We all know by now that many special edition models offered by GM are purely cosmetic jobs with little in the way of increased value baked into the package itself. However, what if the enhancements made for a truly decent-looking car? One of my gripes about special editions is that the graphics and colors are tacky; in the case of the 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Collector’s Edition, the changes were subtle and added up to create a very handsome ride. This 1996 Corvette listed here on eBay has just over 32,000 original miles and appears to remain in largely unmodified condition, and is offered at $15,900 or best offer.

The 1996 Collector’s Edition ‘Vettes were fairly simple machines: ZR1-style wheels, Sebring Silver paint, some logos on the body and in the headrest, and not much else. This model represented the first time in many years that a Corvette was offered with silver paint, so that alone was significant. Throw in the fact that the ZR1 wheels were some of the best looking alloys ever bolted on a Corvette and you had a very attractive ride, provided you could appreciate a car with only modest changes from a standard model. Of course, the 5.7L LT1 engine came standard, which made for respectable acceleration, even with an automatic transmission.

Most of these Collector’s Editions had black interiors, though I have heard of a few escaping the factory with a red leather cabin, and that those cars command a premium over other CE trim models. As a fairly low mileage example, the interior remains in excellent shape, with no real issues to note. The cabin materials were of average quality and C4s that have spent a fair amount of time in the sun will inevitably show signs of warpage, but there’s nothing like that here. The top is removable, and the seller reports that it comes with all books, manuals, and even the factory window sticker.

Though the LT4 was an option in 1996, the car shown here has the standard LT1. There’s nothing wrong with this, as the C4 was a fairly light car by modern standards and 300 b.h.p. and 340 lb.-ft. of torque is nothing to sneeze at. To me, if I was going to buy a C4 that wasn’t a ZR1, I’d look long and hard at a Collector’s Edition model like this. There’s some exclusivity, and despite silver paint being fairly over-used on most new cars today, it still looks unusual on a C4. The seller’s price seems fair for a low mileage example, and with the option to submit a best offer, you might even get it for less than advertised.