Randall Collins The mako shark styling at its zenith enhanced by lovely green paint. The poor engine underneath the hood completely emasculated by the Naderites in gov't.
They looked cool, but any 3rd gen after '72 was a complete dog. Low compression, emission controls, tall gearing...... they were depressing Corvettes. 0-60 times got longer by the year, up to over 10 seconds by 1979. Hard to believe how the same car had an L88 option and then 6 years later had a decompressed 350 as the only engine available. Ugh
To me the original pre-facelift C4 Corvette is one of the sweetest looking Vettes, but man, that green C3 convertible at the beginning of the video, with its huge Eagle GT tires, is awesome!!
I own a C3 and I owned a C5 convertible in the past, and there's no question the C5 was the vastly better car. But in terms of looks, that C3 gets more stares and people talking to you than anything I've ever owned - and I've owned a ton of cool and unique cars. But I'm also anti-social and hate people bothering me, so it's a mixed bag.
@@Rocklyn1 I don’t understand why so many people complain about the TPI 350. It’s perfectly adequate power wise. I mean, it was the 80s. You would have basically needed to get a super car to go any faster. Plus, Iimagine it was faster than a lot of C3s, especially the later ones. I wonder what the TPI would have been rated at pre-net horsepower ratings? 300hp?
My 87 convertible (red) looks almost like that one! Mine has gray interior with a black top. Great car! IMO C4 vetts are what a corvette is! Flip up lights, long nose and tilt nose hood.
Ahh the good old C4 Corvette, my favorite bodystyle. I'd take one of these over any newer generation of Corvette, let alone a C7(those are ugly!!!) The C5 Corvettes aren't that bad but the C4 will always be my favorite!
@@theeurobandit Well, it's only opinion . . . but I think the C4 is by far the ugliest Corvette ever made (although the C7 gives it a run for its money). The C1, C2, C5, C6 and C8 are the only ones that appeal to me.
Good! I'm not crazy and I can admit to loving this body style. I think it is actually my favorite of any generation. I remember when in my early teens when these were newly introduced, so I have a certain nostalgic fondness for the Eighties styling and features.
@@floridaroadways ok? Did I ask? Every car now a days is fast just cause your shitty little camry is fast doesn't mean that a beast classic vette isn't.
I have a '90 C4 Convertible with the 6 speed in the garage stripped down to the short block ready for some go-fast goodies from LPE. The car is very user serviceable with some patience since it's a low car and it has lots of fasteners. Parts are readily available at the Vette specialists and since it's a gen I SBC under there the local shops have most of the common parts in stock. The C4 is essentially like a C3 with some basic computer controls so it's still simple by today's standards. Looking at the C7 and it's complexity (like all new cars), it may be beyond the garage hobbyist's ability to support in 30 years economically. I hope I'm wrong.
Even though the C4 doesn't get as much love as some of the other generations, I'd take a '95 ZR1 over pretty much every other model of Corvette ever made.
jo hn same here i would love to have a c4 zr1 but i willing to settle for thr 1996 grand sport, i just love the metalic blue color with the black rims and red racing stripes on the front fenders, the extra 30 hp is also very nice.....but to be honest i would settle for a 92 -96 corvette with the basic 300hp lt1.
@@fastdude2002 take my word for it, you want the 69. That 1 inch of interior width makes a huge difference inside. I had a 69 and as a big guy, the extra room over the 68 was evident. My C4's were even better but I do love that 69 body and chrome bumpers. Mine had factory installed Headers and side pipes. It was a 1/8 mile built car and could spin tires taking OFF in 4th gear. It had a kevlar clutch that required a lot of pressure to work but when I drove it, I knew it was a performance car. 13.5:1 compression and got max 8 mpg or as low as 6 when driven really hard. Pull the T Tops out, take out the rear window, it was heaven. I never should have sold it.
C4's are finally getting their just due in recent yrs. They were much better and more forgiving cars than the C3 ever thought of being. The TPI engine was wonderful with low end power always on call, and general serviceability much better with that giant 1 piece front end. While it seemed 1 couldn't give them away in the late 90s/early 00's, they have now become a sought after car, with good untouched examples hard to find. That being said, lots of go faster goodies from everyone from Chevy to the aftermarket are readily available.
The biggest issue is the dated electronic dash boards. Dated by the fact that they never function, and then repairing them is just so much fun! :) I've done a ton of the early cars, C1, C2 and 1969 and 1970 C3 versions. We do a lot of NCRS top flight/duntov stuff so they're all bone stock. Of the C3 version, the 1980 I did a recommission on was the most driver friendly and way more comfortable than the 69-70's. They had it down by that point. The new versions are great cars, just really, really ugly.
+xebek excellent point. People want to complain about stagnant wages and jobs going overseas, which is bad, but they don't seem to care or do anything about the federal reserve and the domestic policy that is causing it.
I'm a Mopar guy, tried and true, and yes, I know it's not a vette, but the IROC-Z convertibles from GM, still to this day, some of the slickest looking rides out there.
Great video quality. 1986..I turned 17 on May 9th got my first car and my first job. Next year I would meet my wife. We still look back at those great times with fond memories.
