When dealing with a car that is not hard to find, it’s sometimes important to highlight what makes it different. In the case of the C4 Corvette, a very much overlooked modern classic, you can find hundreds of cars for sale at a given time. When it comes time to list yours, it’s important to think about what makes it rare or different – like an extensive wood trim kit. This 1986 Chevrolet Corvette here on eBay is listed with a $7,495 asking price and the option to submit a best offer. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Russel G. for the find.
These kits were all the rage in the 1980s, and a few vendors actually made them out of high-quality materials. I doubt Chevrolet offered this as a factory option, but I’m sure they would find a way to add this handsome detail if a buyer requested it. You could also find these kits via any number of advertisers in the back of popular car magazines and install it yourself, as most were held in with an adhesive backing.
Ignoring the fancy interior for a moment, this Corvette does have 57,714 miles on the clock and is said to be a one-owner example with no accidents. The car has been a fair weather driver only, seemingly spending more time in the garage than on the road. I’m not crazy about the wheels, which seem to a lower trim level design. Some larger and later OEM wheels would really make this car pop.
The seller notes that the Corvette is equipped with a unique interior upholstery option as well, featuring cashmere gray in place of the usual black or tan leather. It works well on a car like this, and the condition of the interior seems to speak to an owner that enjoyed his or her time in the cockpit. All power options work, and the seller is replacing the valve cover gaskets and drive belts prior to the sale. Make an offer!
Those wheels actually are from a later model vette. Think early 90’s LT1 cars used those. It’s a nice car, and I like the woodgrain kit. These C4’s are becoming really cheap for nice examples. It’s just a shame seemingly everyone got the slushbox.
It’s not a shame if a manual is of no use to the potential buyer.
The wheels are the standard 16 inch wheels from the 1988 model year. Not too many Corvettes sold with those wheels. Most were ordered with the new for 1988 17 inch wheels wheels in the Z51 and Z52 options.
Of no use?!? A manual gets a car down the road as well as an automatic. Of no use?!?
At one time my ex wife and I looked seriously at 79 and 86 vette’s (high school grad and marriage years)…good thing we didn’t buy…they’d be hers.
The C4 was an engineering milestone in it’s day as the mid-engine vette ( like it or not is today). No respect Rodney.
The C4 would be a nice fair weather driver.
Those wheels are the standard 16″ wheels, found on 88-89 Corvettes. They’re fairly rare, as most people ordered the optional 17″ rims, but in this case rare does not mean desirable.
For someone considering a used 84-88 Corvette, the automatic is a better choice than the 4+3 manual that has some reliability issues, and parts are near impossible to find for. A C4 buyer, wanting a manual trans, would be smart to stick to the 89-96 cars with the ZF 6 speed. Actually, if I was in the market for a C4, I wouldn’t even look at a pre 91, and would only consider a 92-96, with the much better LT-1 engine, and the better trans, dash, seats, and better looking front and rear bumpers.
I beg to differ regarding the 4+3. I have had no issues with my 1984. Please remember it is a Borg-Warner T-10 transmission with an electronic overdrive system bolted on. I don’t do much highway driving so I rarely engage the overdrive switch. I do agree the best bet is the ZF and I also believe the only C4’s worth serious consideration are 1995-1996.
These cars have become affordable. The liability insurance has not become affordable.
It would be a classic in the UK, circa $450 a year to insure, maybe less.
My 1984 is driven six months a year in New York state. I pay $188 a year for full coverage.
No So fast my friend. I’m paying a paultry $30/mo for my 1988 C4.
The rims are from a 90, the “no center cap” year. In 91, they switched to the rims known as the “Sawtooth” rims, which look like a saw blade from a Circular Saw. Albeit facing to the back
As far as the wood grain dash, I have gone back and forth, since I bought my 89, 11 years ago. Sometimes, I like it, and am tempted to go to eBay, and buy the package. But then I think, after installing it, I would tire of it, or think it might look cheap.
I hope the seller gets the $7500 for this car. The buyer will get a lot of enjoyment for the money. Or you can buy a used Toyota for the same money, and be bored, but economical.
Yup, the rims look to be 17″ from a later year, though if they are OEM they had to use spacers to fit them to the car (not desirable IMO). Basic car looks good including the paint. The rim offset is different between the early and later C4’s, most require aftermarket rims unless you’re willing to use spacers.
The 4+3 could be problematic if not maintained and driven properly while the ZF has flywheel replacement problems if needed. Happens mine had the 4+3 replaced with a Tremec 5 speed prior to my purchasing it, it’s good for a driver.
Car looks good overall and price seems reasonable for the condition and mileage on it IMO. I don’t care for the ‘wood’ veneer kit added to it (most are plastic that I’ve seen) and likely can be removed but probably damage to the underlaying plastic finish will happen.
As I said in my earlier post, those are the standard 16″ wheel from 88-89. Below is a link the 88 sales brochure, with those same wheels being shown throughout. On page 23, those wheels are pictured and noted as a 16″ rim, while on page 27, the optional 17″ rims are shown.
https://www.corvsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1988-Chevrolet-Corvette-brochure.pdf
As far as the 4+3 goes, like anything else, some owners never had problems with them, but a lot of people did. A good friend of mine was a GM warranty auditor, and he regularly dealt with 4+3 claims. He had a dozen broken low mileage cores in his garage, that he’d saved from dealerships. After most of the 4+3 parts had been discontinued, he sold the cores to one of the well known Corvette transmission rebuilders. Parts availability is a problem with 4+3’s today.
These 16-inch wheels were 1988 only. They were discontinued for ’89 when the 17-inch wheel that was optional in ’88 (as part of RPO Z51 and Z52) became standard equipment (per Corvette Black Book).
I stand corrected, thanks
I bought a 86 Vette 2 years ago for 2k the seats and carpet were sun baked from 4 years of not moving but it had a stainless catback magnaflow, nice aftermarket stereo after reapolstering the seats and new carpet a set of 04 z06 wheels on the black Vette for less than 5k it’s a blast to drive
tiger66 has it right