like a jerk, but that beating a dead horse thing gets a little old. I live in the North and I think winter is getting to me!
My apologies if I sounded like a jerk
And here we have someone who gets butthurt over a factual comment on the internet. I’ll let you see yourself out Tom.
Dangit I wish I saw your apology before I commented again. Winter getting to all of us lol. Now it’s my turn. Sorry.
Tom, No problem. This is one of the times you wish Barnfinds had an ‘edit’ button! LOL
Not to disagree with you, but a 50 something yr old car would blow the doors off his wife’s Honda, the point that your missing here is the late 70s thru a good part of the 80s were a terrible time for American cars, and because of that is the reason why there are so many Honda’s on the road today, American auto builders were overly secure in our dedication to them, and like a gorgeous wife that a man might start not paying attention too,someone else will
Your making me laugh guys….
‘This vehicle has no significant damage or problems.’ And the engine and interior are in mint condition. AHAHAHA!
The ad also says ‘driven 800 miles’. It should also read ‘It just needs some car polish to bring out the paint’s natural luster.’.
huge panel gap on the passenger door and fender, maybe worth the asking price if equipped with the quirky manual tranny?
I think the hood might be unlocked. They pop up and then you get your workout for the day lifting that 1984 massive clamshell hood. I think GM put a hydraulic cylinder on the 1985 hood to take some of the load off.
May not be as bad as it looks (though 84’s are best avoided anyway). The first 4 or 5 years of the C4 have awful clear coat. Mine spent its entire life in a garage and the clear coat comes off in flakes every time I wash it.
It Can be saved most likely but why would you want to? A paint job alone would put you well over its market value in mint condition. If you’re going to buy one of these, may as well get a nice low mileage example, as those sell for less than 7k for a 1984 version. The more desirable later models bring a little more but still, you can get into a very nice C4 for well under 10k.
Might be worth the money as a donor for a tri five upgrade. Many kits available to put this suspension under lots of classics.
Not worth the investment to refurbish but to turn it into something different with a kit, worth the effort….
@dusty
I really don’t understand why most people get hung up on marketing figures like hp. 0-60 is all that really matters.
the 84 corvette had 290 ft lbs at 2900 rpm (’85 with tuned port got 330 ft lbs) and weigted 3100 lbs
a 2016 odyssey with 3.5 is rated at 250 ft lbs at 5700 rpm and weighs 4500 lbs.
They both went 0-60 in 7.9 seconds
I’d prefer a Corvette over an Odyssey any day!
This is an example of what we bought and sold back in the 70’s as a beater for 50 bucks. I’d clean the s#1t out of it, fix what it needs to be safe, and make it a work car. might even bug bomb it flat black. lol
As a traveling salesman, the 0 to 60 is meaningless to me. Give me the 50 to 70 specs and it’ll get my attention. I pass folks, I don’t race from stop light to stop light.
OK, I’ll ask. During the current “situation” unless it’s hand sanitizer, toilet paper or vaccines, what are you selling on your travels?
Ok my turn, I bought a 1985 Z/51 corvette new in 85 and I loved that car for all it was worth , my brother in law had an 84 his car was the exact same car as this on . My 85 was also light Bonze color anyway ( got that off my chest) we had some great times and some good races both had A/T and the 84 kept up pretty good. My brother in law left the family and took the Vette, I kept mine until I bought a new C-7 I sold it to my neighbor who loves like I did .I ‘m a big Vette guy we’ve had seven and that 85 was one the most enjoyable // PLAY NICE EVEREYONE LOL
lol…..
This is still nicer than the Vette I don’t have.
Not really steveo….your vette is cheaper to drive….lol
An early Bowling Green model. Thanks to building and selling these we have the C8’s which some on here also don’t like. Just goes to show you can’t please everyone. BTW my favorites are straight axle Corvettes
This is a good candidate to mount on a four-wheel-drive truck chassis and make some outrageous beast out of it.
Did Kars For Kids turn it down?
Ok.. Its not a restoration canidate.. So what??!! I could see alot of fun to be still had with that car. Price is right.. i.e. Roadkill style Vette-cart with a LS swap.. Or even a 24 hours of Lemons car.. Think out side the restoration box people…
Did the photographer think the branches left on the Corvette would enhance the photos of the vehicle?
Since a decent paint job is 5 to 10k, you would be upside down on this thing before you even started.