The C4 was a NICE LOOKING car and fairly quick however, it was really lacking in interior quality. The hard plastic pieces bolted to the steel pillars would rattle and squeak even when driving over the smallest tar strips. It drove me crazy,so I added thin sheets of foam rubber under the plastic. This made a noticeable improvement and I was able to maintain my sanity.
I bought an '86 convertible that looks just like this 3 weeks ago. May not perform like a Corvette made today but it still turns heads and it's a lot of fun!
My 85 Mustang GT ran a 14.8 bone stock when it was new. There was an 86 Vette at the same track that I ran that beat me with a 14.4. He said his car was bone stock also.
Man, that green '75 Corvette was beautiful. I still love the C3 models, with the C6 being my favorite. Put the C6 body on the C7 chassis and we have a winner.
The outside still looks good, but man, those 80's interiors! If you do the math, $32k back in '86 is about $70k today, or about what a new Stingray Convertible costs. The more things change.....
@@BoostedPastime Odd question to ask on a Corvette video (especially one from 1986, when the R32 GTR didn't come out until 1989), but I'll bite. Back in 1989, an R32 would've cost 4,500,000 yen. Using the average exchange rate at the time (137.982263), you get the equivalent of $32,613 USD. So, about the same as a Corvette at the time. Adjusted for inflation, that'd be about $67,000 in today's money.
You can’t go wrong with a RED ON RED Corvette convertible of any generation but theres just something about that combo in the C4 especially with the sport seats
It's remarkable how cheap these cars are today, you can easily find a C4 convertible in good shape for under $10k, and generally way under $10k. They are still good drivers too. The main enemy of this car, and well all sports cars, are all the slobs on the road that drive SUVs - you can't see anything. If you're driving and SUV or Minivan or truck, do the world a favor and drive into a bridge embankment doing about 70mph - those in sports cars will thank you for your service.
Hi Vic. What years are your C4s? And how many miles on them? In December 1986, I bought a 1986 (Build Date Code 4/66) red-on-red convertible with many options including 4+3 Manual Transmission, Leather Sport Seats, Cruise Control, Engine Oil Cooler, Power Door Locks, Delco-Bose Stereo. Due to an overseas assignment, I put very few miles on the car in the first eight years. The Vette now has 777.7 miles! Everything is original including the tires! I replaced the Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, and Power Antenna!! It's a great stablemate for my red 1993 Cadillac Allante (Also an Indy Car)!! Both have been garage-stabled their entire life, and both look and run like a dream!!! All the best, Bob.
My father has a 86 c4 targa stock auto Corvette with aftermarket c5 Corvette chrome wheels and atomic paint and aftermarket catback exhaust and stereo.
What i was surpised with was that this was a 1980s 2 seater sports car. So id expect it to be very light especially considering its fiberglass. The c4s are small with 80s tech. If a c4 was swapped with a ls engine and tranny, newer front and rear end, brakes, seats, wheels etc im sure you could shave off quite a few pounds.
What a price-increase from the 1984 model, though! 32K for this one, 26K for the ‘84. Of course, the convertible top makes it more expensive to be sure - but that’s still a pretty big bump there.
The 86 C4 even though its power numbers dont sound great and it weighs more than you think. It still drives smoothly, accelerating and corner is quick and nimble and with little body roll the car feels very very light and more powerful then it actually is
You know what they say about opinions... Everyone has 1.C4 particularly this 86 was 1 of my least favorite, but I still like it in a later yr.Not fast by any stretch but ya gotta remember the times.Until 87 w/ the GNC Buick nothing was fast.
If you like these Corvettes, then good for you. As someone who worked on these vehicles I can't even consider them even half-ass this year. The fit and workmanship sucked and mechanically, they weren't much better. Materials used to make these cars were sub-par and most all I see now are crumbling from the inside out. Yes, from the performance aspect it was a spark of performance lightning, but they were just assembled too cheaply.
The more-expensive competition was even worse. I'd argue that a Porsche or BMW from 1986 is actually worse. Highly disagree w/ the mechanics. The ZF6 + L89/LT1/LT4 was a damned good drive train. The DN 4+3 was OK....but don't prefer it. I've owned three of them and wrenched them myself....so I know. Bypassing the VATS and replacement of the Opti (92 up) eliminated MANY problems of this car. The skip-shift was annoying....but an easy fix. So, honestly, I have no clue what you're talking about. Other than the ill-fated dash, it was an excellent car. Far better than a shit-quality Fox body or Camaro. The Fox is shit in the purest form...other than it being light weight and a reasonably dependable OHV 5.0.
They are plentiful and fairly inexpensive. I got a really nice 1993 coupe with 68k miles for $8000 last October. There were plenty of solid mechanically but not quite as nice physically ones as low as around $5000. Or shave a little off by going with an L98 rather than LT1, etc.
+Passthedutch we're not going to have an FVC debate here, but try taking a 7 hour trip in a Mark VIII, a Z28 and a 1986 Corvette, then compare comfort, fuel economy and overall satisfaction. The 350 has been around since when, JFK? The 4.6 was brand new that year and conservatively configured for its output and fuel economy and still a monster of a motor. You can compare data sheets all day, bottom line is Ford actually put their new brainchild in a car and sold it. The GM northstar V8 is only available in very bland feeling FWD configuration except for maybe the XLR. But why not just put it in the corvette or make a RWD Eldorado that isn't boring to look at instead of making an over-priced corvette that looks like an Eldorado?. The GM Northstar V12 is still sitting in a concept car in a warehouse somewhere when it should have found its way into the 'vette decades ago. Instead they're still try to re-invent the 350 and sell it like its new. Shame.
