It really hadn’t occurred to me until I read this listing description for a 1989 Chevrolet Corvette, but the ’89s are an interesting year: they preserved the classic C4 styling cues before the Corvette adopted a more rounded look, but also were chock-full of engineering upgrades that would later be found on the game-changing ZR1. This example here on eBay is a desirable manual transmission car equipped with the trick FX3 suspension with a measly $8,200 Buy-It-Now.
These cars are such a performance bargain – it makes me feel almost a bit stupid for not jumping on one of these long ago. The FX3 suspension gave this car serious handling chops, and the beefy ZF6 manual transmission is supposedly more robust than earlier models. The Corvette has under 50,000 original miles and the interior presents very well, with just some wear noted on the driver’s seat.
The Corvette has other performance options added, including the Z51 suspension and J55 13-inch “performance brake option,” according to the seller. It does seem this Corvette was built by an enthusiast, with all of the desirable performance options chosen over any useless comfort features. The Corvette additionally comes with a recently-installed Corsa exhaust, which makes some truly great-sounding products.
The seller is moving the Corvette along as he prepares to buy a house, and the car represents some potential down payment money. That’s truly a bummer, as this is the sort of car you’d enjoy seeing parked in your garage every night. These C4 Corvettes still represent an incredible performance value when optioned the right way, and while there are a lot of dogs out there, this isn’t one of them.
Super clean, unfortunately the C4 is not among the most desirable body styles.
The money saz this is a excellent car to enter the Corvette club. And start getting your waves from the other Vette coming down the road towards you.
I remember my first wave in my C5. My first thought was, wow nobody waved to me in my Honda Accord.
Cool, I’m in the club. But I did notice if the driver had white hair the chances of a wave diminish considerably.
I guess the concentration becomes pretty intense for some of them.
But under 50,000 miles, I have to think fair price for nice Vette.
And since it’s red, might as well turn up Prince on the radio.
Ps just because it’s a C4 does mean it won’t fly, because it will.
Love the styling of the C4’s. Best performance value for the money. Sorry I sold mine but just not enough room to keep it.
I recall reading an article from the 80’s where Bill Mitchell panned the styling on these as bland, but they have aged really well, that is still a really good looking car. I’ve always liked the C4, it was the first all new Corvette in my lifetime and it was really BIG deal back in mid 83 when you first started seeing these on the road.
I think Mitchell panned anything he didn’t design.
Can someone please explain the 2 types of suspension; Z51, and FX3, thanks.
Z51 is the spring rates and larger air damn and possibly larger brakes. The FX3 was the 3 position shocks that went from soft to hard from in the car. (All from memory).
This car will be lots of fun for someone with minimal work. Way more fun than the asking price, what else could you get in this condition, at this price that would be more fun?
Joel
Thanks Joel.
Nice looking bucket of bolts,someone polished the TPI runners….dont look bad at all.too bad the price of them is not high,I guess when I’m in heaven my kids might get a good price for mine
The last Corvettes that I thought were the best in style but not performance was the 1980 81 82 Actually all C3 in Style.
The FX3 is actually pretty sophisticated. It is equipped effectively variable shock rates. There are 3 settings for the style of ride and then as MPH increases, the shocks automatically stiffen. Its incredible how nice these ride.
The z51 includes stiffer springs, bigger sway bars and faster ratio steering, but, if z51 equipped with FX3, it gets normal spring rates vice stiffer ones.
Awesome car, incredible value.
Selling it to buy a house? Why? What this will bring won’t even pay for your closing costs!
And usually you can get the seller to pay the closing costs. Negotiate more and keep the car. Sheesh.
I’d rather buy that 89 Corvette for $8,200 versus that Malibu for $22,000
Beautiful Corvette and nicly equipped. The ZF transmission was a huge step up. Should be gone soon.
The intake manifold was polished?
Not from the factory.
I love these. You could even do better as finding a cleaner one with lower miles due to them not moving on the market. They just sit and don’t fetch big money for some reason. The price is right for a quick way to jump into the car game.
The buy it now price is listed as $4999, not $8200. If it wasn’t 2000 miles away, I’d consider buying it…
The original listing has ended. The $4999 one has 121,000 miles. Somebody got a nice Corvette.
It’s always been my understanding that a 91′ and newer C4 was the way to go, but I do agree that the earlier styling is preferred.
Unsold at $8,200. If he really wants to move it he’s probably looking at 5-6k. I know financial situations are different but if I really loved it, that’s pocket change. I’d keep it and drive the wheels off it.
I’m not an ebay expert by any means, but it shows the laisting has ended. How do you know it was not sold? I think the owner is pretty close on the price. IMO $5-6 gets you in the 84-87 era with much lower performance.