America’s Sports Car, the Chevrolet Corvette, has been produced every year since 1953 – except 1983. That was when they took a year off, shifting from the third to the fourth generation models. When the Corvette returned in 1984, it was an immediate hit, and more than 51,500 copies were sold. This one has just 47,000 miles and is fully loaded, including RPO Z51, the Performance Handling Package. Located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, this desirable ‘Vette is available without a reserve here on eBay, where the current bid is $4,702.
When the Corvette returned in 1984, it did so without a convertible for the first time since its inception. Like the C3 Corvettes (1968-82), the C4s would also enjoy a long run (1984-96). Perhaps because they were more modern than their predecessors and built in larger numbers, the 1984-96 Corvettes trade at lower prices than some of them before and after. More than a quarter of the ’84s, including the seller’s nice edition, came with the $600 Z51 option, which improved the cars’ handling to that found on race tracks.
Besides having a 5.7-liter V8, the seller’s Corvette also comes with a 4-speed manual transmission. Loaded with features, everything is said to work except one (the power radio antenna). In the past few months, the seller has installed some new parts, including the fuel pump and injectors, and has done a tune-up on the sporty car. With low miles for the age, there’s no reason to believe you couldn’t hop right in and take a road trip.
This seems to be a rust-free car and wears two-tone paint over the fiberglass body, a Corvette hallmark. The photos could be better, as a pet peeve of mine is sellers who focus on close-up shots rather than good ones of the whole car from several angles. No trades will be considered, but the seller has included Motor Trend’s Car of the Year sticker, as those honors were bestowed on the all-new ‘Vette.
I am liking the looks of these later Corvettes more and more.
No cost manual trans. Proper. 😌 🏁 Looks great in Silver.
Thx Dixon, enjoy your weekend.
Crossfire fuel injection that still works? How fun is that?
Even though Chevrolet never sold any Corvettes in 1983, I found out they actually built about 45 that year. They ended up having quality issues so they didn’t produce any. They did save one of them, and it’s in their Corvette museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Is it just me? Or does over 40 years ago seem like a blink of an eye??? I still remember when these came out. It seems like yesterday. That being said, this one really looks great. Love it. And it has a manual trans too. Great write up Russ. You brought back some great memories for me.
What is the writer talking about when he says “When the Corvette returned in 1984, it did so without a convertible for the first time since its inception.”? Chevrolet dropped the Corvette convertible at the end of 1975 production, and didn’t revive it again until mid way through the 86 model year.
I love Corvettes, but 1984’s are about the only year I would never own, especially one with the 4+3 trans and/or Z51. The Doug Nash derived 4+3 was an interesting idea, but the execution wasn’t great and there are very few parts available for them today. An 84 with Z51 will corner like it’s on a tether, but the ride is stiffer than a go kart or horse and buggy. Even the base suspension 84 will shake your fillings loose on anything other the smoothest roads, and the Z51 is much worse. Chevrolet sacrificed suspension travel in 84 in an effort to advertise they could pull 1G on the skid pad. The digital dashes in 84-89’s are also a constant source of trouble.
This may be a fairly low miles and relatively clean example at a tempting price, but anyone really interested in it would be much better off saving their money until they can buy at least a late 80’s C4. Even better yet, step up and pay the going rate for a similar condition 92-96 C4. They are far superior cars to the 84’s (or even the 85-89’s) with none of the issues the earlier ones had.
I owned a 1984 Corvette that car rode like a chuck wagon and nothing good to say about the Cross Fire engine. Also owned a 1992 Corvette that was light years better than the 1984.
Ill take the Pontiac in the back if it is a poncho!!
I had a ’95 C4 and gbvette62 and Lakota are right. Very harsh ride. I didn’t like driving it with the (bolt-on) targa top removed. The windshield shook real bad. That being said, it was relatively easy to work on. The C beam was, IMO, the precursor to the rear transmission torque tube of the C5.
I have had a 84 for about ten years now and it have been trouble free with the crossfire. still looks very presentable but the ride……built only for a smooth track. it was the fastest production car in 84.
Love the C4’s and this one looks in great shape. Only downside for me is the leather interior.
I still prefer the 75 and up C3 even though power was down. Not a difficult fix for that lol. But the C4 ones have really grown on me the last few years. I do not mind a stiff ride or suspension one bit. When I want a cushy ride I can take my Grand Marquis. Things look good under the hood. We’ll assume for a moment it wasn’t winter driven at all. Hopefully it was in a climate controlled garage whenever not being driven. Wisconsin is a very humid state. I lived there 18 years growing up so I’m speaking from experience. Some fellow commenters could confirm that. High humidity is not as bad as salt but over the years it can take a toll on vehicles. Some only a little. Some quite a lot. I’m not sure how susceptible the bird cage etc are on these. I’m sure someone here has experience if they’d care to share it with me.
I valet parked one back in the 80’s.
I took the long way to the parking space including going on a washed out dirt side road close to the beach.
It wanted to go every direction except straight.
Well. I really like the C4 (had a 87 convertible some years ago), but I would stay away from this one, as its a 84 Crossfire (that is not really desireable) and a Z51 package. As mentioned, the 84 were really stiff setup already in the standard version, the Z51 makes it really terrible and the ride is very, very poor. Also, the Dough-Nash 4+3 is not great (althout I would prefer it over an Auto).
My favorite year would be a 89 model: most bugs are out of the car, it got the new 6-gear- ZF- tranny and still the old digital cluster in interior, that looks so much better than the newer facelift version.
I doubt, that this car here will go higher than 8K. There are so many on the market, that buyer can search for better ones.