+vendediesel You are mad, huh? You know what a Lincoln is? a rebadged ford. You know how many mark vii are around? not many. why? they're junk. the suspension sag, gauges stop working, and they ALL overheat. tell me, the Camaro and Corvette still sell wheras Lincoln axed the Mark how long ago? They're pieces of shit. No they were not comfortable, they floated around like a boat. They couldn't perform nearly as well as competitors. Lincoln is literally junk. At least Cadillac broke a record At Nürburgring for the fastest 4 door sedan. Lincoln however, is still rebadging Fords and charging premium prices for plasticky shit. Ford sucks.
Where the hell are you shopping? I've just checked and two different 1986 C4 convertibles with under 90k miles and under $10k. Both look clean. Then went to Orlando CL and half dozen under $15K.
I have to laugh about the 0-60 time. My 2017 500 Abarth will come very close to that on a 45 degree day. With that said, the C-4 is a bargain right now. Late 70's choked C-3's are finally climbing in price. Grab 2 for 10 grand and put them in dry storage
It's 30 year old technology. Supercars of that era "suck" by today's standards too. We'll see how abarths compare to newer cars in 2047 (if they survive that long). 💁
***** You must be one of those that loses a race to a supposedly slower car and tell yourself, "I'm faster. The magazine said so in the specs they gave. The other guy cheated". Seen plenty of those happen with mythical 0-60 times given by "good science" car mags.
Hi sportsmansparadice42 I purchased my 1986 model year C4 Convertible Corvette new in December 1986!!! I still own it! 777.7 original miles! See my earlier entry above!
I owned an '86 Vette back in in 1986. It was the biggest POS I ever owned. Car was always in the shop, and rattled like crazy. My friends '86 Celica made my Vette feel like it was assembled by farmers.
Karmiangod Would you have been happier if there were no progress and current cars were no better or safer than they were 30 years ago? Come on man, use your head...that would have been the 70's
Tom Jones True, but an at-home port job on the L98 intake and air box will get you an additional 20hp rwhp....for Zero dollars Have seen a good amount of mid-80s Z51 Vettes dip into the high 13s with nothing invested. Those engines were absolutely starving for air.
How so? Motorweek ran a 15.4 at 89mph with a manual 2016 Miata. This is a THIRTY THREE year old convertible with an automatic trans, and they ran 14.7 at 94mph. I guess math isn't one of your strong suits... Being that Motorweek's acceleration numbers always suck, Motor Trend ran 14.4 in a 2019 Miata with a manual trans. Motorweek still ran 13.9 & 14.2 with auto and manual '85 Corvette coupes... So depending on drivers it only took them 30 years to catch up. Nice job!
@Flies2FLL Really? How so exactly? You must be referring to all those 928 convertibles they never made... Or is it the fact that in SCCA showroom stock GT racing Corvettes were wiping the floor so badly with Porsche and Lotus that they got together and BANNED Corvettes and forced to form their own series and race against themselves? If not that you must be referring to the multiple FIA World Land Speed Endurance records Corvettes set in 1990. You know, the 50 year old records they smashed that still stand TO THIS DAY for production cars... You must particularly love the other Motorweek video where the 928 gets it's ass handed to around a racetrack by a Camaro lol. Yeah go ahead and tell me about how nice the 928's interior is...
@@chickenjo23 I remember seeing several C4's in the rear view mirror of my '85 928S2 5 speed. It was amusing watching their headlights get closer and closer together as they fell behind.... With nothing but a Borla exhaust I ran a 13.86@105.6 at Bithlo speedway outside of Orlando. It was a 90 degree day. My car used to beat the hell out of C4's and could run right with C5's, which are really just plastic copies of the 928~
The C4 Vette is by far the ugliest Corvette ever made. It's just hideous in so many ways. And yet these days, I almost feel it growing on me. However, a C4 vert is something I will NEVER like. ASC did a great job with a lot of cars, and I'm sure they did a fine job with this car, but a convertible that wasn't designed from the ground up will never be as good of a car as it could be, and chopping the top off of it just makes the C4 look even worse.
+Adam Baldwin "The C4 Vette is by far the ugliest Corvette ever made. It's just hideous in so many ways." - That is a matter of opinion my good sir. I prefer the late C4's to the early C4's myself. (91-96 body, Admiral Blue (96' Grand sport color) with blacked out ZR1 wheels (96' Grand sport wheels) is a top choice for me) I will agree the C4 is the most "bland" Corvette ever but that's what some people like about it. Plenty of people seem to hate the C5 for having a "fat ass" or being too bubbly also. There is always somebody who hates something. At least the C4 can handle and get pretty good gas mileage doing it! You can't argue with that!
