Like red? Then this 1987 C4 Corvette coupe is worth a look: it’s Bright Red over Red, the intense color relieved slightly by its black steering wheel and black dash/console. It has traveled only 25,600 miles since new, and has never been modified. Advertised here on craigslist for $14,900 cash (in person!) or trade for the right classic car, this ‘Vette is located in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Everything works, and the car is about as pristine as they come. Corvettes offer a lot of performance for the money, though certain years sit near the top of the pyramid. Let’s place this one into our hierarchy of desirability…. but first, a thanks to T.J. for the great tip!

The Corvette has endured for eight generations. Among these, the C3 probably represented the model’s richest metamorphosis, with subtle changes to the body, a philosophical shift from a pure sports car to a sports tourer, and an enormous variety of engines over a production span that stretched from 1968 through 1982. By the time the C4 arrived, Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell were retired from GM. The new C4 generation was handled by Dave McLellan and Irv Rybicki, who furthered the car’s touring attitude by delivering a new chassis, new suspension components, and fresh styling. These efforts eased the Corvette past a bleak period of diminished performance as automakers continued to respond to evolving emissions regulations. But when this car rolled off the line, things had improved substantially. In the engine bay is GM’s 350 cu. in. L98 V8, equipped with tuned port injection. The L98 was introduced in 1985; continuous improvements brought output to 240 hp and torque to a healthy 345 lbs-ft. That was enough for a top speed of 150 mph. A four-speed automatic puts the power to the ground. The seller notes fresh oil, a new idle control valve, and no leaks!

The interior is lipstick red, no doubt about it. Wrinkled leather on the driver’s seat bottom is the only hint of wear. The car was optioned with the blue-tinted glass top and a Bose stereo. The power accessories are said to work perfectly, including the hatch release switches. The digital dash works, and the air conditioning blows cold. The cargo area is spiffy and details like the rubber seals and steering wheel wrap look near-new.

So how does the ’87 C4 stack up? It’s not a first-year, so it’s saved from the curse of nagging faults that were subsequently fixed. But it’s not a last-year car either, and in the C4 generation, the later the better. It’s not a ZR1 – all of those were serious performance machines, with the nod for “best” going to the last in line, the 1995. What we have is still a lot of car for the money, in outstanding condition, priced at the mid- to high-end of the ’87 C4 range. I wouldn’t push it out of my garage; what do you think?