Happy 40th birthday for the C4

[Nassau65]

It’s 40 years tomorrow since the C4 entered production ( 2 jan 1983) it went on sale to the general public from March 83, and had one if not the longest production runs of a model year. 1984.
Very different indeed to its previous model which dated back to 1968 in its original form.
Yes, some people laughed at the digital dash, but hey, it looked fantastic especially at night, and gave the driver plenty of information in a Star Wars type of setting. I loved it.
Great value for money nowadays, and it involved into a fantastic car. It also reintroduced the convertible in 1986, and in that form was the 2nd Corvette to pace the Indy 500 during that year.
Had a few over the years as a personal daily driver, and loved them
Happy Birthday C4.

 

[Chevrolet]

Don't time fly by! Only trouble with an '84 (not wanting to offend anyone) was the suspension settings/ride were just so rock hard, and it had the Crossfire engine carried over from the C3. Road & Track or Car& Driver (can't remember which ) at the time even preferred a Nissan 28OZ to it. Relief came with the '85 with revised/softer suspension settings, the 235HP Tuned Port Injection (TPI) engine and larger/revised digits on the dash display. A test of it said at the time, the first Vette for many years that could hit 150mph straight out of the factory. Had my '85 for 39 years. Great car/never let me down and "cheap as chips" to run.

 

[Nassau65]

And of course being the 80’s angular lines were in, and the corvette was a prime candidate for bolt on bits. A certain new American cop series helped the spoiler/bodykit/wheels craze. Yep, Miami Vice. Even the star car was a rebodied corvette ( although not a C4)
What’s not to like

 

[Chevrolet]

And of course being the 80’s angular lines were in, and the corvette was a prime candidate for bolt on bits.

Big stereos too!!

 

[Nassau65]

We had a couple of dealers in Tampa who specialised in pre owned Corvettes, one mainly on the new C4 model. He jazzed them up with body kits, spoilers and various aftermarket wheels. ( BBS and the like) interior wood kits, etc. Bought a few off him over the years, but I’m miffed I can’t remember his name, must be a age thing. The other is Corvette shop and supplies on north dale mabry. Still there in the corvette business.

 

[Nassau65]

Forgot all about Big stereo systems, as I was never really into them. But yes, they were big in the 80’s.

 

[Chevrolet]

interior wood kits,

Don't we just hate those interior wood kits? !!

 

[Nassau65]

Don't we just hate those interior wood kits? !!

Have always been in two minds regarding those. I can take them or leave them. Have installed a few over the years. Plenty of people loved them. Potential buyers Were quite disappointed if the car didn’t have one in it when they came to see it.
So very period now on a 1980’s C4 corvette. It also led to many C3 owners fitting them as well.

 

[Chevrolet]

Bought a "real carbon fiber" one for mine. Never got around to fitting it as I ordered a black one from US and they sent me a silver grey one. Never got around to returning it/getting a replacement.

 

[Chevrolet]

Momo Nero (leather/alcantara) steering wheel on mine, to replace the bit boring/big/old fashioned looking steering wheel. With smaller diameter and the quicker Z51 steering ratio, made it feel even more "go cart" like to drive.

 

[Nassau65]

And of course the “interior wood kit” could be had for many if not most American and Japanese LHD cars stateside.
They couldn’t sell/make um quick enough.

 

[Roscobbc]

C4 was perhaps far more revolutionary in terms of design and components than many might realise. First Corvette (other than rear suspension assembly on late C3) to use forged aluminium suspension components. First Corvette (and only?) to use a galvanised steel chassis/frame........(C4 more likely to be scrapped due to issues with electronics or body trim and upholstery issues). First Corvette to use officially mandated twin turbo's (BK1 Callaway conversion). First Corvette to use a quad cam 32 valve injection (C4 ZR1). First Corvette to use an 'overdrive' manual transmission (Doug Nash 4 + 3)

 

[teamzr1]

I bought an 1984 that year
After owning multi C3s it took time for me to not hate the body lines of C4s
It was the wazers who whined like punks that the suspension was too stiff, but us hardcore Corvette racers loved it
Was the first Corvette to pull more than a G in corners and the '84s were instant winners in track and auto-cross races
so much so that series like SCCA kicked us out, including GM, which is why GM started the Corvette challenge series
and later SCCA begged GM to come back to their races.

The clamshell hood was a winner, made it real easy to work within the engine bay
I liked the digital dashboard, the 2 negatives was the engine was a wimp and the 4+3 tranny was a dog.
I never used the 3 overdrive gears and the 4 speeds when replacing with 3.73 or 4.11 diff gear was a killer for track use

I reduced overall weight of the C4, even rid the 60 pounds of hatch glass with Lexan which reduced the unspung weight,
did a 4 corner height to weight to shift weight to center and car really hauled through corners

 

[Chevrolet]

After owning multi C3s it took time for me to not hate the body lines of C4s

When I saw one for the 1st time I just thought WOW!!! Tell me a better looking new car in 1984?

 

[Chevrolet]

First Corvette to use officially mandated twin turbo's (BK1 Callaway conversion)

Including the "Sledgehammer"

 

[Nassau65]

It certainly was a good looking car when introduced. So much different from the “old” C3 as they are now called. It looked bang up to date. Very Ferrari ish in fact. Sleek outside, removable targa top, lovely interior, what more could a buyer want. No wonder they sold over 51k of them. OK, it’s was a big extended model year production run, but GM must have been rubbing their hands together.

 

[Nassau65]

Always fancied buying a B2K Callaway, came very close on a couple of occasions but as they were coupes I held back knowing I would really want a convertible.
I have that itch again at the moment, maybe I’ll scratch it? Who knows.
Coupe or convertible, with the aero body they look great

 

[teamzr1]

One of the perks of working at GM was I would do employee discount for a new Vette every 1 to 2 years
Late 1980s I spent a lot of time out of Plano, Texas and believe me not a way to cool down a black C4, worse when racing in Texas sun and heat

 

[Nassau65]

At least you had the period rear window Louvres to help keep you cool

 

[Nassau65]

I remember in the early eighties we ordered a couple for 79/80’s F bodies. Went to Heathrow airport cargo to collect. I’ve never seen boxes so big. Couldn’t collect them in my estate car had to go home to get the Luton van