***** I don't think the C4 is bland, I think it's just kind of ugly. It's heavy on the 80's style, boxy and not curvy enough, but like I said, it's been growing on me. Personally, I think any of the other generations look better than the C4, but there have been a lot of very nice Corvettes, so that's not much of an insult. And I respect anyone who has a soft spot for the C4; I have a soft spot for pretty much anything with wheels and an engine. I'm just surprised by how much more I am liking the C4 these days than how I used to a decade ago. There is definitely something to its styling that has aged pretty well.
C P I love a bunch of boxy cars. I think part of the problem with the C4 is that if anything, it's not boxy enough. It's grown a lot on me, but still the ugliest Corvette ever made, by far.
Авто/Мото
I think the c4 corvette is one of the most under rated and best looking cars from the 80's and 90's
I really love that '75 green Corvette roadster! Sweet!
Randall Collins The mako shark styling at its zenith enhanced by lovely green paint. The poor engine underneath the hood completely emasculated by the Naderites in gov't.
It is good looking.....those meaty tires ...but that rubber band engine 😣
They looked cool, but any 3rd gen after '72 was a complete dog. Low compression, emission controls, tall gearing...... they were depressing Corvettes. 0-60 times got longer by the year, up to over 10 seconds by 1979. Hard to believe how the same car had an L88 option and then 6 years later had a decompressed 350 as the only engine available. Ugh
To me the original pre-facelift C4 Corvette is one of the sweetest looking Vettes, but man, that green C3 convertible at the beginning of the video, with its huge Eagle GT tires, is awesome!!
It's a great looking car!!!! Except for the rubber band engine
I own a C3 and I owned a C5 convertible in the past, and there's no question the C5 was the vastly better car. But in terms of looks, that C3 gets more stares and people talking to you than anything I've ever owned - and I've owned a ton of cool and unique cars. But I'm also anti-social and hate people bothering me, so it's a mixed bag.
@@Rocklyn1 I don’t understand why so many people complain about the TPI 350. It’s perfectly adequate power wise. I mean, it was the 80s. You would have basically needed to get a super car to go any faster.
Plus, Iimagine it was faster than a lot of C3s, especially the later ones. I wonder what the TPI would have been rated at pre-net horsepower ratings? 300hp?
@@rodmunch69 I love Corvette C4 convertible, 85, 86, 87 and 88 is my favorites, Best generation of Vette, the C4.
That 1975 Corvette in the beginning was a bad ass beauty.
My 87 convertible (red) looks almost like that one! Mine has gray interior with a black top. Great car! IMO C4 vetts are what a corvette is! Flip up lights, long nose and tilt nose hood.
Ahh the good old C4 Corvette, my favorite bodystyle. I'd take one of these over any newer generation of Corvette, let alone a C7(those are ugly!!!) The C5 Corvettes aren't that bad but the C4 will always be my favorite!
I agree! The C4 is the last decent Corvette in my opinion (At least design wise)
@@theeurobandit Well, it's only opinion . . . but I think the C4 is by far the ugliest Corvette ever made (although the C7 gives it a run for its money). The C1, C2, C5, C6 and C8 are the only ones that appeal to me.
@@desertpair2 I agree with Dodge Boy, not so much the coupe but I think the convertible with the top down is hard to beat in the looks department.
Good! I'm not crazy and I can admit to loving this body style. I think it is actually my favorite of any generation. I remember when in my early teens when these were newly introduced, so I have a certain nostalgic fondness for the Eighties styling and features.
Not old but ues the best vette
Just bought a C4 with 80k and love it. Still a quick car and corners like crazy.
6.6 to 60 is not quick. Maybe yours newer and quicker.
Lol 4.6 in a scat charger
It doesn't do 0 60 in 6.6, it's faster, you just wish you had one so stop hating on a sexy, fast American classic
@@rocket4332 my 2012 camry V6 se does 0-60 in about 5.7 seconds
@@floridaroadways ok? Did I ask? Every car now a days is fast just cause your shitty little camry is fast doesn't mean that a beast classic vette isn't.
Almost 40 years old and still awesome.
I have a '90 C4 Convertible with the 6 speed in the garage stripped down to the short block ready for some go-fast goodies from LPE. The car is very user serviceable with some patience since it's a low car and it has lots of fasteners. Parts are readily available at the Vette specialists and since it's a gen I SBC under there the local shops have most of the common parts in stock. The C4 is essentially like a C3 with some basic computer controls so it's still simple by today's standards. Looking at the C7 and it's complexity (like all new cars), it may be beyond the garage hobbyist's ability to support in 30 years economically. I hope I'm wrong.
I owned an '87 convertible with the Doug Nash 4+3 speed manual transmission. Really nice car.
Even though the C4 doesn't get as much love as some of the other generations, I'd take a '95 ZR1 over pretty much every other model of Corvette ever made.
***** Now this is a beautiful beast
3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfxpENUxRrc/TxUBio5D30I/AAAAAAAAAd8/kXNvu6Srrbc/s1600/1995+Corvette+ZR-1.jpg
I always wanted a GS90...
I would take a 1968 sting ray any day over these...
jo hn same here i would love to have a c4 zr1 but i willing to settle for thr 1996 grand sport, i just love the metalic blue color with the black rims and red racing stripes on the front fenders, the extra 30 hp is also very nice.....but to be honest i would settle for a 92 -96 corvette with the basic 300hp lt1.
