Seven years of dust and neglect cannot besmirch the lure of this barn find! This 1988 Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition in Innisfail, Alberta, Canada comes to market after lounging in indoor storage awaiting restoration work that never happened. A host of new parts come with the sale, which can be found here on Kijiji. Number 2040 of 2050 special editions produced, this white wonder’s manual transmission makes it one of only 180 anniversary specials so-equipped. With all due respect to the clutchless gearbox, I’ve driven an automatic C4 ‘Vette and the manual is unquestionably the way to go. Further sweetening the pot, the seller boasts that the Corvette Museum documents this VIN as one of GM’s original 35th Anniversary promotional vehicles, interesting considering the high sequence among what was originally supposed to be a run of 2000 cars. The listing asks $15,950 (presumably Canadian so about $12,400 USD) for this limited-production modern classic.
No engine or interior pictures grace the listing, especially unfortunate as the anniversary-only interior features striking white leather and a white steering wheel contrasting with black carpet and dash. Read more about this rare model here on CorvSport.
Other anniversary-only cues are the black roof halo and white belt trim where that line is black on other white ’88s. The white-out treatment extends to other trim and the wheels as shown here. While the C4 may not be the most collectible Corvette, this 35th-year package is certainly one of the most collectible C4 units.
The fourth-generation Corvette is considered a bargain. With today’s C8 making nearly 500 HP, enthusiasts may discard the 240 HP 1988 model (245 for the 35th-anniversary model thanks to a lower-restriction exhaust), but the ’88 and similar era C4 Corvettes dominated the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Showroom Stock GT class in those days. There is plenty of performance in this black-and-white wrapper to scare yourself in ways that can only be safely explored on a road course. Would you call this C4 Corvette “collectible?”
Just another Vette…nothing special
wrong
`84-`89 Corvettes rate as the lowest quality units ever built, and subsequently aren’t coveted by Vette fans very much. Kind of like when AMF owned Harley-Davidson.
I beg to differ. The C3 was not a great car. If you got 125k on it, it was all used up. The steering was a dream, a nightmare. There was no way to access rear storage (unless you like climbing over the seats). The HVAC sucked. Those plastic trinkets baked and disintegrated. The C4 did EVERYTHING better than the C3 and would run well past 125k miles.
But yes, this is not a preferred C4. If you want a good ‘vette for cheap, buy a 91+.
wrong
Thanks for your thoughtful contributions to the conversation
You can get a very nice, fully-sorted C4 any day of the week for much less than the current ask, and I’m sure you can get a running and driving 35th Anniversary edition for not much more than this one is listed at. I don’t know what value being an “original 35th Anniversary promotional vehicle” (whatever that is) adds, if any.
Wikipedia says there were about 23,000 C4s made in 1988, so if 2,050 were Anniversary editions (per the seller) that’s almost 10% of the entire 1988 run.
In addition to the re-assembly that the body needs (as shown in the pics here) the transmission is also out of the car.
I like C4’s, I own a C4 so I’m biased. Per the ad, last ran 7 years ago, not the best thing for cars IMO. I also have to say that the car is overpriced for what it is. I can point you to several other C4’s that run and are in good condition for much less $$ and are already in the US vs. Canada. One other thing many don’t know, pretty sure this still has the 4+3 tranny in it, which is a 4 speed with a overdrive unit bolted behind it. They can be problematic if not driven correctly or change it out for something like a Tremec.
My opinion.
Yes, the Doug Nash 4 spd. I sold 84-87 C4s new and those trannys were tough to move off the lot. Even seasoned enthusiasts had issues getting used to them.
I am a Corvette convert I switched from the German side when I bought my first Vette which was a C6 Z06 and a few years later a C7 Z06 I admit to being jaded but but I never considered a Vette a real fast car till the C6. To me this is just another car labeled as a Corvette, nothing more nothing less.
1990 ZR-1. 180 mph. Seems plenty fast to me. The featured car may have come out of the sinkhole at the Corvette Museum. Agree 100% with the late C4 (95 and 96) comments. The extra $ over an 84-94 is well worth it. I own a Top Flight, 6-speed 1995 that was NCRS-style pampered from day one and I cannot say enough good things about it.
my 95 will top out at 162, I do consider that fairly fast, especially for a 95, its comparable to most any Porsche, or???? and don’t forget, the C4 brought WINNING back to GM . and introduced an awful lot of new technology
How much trouble getting it back a cross the border to the States. Much Red Tape ?
David,
It’s been a few years since I’ve brought cars back into the USA, but unless things have changed recently, here’s what to expect.
[Assuming there is no pandemic or lockdown right now.]
This is a USA manufactured vehicle with North American specifications for EPA and DOT. [Canada and USA share specs.] It should be considered a “returning” car, and therefor not subject to USA import taxation.
Also assuming this has Canadian title, you will need to provide the filled out title, proper bill of sale [date sold, people involved, and price], and the EPA/DOT paperwork attesting to the fact the car meets all applicable requirements as of it’s manufacturing date [that should be confirmed on a decal/plate located on the driver’s door post as well, take a photo of that plate & include the photo on the import papers].
Process the above paperwork and then bring the car into the USA. Don’t try to bring it across the border without the completed paperwork, as the car MAY be impounded.
Paperwork can usually be processed in one day, but with the COVID19 lockdowns I cannot tell you how long before the paperwork can be processed & the car brought in.
Forget about it during Covid time. Two years ago a close friend sold a car to some folks from Toronto. $1500 Fiat on a trailer. Took them three weeks to get it from Buffalo across the Peace Bridge due to paperwork issues and that was not the first car these guys had taken over.
Amazing, with a little soap & water, to make it more desirable. Just sayin’…
Since the rear lights are all missing, I wonder if it still has head lights?
I have a pair of 1990 ZR-1 cars. As I am old and now disabled, they don’t get driven last couple years, and are just taking up space in my garages. I would like to be rid of them !
1990 red/red, 1990 black/black
Put them on Craigslist or eBay, Bob.
Best of luck, my friend.
Join the ZR-1 Net Registry. You will be dealing with knowledgeable ZR-1 purchasers and won’t have to deal with the Craigslist/eBay riff-raff looking to steal them from you.
With all due respect, Frank. No one will steal your cars, unless you allow them to. No goes both ways.
No worries Stan, but just one word to defend my position: FLIPPER. And I don’t mean the cute TV star. I also had “tire-kickers” and the “Would you take (Fill in low-ball number here) for it. Agree “No” works both ways but I know there will be ten time-wasters for every one legitimate buyer. I sold two cars a year ago, one of them on this site and another on FB Marketplace. Never again will I do that.
Sorry for your bad experience, Frank.
There’s always an abundance of looky-lews, when car shopping.
Did you get your price??
Stan- No big deal. Stuff happens. I did get my price on both. The 1984 Corvette was sold on this very website. Got some great assistance from the kind folks at Barn Finds. Other car was sold on FB Marketplace.
Glad to hear it, Frank. As long as both parties are satisfied.