If you’ve been scouring the market, searching for a C4 Corvette to park in your garage, your quest may be at an end. This 1989 Corvette Convertible presents superbly and is a turnkey proposition with 57,000 miles on the clock. However, that isn’t the ace up its sleeve, because the seller’s carefully considered engine upgrades should boost the car’s power to around 350hp. That’s heading into ZR-1 territory, but this classic could be yours for a fraction of the price. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting the Corvette listed here on eBay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bidding has reached $6,400, and with the reserve met, this Convertible is days away from finding a new home.
The listing indicates that the seller has been the custodian of this Corvette for approximately five years. They don’t mention a restoration history, suggesting that the car’s existing Dark Blue Metallic paint might be original. The seller describes it as “perfect,” and I can’t spot any genuine shortcomings in the listing images. The fit and finish are excellent across every exterior surface, and the Black soft-top fits as tight as a drum. Rust shouldn’t be an issue because there is no evidence of surface corrosion or associated deterioration. The glass is crystal clear, and the sparkling alloy wheels provide the perfect contrast to the car’s dark paint shade. Overall, I would consider the exterior presentation consistent with that of a high-end driver.
Okay, now it’s time to get down to business and to discover this Corvette’s party piece. It features its original 5.7-liter V8, which generated 240hp and 335 ft/lbs of torque when the car was shiny and new. Performance was considered respectable, but this Convertible offers so much more. The upgrades are almost all of the “bolt-on” variety, including a new fuel rail, injectors, a high-pressure fuel pump, an Edelbrock high-performance throttle body, and an upgraded distributor. Internally, a high-volume oil pump helps to keep the slippery stuff between the metal bits, while the engine management system features a chip upgrade. The engine has never been dynoed, but the seller states that the car offers comparable performance to their 1991 Corvette ZR-1. They believe that a figure of 350hp is probably close to the mark. There’s no point having plenty of power if it can’t find its way to Planet Earth. This engine sends its rampaging ponies to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, while cross-drilled disc brakes bring proceedings to a safe halt. The seller states that the ‘Vette is a turnkey proposition that runs and drives perfectly. Therefore, flying in and driving home is a realistic goal for the winning bidder.
The positive vibes continue inside this Corvette, although I am sure the faux-timber dash and console overlay will probably divide opinion. However, it and the modern stereo are the only additions to an interior featuring leather trim, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power driver’s seat, a tilt/telescopic wheel, cruise control, and an LCD dash display that looks to have come straight from a Star Wars movie. The Dark Blue leather has typical age wrinkles, but the outer seat bolsters display no genuine wear. The same is true of the carpet and the wheel, while the plastic looks excellent. Hitting the road with the top down won’t embarrass this classic’s next owner.
This 1989 Corvette Convertible may not be the ultra-desirable ZR-1 variant, but its performance would come close to matching that of its more expensive sibling. Reversing the changes and returning the car to its factory form would be possible, but I question why you’d bother. After all, enjoyment should be the primary motivation for classic ownership, and this car’s performance would tick that box. The listing statistics show that people like what they see, but there is still a chance the sale price will fall within what many would consider affordable territory. Therefore, staking your claim might be wise before it’s too late, because regret can last for an awfully long time if you don’t.
That red spacer between the throttle body and the plenum better have a couple of fogger nozzles in it if you want to get to 350hp, because the rest of the mods listed won’t get you anywhere with a long runner TPI.