@@fastdude2002 take my word for it, you want the 69. That 1 inch of interior width makes a huge difference inside. I had a 69 and as a big guy, the extra room over the 68 was evident. My C4's were even better but I do love that 69 body and chrome bumpers. Mine had factory installed Headers and side pipes. It was a 1/8 mile built car and could spin tires taking OFF in 4th gear. It had a kevlar clutch that required a lot of pressure to work but when I drove it, I knew it was a performance car. 13.5:1 compression and got max 8 mpg or as low as 6 when driven really hard. Pull the T Tops out, take out the rear window, it was heaven. I never should have sold it.
C4's are finally getting their just due in recent yrs. They were much better and more forgiving cars than the C3 ever thought of being. The TPI engine was wonderful with low end power always on call, and general serviceability much better with that giant 1 piece front end. While it seemed 1 couldn't give them away in the late 90s/early 00's, they have now become a sought after car, with good untouched examples hard to find. That being said, lots of go faster goodies from everyone from Chevy to the aftermarket are readily available.
Adam Trombino these cars are cult classics
The C3 is 100% over rated! But it looks good so...
The biggest issue is the dated electronic dash boards. Dated by the fact that they never function, and then repairing them is just so much fun! :) I've done a ton of the early cars, C1, C2 and 1969 and 1970 C3 versions. We do a lot of NCRS top flight/duntov stuff so they're all bone stock. Of the C3 version, the 1980 I did a recommission on was the most driver friendly and way more comfortable than the 69-70's. They had it down by that point. The new versions are great cars, just really, really ugly.
They lack the soul of the 70s vettes. Flaws give character. The 70s vettes are better cruisers.
Gas is now a $1.00 lol sure wish it was today.
+cobra454tim You can thank the EPA and BLM for the current price
+Father Time And now sub 2... YAY!
+cobra454tim Adjusted for inflation, that's a lot more than you think.
+xebek excellent point. People want to complain about stagnant wages and jobs going overseas, which is bad, but they don't seem to care or do anything about the federal reserve and the domestic policy that is causing it.
+cobra454tim Gasoline is $0.94 per gallon in inflation adjusted dollars as compared to 1986.
I had a red '86 z51 for 20 years
I'm a Mopar guy, tried and true, and yes, I know it's not a vette, but the IROC-Z convertibles from GM, still to this day, some of the slickest looking rides out there.
It's SO FAAAAAAAAAAAANSUUUUUH.
tavshedfjols I'm so fancy I need a 2nd monocle~
Regular Car Reviews
+tavshedfjols OHHHH HARTFORD CONNETICUT
Shit if I know what your saying??? Was there alcohol involved?
Sew faunsehhh.... I drive an automatic Corvette. I can't be bothered to shift my own gears
Great video quality. 1986..I turned 17 on May 9th got my first car and my first job. Next year I would meet my wife. We still look back at those great times with fond memories.
The C4 was a NICE LOOKING car and fairly quick however, it was really lacking in interior quality. The hard plastic pieces bolted to the steel pillars would rattle and squeak even when driving over the smallest tar strips. It drove me crazy,so I added thin sheets of foam rubber under the plastic. This made a noticeable improvement and I was able to maintain my sanity.
One of the best corvettes ever!!
I bought an '86 convertible that looks just like this 3 weeks ago. May not perform like a Corvette made today but it still turns heads and it's a lot of fun!
What's the make and model?
I just bought a Gold '86 Convertible should look nice next to my Red '84
My 85 Mustang GT ran a 14.8 bone stock when it was new. There was an 86 Vette at the same track that I ran that beat me with a 14.4. He said his car was bone stock also.
This may be asking a lot - but do remember the trap speeds? I'm curious... Those were impressive ETs for stock cars in the mid-80s though.
My 89 5.7 TPI IROC-Z ran a 14.64 at 93.66 mph, all stock accept for K&N air filters and resonator delete.
Motorweek, Top Gear, and Donut are an elite 1 am combo
Beautiful car to look at !!👍
First year of aluminum heads on the L98 engine.
scott9050 yes but only for Convertibles
The first C4 engine was the L83 crossfire, right?
@@handofmud144 yes, 1984 only (plus the last year of the C3, 1982)
Only late 1986s got the aluminum heads with the center valve cover fasteners. I’ve had my 86 for 23 years now.. still love it !!!
@@craigt5906 not true. Late model 86 coupes starting with VIN ending in 20032 and beyond received the aluminum heads also.
very beautifull, Corvette soul of AMERICA
Dima Gaidar a legendary American sports car.
Mustang
The driver looks like a bad guy in one of the 6 million dollar man episodes lol
Man, that green '75 Corvette was beautiful. I still love the C3 models, with the C6 being my favorite. Put the C6 body on the C7 chassis and we have a winner.
I only wish chevy would bring back those iconic quad round tail lights. I miss those.
The outside still looks good, but man, those 80's interiors!
If you do the math, $32k back in '86 is about $70k today, or about what a new Stingray Convertible costs. The more things change.....
