Chevrolet threw a party in 1993, and the guest of honor was the Corvette. Four decades had passed since the badge first appeared, and the company decided to celebrate the milestone by releasing a 40th Anniversary Edition. Our feature ‘Vette is one of those cars. It has seen little recent use and has a few minor flaws. However, the seller’s decision to list it with No Reserve makes it worth more than a passing glance. They have listed this classic here on eBay in Midland, North Carolina. Intense action has pushed the price to $4,500 with time remaining for interested parties to stake their claim.

The 40th Anniversary Corvette was a distinctive vehicle, courtesy of its Ruby Red paint. Chevrolet reserved the shade exclusively for these vehicles, which also made it the most common color selected in that model year by a wide margin. The seller is candid in their assessment of this classic, admitting that the paint exhibits deterioration on the bumpers and a selection of small scratches and chips. However, the shine is pleasing, and the presentation would be improved enormously by refreshing the bumpers. The seller doesn’t mention any rust problems, the glass is clear, and the wheels are free from stains and physical damage.

The “Ruby Red” theme continued inside all 40th Anniversary Corvettes, with this shade of leather also exclusive to these vehicles. This interior is presentable, with only minor wear. However, there is enough deterioration to justify handing the car to a leather specialist, because I believe that professional conditioning and dying could return the upholstery to its former glory relatively cheaply. The carpet looks quite good, and there are no significant issues with the dash or plastic. The interior is nicely equipped, with the new owner receiving a driver’s airbag, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power seats, a tilt wheel, and a premium stereo. The seller indicates that the stereo is inoperative and that the car requires new moldings for the glass to stay on track as the windows raise and lower.

After the mystery of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Corvette had recaptured its glory days by the time our feature car rolled off the line. Its 5.7-liter V8 churns out 300hp and 340 ft/lbs of torque. The first owner teamed that motor with a four-speed automatic transmission, producing a car that could storm the ¼-mile in 14.3 seconds on its way to 164mph. Those numbers look respectable today but were considered extremely impressive in 1993. The seller confirms that this classic has seen little recent use, and the tires are dry-rotted. They also indicate that the valve covers are weeping and that a tune-up and thorough inspection would be wise before the winning bidder hits the road in earnest. However, it runs and drives well, suggesting that a few days of tinkering is all that stands between the new owner and motoring joy.

Chevrolet produced 22,058 examples of the Corvette in 1993, with 6,749 buyers handing over the additional $1,455.00 for the 40th Anniversary package. That represents a take-up rate of 30%, meaning that these cars aren’t particularly rare. However, the No Reserve aspect of this auction has hooked a few people, with a bidding total of forty-seven at the time of writing. That figure will rise during the final minutes, but are you tempted to contribute to the tally?