As a Barn Finds reader myself, one of the things I consistently notice is how many low mileage, well cared for and affordably priced examples of the Chevrolet Corvette seem to cross the block, especially the C3 cars and beyond. With so many older muscle cars and sports cars priced beyond what many enthusiasts are willing or able to pay, on any given day if you look hard enough there’s a decently priced Corvette somewhere to be had, even for turn-key cars that are just waiting for the next owner to drive and enjoy. And they’re not all just plain run-of-the-mill models, either. A case in point is this 1996 Corvette Collectors Edition, which is located in Plainview, New York, and can be seen here on Craigslist with a price tag of $14,500.
We’d like to give a big thank you to reader AL Ambro for sending us the great tip on this one! 1996 was the last year for the C4 Corvette, and Chevrolet marketed two special edition models to commemorate the occasion, including the Grand Sport and Collectors Edition. The Corvette being offered for sale here is the latter, and with over 5,000 manufactured it’s not exactly rare, but the CE got you some cool stuff including the retro Sebring Silver body color, 5-spoke 17-inch silver wheels, special brake calipers, and some badges inside and out to let you know this was no everyday Corvette.
The seller of this Corvette Collectors Edition says he purchased it from the second owner, and that the car only has 42,000 original miles, backed up by a Carfax report. He mentions that the only thing that has been upgraded is the radio, and the stock radio has been saved and comes with the sale of the car, should the next owner want to put it back in the dash. The original owner’s manual with a Corvette pen and flashlight are also included.
This Corvette is said to be a very presentable driver, and with some detailing could be a show car. Looking around at all the photos, this all sounds reasonable, as everything appears to be in good shape for a car that’s more than 25 years old. The paint seems well-preserved and things inside look like they’ve been taken care of, and while it may not be picture-perfect, this C4 seems to be a really decent example for under $15k.
If there is any bad news, it’s under the hood, as the car is equipped with the LT1 and not the optional LT4. There’s also an automatic transmission, so if you have to shift your own gears that may be a problem. But with the low miles, this one may be a good bet if you’re looking for a driver that’s still got some life left in it. What are your thoughts on this 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Collectors Edition?
Well Chevrolet in their wisdom put a collector edition badge on it and some people assumed it was more valuable. LT 1 is not a bad engine once the distributor is fixed, but hardly a power house as is. The C4 was refined by then so it’s a decent car. Price seems fair for a driver. Not exactly an investment car.
Fight me I’m sure – while I like Corvettes (great looks, 2 doors, V8s, many with manual transmissions, fairly cheap and those beloved Pop-Up headlights) – I just can’t bite the bullet and add 25 years to my age while driving one. Yeah, I know, shallow. But –
These are the definition of Old Men Cars (this and the 450/380/560 SLs).
It is true (at least for this one person) – you can sell a young man’s car to an old man, but you cannot sell an old man’s car to a young man (please excuse the grandfathered pronouns).
Hard to believe you’ve ever driven one. Light years ahead of the C3 and a feel that keeps you fully engaged in the driving experience, almost a harsh ride. The C5 is far more comfortable at the cost of road sensitivity, much more an old man’s ride, which is why I like mine so much.
Moraga- You don’t get it. It isn’t what the unwashed think when you drive by – its what you feel when you’re behind the wheel. You’re missing a lot of great machinery with your arbitrary definitions.
You’ll be old(er) someday if you’re lucky!
The OptiSpark was a non-issue after 1995. At 300hp the LT1 was very powerful for its time and if you ever actually drove one there was enough under the loud pedal to get the attention of any sane person. This car has the Sport Seats option which are extremely comfortable and supportive.
As for the ageist drivel that Corvettes are ‘old-man’ cars there is a basis in fact for this phenomenon. Older guys have listened to all the media-driven praise of everything German or Japanese or whatever for years. Some of us have even owned a butt-ugly BMW or tail-happy Porsche or soulless Toyota. But thankfully with age comes wisdom (for some of us) and Corvettes are hands down better looking and better performing than the competition. Factor in the ridiculously low cost of ownership and availability of parts (it is a Chevrolet, after all) the economic argument is hard to ignore.
I introduced my 36 year old son in law to a C6 convertible a few years ago. Now he has two Corvettes. He also competes in Ironman events and doesn’t own a pair of New Balance sneakers. So much for the stereotype.
So once my creaking old bones get settled into the cockpit I am completely at ease, secure in the knowledge that my ego gratification came at half the price of anything comparable and touching the accelerator brings a grin I can’t wipe off my face.
It hurts my heart that anything new in 1996 could be a “survivor”.
I have a 96 lt4 zf 6speed for 96 all lt4’s are six speed, all automatics are lt1’s easy as that, state of the art driver! the 5 and 6 gears are overdrive’s 27mpg on the highway, BONUS! inspections for 1996 cars in NYS are now safety only with NO emission test, however you can not remove emission parts from the car, crazy to think this is a old mans car HA! lt4’s are 330 hp enough said.
I was kind of enthralled with these cars when they were first unveiled. But in the ensuing years became less enchanted with them (am I talking like an old man, Moraga?), but in the past five years or so, I’ve developed more of an appreciation for them, mostly due to the fact that previous generations are getting too pricey (although I have seen on this venue a lot of nice C3 ‘Vettes sell for decent prices), and also not being too fond of successive generations, except the C6, as my wife and I took a tour of the Corvette assembly plant in ’07 and saw them being built.
This is a nice one with low mileage, at a decent price.
I’d buy it if I had the money.