Nissan TitanWarrior I wonder how much the R32 GTR cost back then
@@BoostedPastime Odd question to ask on a Corvette video (especially one from 1986, when the R32 GTR didn't come out until 1989), but I'll bite. Back in 1989, an R32 would've cost 4,500,000 yen. Using the average exchange rate at the time (137.982263), you get the equivalent of $32,613 USD. So, about the same as a Corvette at the time. Adjusted for inflation, that'd be about $67,000 in today's money.
You can’t go wrong with a RED ON RED Corvette convertible of any generation but theres just something about that combo in the C4 especially with the sport seats
Classic throwback!
It's remarkable how cheap these cars are today, you can easily find a C4 convertible in good shape for under $10k, and generally way under $10k. They are still good drivers too. The main enemy of this car, and well all sports cars, are all the slobs on the road that drive SUVs - you can't see anything. If you're driving and SUV or Minivan or truck, do the world a favor and drive into a bridge embankment doing about 70mph - those in sports cars will thank you for your service.
10k isn't cheap.
Nasty. LoL 😁
@@davidstephens4639 A stupid Big Mac cost $5 anymore. Get off welfare you slob.
I love these, with the later removable hardtop, but after my '95 Z28 convertible, I'll never own another convertible again.
Beautiful 😍
DAAMMNN!!..John Davis mad young!!
I hoarded away 2 of them. Fun cars even today.
Hi Vic. What years are your C4s? And how many miles on them?
In December 1986, I bought a 1986 (Build Date Code 4/66) red-on-red convertible with many options including 4+3 Manual Transmission, Leather Sport Seats, Cruise Control, Engine Oil Cooler, Power Door Locks, Delco-Bose Stereo.
Due to an overseas assignment, I put very few miles on the car in the first eight years.
The Vette now has 777.7 miles! Everything is original including the tires!
I replaced the Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, and Power Antenna!!
It's a great stablemate for my red 1993 Cadillac Allante (Also an Indy Car)!!
Both have been garage-stabled their entire life, and both look and run like a dream!!!
All the best, Bob.
My father has a 86 c4 targa stock auto Corvette with aftermarket c5 Corvette chrome wheels and atomic paint and aftermarket catback exhaust and stereo.
IMO, the 3 best all-time looking convertibles are the C4 Corvette, Foxbody Mustang, and the IROZ Z Camaro.
What i was surpised with was that this was a 1980s 2 seater sports car. So id expect it to be very light especially considering its fiberglass. The c4s are small with 80s tech. If a c4 was swapped with a ls engine and tranny, newer front and rear end, brakes, seats, wheels etc im sure you could shave off quite a few pounds.
1996 Gran Sport is the ultimate Corvette.
What a price-increase from the 1984 model, though! 32K for this one, 26K for the ‘84. Of course, the convertible top makes it more expensive to be sure - but that’s still a pretty big bump there.
I must be the only one who likes all the Corvettes except for the newest one, it looks weird. LoL 😁
The 86 C4 even though its power numbers dont sound great and it weighs more than you think. It still drives smoothly, accelerating and corner is quick and nimble and with little body roll the car feels very very light and more powerful then it actually is
that 75 is bad ass
É verdade corvette é um carro maravilhoso 😁👍
I remember regular gasoline was approximately .85¢ and premium was .95¢ per gallon, through '85-'87.
It was $0.89 in 1995
Its the plastic fantastic
hoard the 1996 LT4s, they are the real deal.
96 is one of my favorites.....I like that green one at the beginning....save for the engine.....I like the olderer (hehe) ones too.
Hardly, they have 210cc intake ports that can't flow anywhere near AFR 180s, and 210cc on a 350 kills off-idle torque. Eff the LT4.
These old show make me wanna buy an old Vette.
Trivia, Chuck Yeager lived to be 97 years old ....
I remember when regular gasoline was .85¢ in the mid 80's.
It was $0.89 in 1995.
.68 in Sacramento in 1988-89.
You know what they say about opinions... Everyone has 1.C4 particularly this 86 was 1 of my least favorite, but I still like it in a later yr.Not fast by any stretch but ya gotta remember the times.Until 87 w/ the GNC Buick nothing was fast.
If you like these Corvettes, then good for you. As someone who worked on these vehicles I can't even consider them even half-ass this year. The fit and workmanship sucked and mechanically, they weren't much better. Materials used to make these cars were sub-par and most all I see now are crumbling from the inside out. Yes, from the performance aspect it was a spark of performance lightning, but they were just assembled too cheaply.
The more-expensive competition was even worse. I'd argue that a Porsche or BMW from 1986 is actually worse. Highly disagree w/ the mechanics. The ZF6 + L89/LT1/LT4 was a damned good drive train. The DN 4+3 was OK....but don't prefer it. I've owned three of them and wrenched them myself....so I know. Bypassing the VATS and replacement of the Opti (92 up) eliminated MANY problems of this car. The skip-shift was annoying....but an easy fix. So, honestly, I have no clue what you're talking about. Other than the ill-fated dash, it was an excellent car. Far better than a shit-quality Fox body or Camaro. The Fox is shit in the purest form...other than it being light weight and a reasonably dependable OHV 5.0.
Could you park any closer to the cliff edge?
I...... 2nd that green corvette i take in hot second.
Lisa 💖
Love C4s, but even my 2014, 2 door Wrangler could do 0-60 in 6.7 seconds.
Dude really comparing times in an era where regulations were king just makes you look ridiculous.
