It’s still a bit jarring to see a collector car treated like any other used vehicle, but that appears to be the case with this 1993 Chevrolet Corvette 40th Anniversary edition. The last time I saw one of these limited production models in such tired condition, it was sitting in the bottom of a hole after the ground opened up beneath the Corvette museum in Bowling Green. While it may just be a case of some special cosmetics, the 40th Anniversary models are still sought after by collectors today. Find this example here on craigslist for $6,000 OBO in Hampden, Maine.
You can see the video of “Ruby” being removed from the sinkhole in this video posted on YouTube. Fortunately, this example hasn’t gone that far down the slippery slope of deferred maintenance, but it’s clear it was used as a driver. The seller notes the Corvette was backed into at some point, damaging the hood and the driver’s side door. He already has the spare panels ready for paint, and he’ll sell the car with the bodywork done for $7,000. While I don’t worship at the altar of Corvette myself, I’m still surprised to see an owner of a special edition model like this not bother to get their car repaired – especially considering insurance would no doubt pay to have the work done.
The 40th Anniversary Corvettes featured Ruby Red paint and matching leather interiors, which really are stunning when the light hits them just right. It also helps that the leather surfaces not be tired and weathered like these bucket seats are, but the whole cabin just reeks of rental car levels of care and attention. The air conditioning has stopped working and the driver’s seat motor stripped a gear, so it needs some help to move back and forth. While it could come back with good detailing, there are likely other areas of the car needing improvement that aren’t captured in this solitary interior photo.
The good news is that, like any other C4 Corvette, the drivetrain remains dead-simple to work on and very robust. The seller mentions that the 40th Anniversary ‘Vette runs and drives without issue, but you have to work pretty hard to kill off an LT1. Now, that being said, the level of cosmetic neglect here does make you ask what else has been ignored, but hopefully, this is a case of the car being a third or fourth vehicle that is worth less than the other vehicles in his stable. 40th Anniversary Corvettes may not be the rarest of the C4 line, but they certainly deserve better care than what’s on display here.
Just not sure about those exhaust tips. Does the engine even run with those small, tiny exhaust pipes?
I bid Tree-fiddy for this Loch Ness monster.
uh….no title
The rust in Maine falls mainly in the frame.
very clever.
At that price worth it for even a non runner….no title?…worth nothing but parts…
Maine only titles 95 and newer. it has plates so I assume copy of last registration and bill of sale would do the trick. That said it’s an easy state to get a title in, so that small effort would help the sale.
IMO they’re trying to sell this with body damage and no title for what you can buy a complete car with title. Not a good deal from what I’m seeing.
Sorry to say , but the 90’s Corvette were NOT in big demand . Quality was down even thou it had a good power plant. Not untill 1998 with the new style (C5) did demand pick up. Just look at the asking price now would those models tell the story .
Take a peek at some C4 Corvettes on another site that encourages would to bring a mode of conveyance. Granted, the C4’s on that site are top shelf examples, the sales prices are pretty robust. I would even say the prices are BaTs!
Shame that this wasn’t taken better care of. The damage, no title and asking price all say run!
Well, this site is called “Barn Finds”, right?
Junk…you’d need to pay me to take this car. Well, maybe if it was free, with free delivery, I’d consider it. At that point, I would immediately dump it for the first offer I got above what I paid for it.
Nice dirt-floored garage. What a tool.
Damage, no title, lots of miles, poorly maintained…………. just a parts car! No Thank you!
I believe 97 was the first year for C5s. Sometimes the “newness” wears off and it just becomes another old car. Maintenance gets deferred and the car gets parked. The owner goes looking for another “new” car to get their adrenaline pumping. I have an 88 Vette vert. Owned for 15 years. It has been relinquished to “just another car” status now. Clearcoat is flaking. Crack in the dash pad. It sits in its shed waiting on a “new” car hunter to come fall in love with it. Until that day comes, it don’t eat no grass, don’t use no gas. Oh well…its just a car.