I want a C4.
They are plentiful and fairly inexpensive. I got a really nice 1993 coupe with 68k miles for $8000 last October.
There were plenty of solid mechanically but not quite as nice physically ones as low as around $5000. Or shave a little off by going with an L98 rather than LT1, etc.
Eric Rosen as a person with an lt1 camaro, I’d take an l98 over an lt1 any day.
CamaroAmx Though I’m 2 years late, I agree. My LT1’s have given me enough problems lol
If i had the option of choosing between a 96 grand sport vs a basic c5 or a basic c6, i would rather get the grand sport.
And there is only 60 some of these left out there.
STOP SAYING BOOT THIS IS AMERICA AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR BABIES DAMNIT
C'mon now skeeter he ain't hurtin nobody.
snappy452
Um... He's talking about where the top folds into.. It's called a boot. Not talking the trunk... smh
Tom Jones Quiet, Welshman!
Lol you yanks
Needs a roll bar.
why can't convertibles be manual its so much quicker and cost less to fix
Picking up an 86 manual vert this week. They can be had cheap, sure I'm not the fastest, but I'll be smiling the biggest bc of the price tag😄
Wow, 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII with a 4.6L and an Automatic is only .2 slower.
+vendediesel this was 1986. you're talking about a car that came out 7 years later, and was easily outran by a z28 in 1993.
+Passthedutch we're not going to have an FVC debate here, but try taking a 7 hour trip in a Mark VIII, a Z28 and a 1986 Corvette, then compare comfort, fuel economy and overall satisfaction. The 350 has been around since when, JFK? The 4.6 was brand new that year and conservatively configured for its output and fuel economy and still a monster of a motor. You can compare data sheets all day, bottom line is Ford actually put their new brainchild in a car and sold it. The GM northstar V8 is only available in very bland feeling FWD configuration except for maybe the XLR. But why not just put it in the corvette or make a RWD Eldorado that isn't boring to look at instead of making an over-priced corvette that looks like an Eldorado?. The GM Northstar V12 is still sitting in a concept car in a warehouse somewhere when it should have found its way into the 'vette decades ago. Instead they're still try to re-invent the 350 and sell it like its new. Shame.
+vendediesel You are mad, huh? You know what a Lincoln is? a rebadged ford. You know how many mark vii are around? not many. why? they're junk. the suspension sag, gauges stop working, and they ALL overheat.
tell me, the Camaro and Corvette still sell wheras Lincoln axed the Mark how long ago?
They're pieces of shit. No they were not comfortable, they floated around like a boat. They couldn't perform nearly as well as competitors. Lincoln is literally junk. At least Cadillac broke a record At Nürburgring for the fastest 4 door sedan. Lincoln however, is still rebadging Fords and charging premium prices for plasticky shit.
Ford sucks.
93 had LT1 it was much faster
What was the driver reaching for at 4:30?
Cocaine. Because 80's.
Chuck fucking Yager!
This C4 convertible would be $70K today while the current one is $59K.
Where the hell are you shopping? I've just checked and two different 1986 C4 convertibles with under 90k miles and under $10k. Both look clean. Then went to Orlando CL and half dozen under $15K.
Edward Jones I was referring to a BRAND NEW one, not used.
The 75 Vette looked nicer
I have to laugh about the 0-60 time. My 2017 500 Abarth will come very close to that on a 45 degree day. With that said, the C-4 is a bargain right now. Late 70's choked C-3's are finally climbing in price. Grab 2 for 10 grand and put them in dry storage
The coupe could do 0 to 60 in about 5.7 though so they are much quicker.
It's 30 year old technology. Supercars of that era "suck" by today's standards too. We'll see how abarths compare to newer cars in 2047 (if they survive that long). 💁
Your right. Although the 78 Corvette w/the L82 could do 0-60 in 6.6 but the 1/4 was mid 15's.
where is that beach location??!!
Pacific Coast Highway
Make Gasoline Under Dollar Again
0 to 60 in 6.6 seconds? My 2016 F165 4 door is .2 seconds slower. I feel special now.
F165?
Get that big ass "CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE" off the screen.
*****
Click the X to get rid of it.
+scott9050 yeah but when you're eating you have to get up
Hmmmm 14.7 seems slow. I've notice MotorWeek times have always been on the slow side.
they use true times vs SAE corrected (fake-o) times as do the magazines.
***** You must be one of those that loses a race to a supposedly slower car and tell yourself, "I'm faster. The magazine said so in the specs they gave. The other guy cheated". Seen plenty of those happen with mythical 0-60 times given by "good science" car mags.
***** So I see you talking about yourself. There's hope for you after all.
Austin Frazier nope, right on point for a 85 vert automatic... the latter making the car slower.
They don't powershift
Every video has the same dislikes. Some person does not like these videos. Why? most have 2-9 dislikes. The same person disliking all these videos.
To my knowledge the convertible C4 did not come out until 1987, and I followed the C4 from day one in 1984.
the first year of the c4 convertible was 1986
@@cIick_bait The indy pace car was a 1986 convertible, but the production model year was an 1987.
@@sportsmansparadice42 all 1986 corvette convertibles are designated pace cars
@@cIick_bait Yes. However the 1987 model year is the true rag top for the general public.
Hi sportsmansparadice42
I purchased my 1986 model year C4 Convertible Corvette new in December 1986!!! I still own it! 777.7 original miles!
See my earlier entry above!
Why does this guy put H in words that don't even have H like body he says bohdy
I owned an '86 Vette back in in 1986.
It was the biggest POS I ever owned.
Car was always in the shop, and rattled like crazy.
My friends '86 Celica made my Vette feel like it was assembled by farmers.
same perf stats as the '16 Miata
sweeeptheleg Yeah, and my full-size F150, super crew truck will outrun the 2018 Miata. You grasping the benefits of advancing technology yet?
Man cars were slow back then.
Karmiangod Would you have been happier if there were no progress and current cars were no better or safer than they were 30 years ago? Come on man, use your head...that would have been the 70's
Nick DeZarn no stock 85 will do a 13 flat.. let alone 13s at all. Nor 5s 0-60. 155mph top speed is legit tho. 14s and 6s 0-60 is quick, esp in 1985.
We at least they made progress.
It's crazy how times have changed.
Tom Jones True, but an at-home port job on the L98 intake and air box will get you an additional 20hp rwhp....for Zero dollars Have seen a good amount of mid-80s Z51 Vettes dip into the high 13s with nothing invested. Those engines were absolutely starving for air.
Not bad, but current generation Miata will beat this down the drag strip!
How so? Motorweek ran a 15.4 at 89mph with a manual 2016 Miata. This is a THIRTY THREE year old convertible with an automatic trans, and they ran 14.7 at 94mph. I guess math isn't one of your strong suits... Being that Motorweek's acceleration numbers always suck, Motor Trend ran 14.4 in a 2019 Miata with a manual trans. Motorweek still ran 13.9 & 14.2 with auto and manual '85 Corvette coupes... So depending on drivers it only took them 30 years to catch up. Nice job!
Wheels suck!
So does your comment.
Creaky junk.
TheRealMrPooPyNuTz Oh man don't get on yourself like that!!
Mine doesnt creek at all. Like any car if its maintained well they drive well.
Turkey. The Porsche 928 was worlds better.
@Flies2FLL Really? How so exactly? You must be referring to all those 928 convertibles they never made... Or is it the fact that in SCCA showroom stock GT racing Corvettes were wiping the floor so badly with Porsche and Lotus that they got together and BANNED Corvettes and forced to form their own series and race against themselves? If not that you must be referring to the multiple FIA World Land Speed Endurance records Corvettes set in 1990. You know, the 50 year old records they smashed that still stand TO THIS DAY for production cars... You must particularly love the other Motorweek video where the 928 gets it's ass handed to around a racetrack by a Camaro lol. Yeah go ahead and tell me about how nice the 928's interior is...
And "worlds" less reliable
Flies2FLL You just got your ass handed to you dude. 928? 😂🤣😂🤣
@@chickenjo23 I remember seeing several C4's in the rear view mirror of my '85 928S2 5 speed. It was amusing watching their headlights get closer and closer together as they fell behind....
With nothing but a Borla exhaust I ran a 13.86@105.6 at Bithlo speedway outside of Orlando. It was a 90 degree day.
My car used to beat the hell out of C4's and could run right with C5's, which are really just plastic copies of the 928~
@@Flies2FLL 😂🤣😂🤣😂
Junk
Yes, your comment is junk.
A rent a car six cylinder Mustang will smoke it.
The C4 Vette is by far the ugliest Corvette ever made. It's just hideous in so many ways.
And yet these days, I almost feel it growing on me. However, a C4 vert is something I will NEVER like. ASC did a great job with a lot of cars, and I'm sure they did a fine job with this car, but a convertible that wasn't designed from the ground up will never be as good of a car as it could be, and chopping the top off of it just makes the C4 look even worse.
+Adam Baldwin "The C4 Vette is by far the ugliest Corvette ever made. It's just hideous in so many ways." - That is a matter of opinion my good sir. I prefer the late C4's to the early C4's myself. (91-96 body, Admiral Blue (96' Grand sport color) with blacked out ZR1 wheels (96' Grand sport wheels) is a top choice for me) I will agree the C4 is the most "bland" Corvette ever but that's what some people like about it. Plenty of people seem to hate the C5 for having a "fat ass" or being too bubbly also. There is always somebody who hates something. At least the C4 can handle and get pretty good gas mileage doing it! You can't argue with that!
+Adam Baldwin I like the c2 and c3 better when it comes to style.
*****
I don't think the C4 is bland, I think it's just kind of ugly. It's heavy on the 80's style, boxy and not curvy enough, but like I said, it's been growing on me. Personally, I think any of the other generations look better than the C4, but there have been a lot of very nice Corvettes, so that's not much of an insult. And I respect anyone who has a soft spot for the C4; I have a soft spot for pretty much anything with wheels and an engine.
I'm just surprised by how much more I am liking the C4 these days than how I used to a decade ago. There is definitely something to its styling that has aged pretty well.
Jim Jones
Absolutely agree.
C P
I love a bunch of boxy cars. I think part of the problem with the C4 is that if anything, it's not boxy enough. It's grown a lot on me, but still the ugliest Corvette ever made, by far.