C
corvetteDan
Guest
Nope, when the C4s came out they lost me. The lines I said were too boring. No sexy curves, no class, just too simple. I had a few older vettes in my time, 1958 (x2) and a 1965 roadster. (in the 70’s and 90’s). In my books the true vette was in and around the years of 1957 - 1968. The 70’s never looked right to me either. Later the C5s looked better, and for the record I am one that likes the C5 more than the C6. I had a number of cars along the way, even some AC Cobra remakes (Superformance , Shelby) etc. Loved em, but something was missing… them being a true 100% old car and not a remake… sold em. Bought and played with a few 60’s muscle cars, Camaro, GTO, etc. The sold them too. ( profits on all).
Then a few years ago when searching for another car to play with a friend of mine found a 1988 C4 roadster. It was nothing special, but had a neat 4 +3 stick. And to boot it was a one owner with 26,000 miles. I bought it for less than I thought possible and started replacing this and that. The engine while had few miles on it had been sitting. We replaced the fuel filters, changed out all the service fluid ( engine oit, trans ( and filter) rear end, cooling, breaks etc. Popped the fuel injectors out and made sure they were not gummed up. Placed a KN filter on the car, and installed a new exhaust system. Along the way I bought some new tires, rims (always liked the Z06 look). Replaced the weather stripping, and replaced the aging vinyl top with a new black cloth top. The radio was a mess and I replaced it with a nice AM FM CD combination. Planned soon is a new clutch, aluminum flywheel, a chip, and a ram air from Mid America.
Somehow along the way the car started to grow on me. I noticed one day that the lines of the car were not all that bad, and in fact were rather sexy with the top down. The darn thing runs like hell ( I don’t know why but I can often pull ahead of a C5 to the wonder of my buddies that own them). ( perhaps this is due to the 4+3 and keeping it in low range in town from stop light to stop light. ) The car as thus far been extremely reliable. I’ve taken long trips in it, joined a local vette club, taken her on the local road racing course. Taken short day trips now and then down local winding roads for "therapy". Oh, some day I’ll sell it. But for the time being you would have a hell of a time prying the car from my grasp.
So, what is it then about a C4? Could it be the simple lines, the reliable, steadfast the way the car can be a daily driver and at the same time a graceful track beast! I’ve come to love the car. True, I may buy a used C5 in the future, ( the C6 will take years to grow on me), I’ve toyed with buying a used Viper, but for the time being I simply don’t need a newer C5, C6, or a Viper. While I can afford them I simply see no need to buy one as I have the same level of fun fixing an older car and seeing just how nice I can make it. In fact it’s rather nice to invest time and money on an older car and make it as good or in some cases even better than new.
I think perhaps in many ways the C4 was ahead of its time. Perhaps it is just now coming into its own…. As I drive the car here and there I often get looks and a nod from what I suppose are car crazies, or perhaps people that just like to see a middle aged man in a convertible with top down on a sunny day and a smile on his face. Personally I think the used C4 are perhaps the best fun per dollar spent that can be had today. They are fast enough, handle like a race car if a little care is taken in the set up, and from what I can tell can take some harsh driving, gear jamming, and high revs with the best of them.
Hats off to you guys that caught the C4 bug sooner than I did. But as you can see, I am a late bloomer where vettes are concerned……….
Then a few years ago when searching for another car to play with a friend of mine found a 1988 C4 roadster. It was nothing special, but had a neat 4 +3 stick. And to boot it was a one owner with 26,000 miles. I bought it for less than I thought possible and started replacing this and that. The engine while had few miles on it had been sitting. We replaced the fuel filters, changed out all the service fluid ( engine oit, trans ( and filter) rear end, cooling, breaks etc. Popped the fuel injectors out and made sure they were not gummed up. Placed a KN filter on the car, and installed a new exhaust system. Along the way I bought some new tires, rims (always liked the Z06 look). Replaced the weather stripping, and replaced the aging vinyl top with a new black cloth top. The radio was a mess and I replaced it with a nice AM FM CD combination. Planned soon is a new clutch, aluminum flywheel, a chip, and a ram air from Mid America.
Somehow along the way the car started to grow on me. I noticed one day that the lines of the car were not all that bad, and in fact were rather sexy with the top down. The darn thing runs like hell ( I don’t know why but I can often pull ahead of a C5 to the wonder of my buddies that own them). ( perhaps this is due to the 4+3 and keeping it in low range in town from stop light to stop light. ) The car as thus far been extremely reliable. I’ve taken long trips in it, joined a local vette club, taken her on the local road racing course. Taken short day trips now and then down local winding roads for "therapy". Oh, some day I’ll sell it. But for the time being you would have a hell of a time prying the car from my grasp.
So, what is it then about a C4? Could it be the simple lines, the reliable, steadfast the way the car can be a daily driver and at the same time a graceful track beast! I’ve come to love the car. True, I may buy a used C5 in the future, ( the C6 will take years to grow on me), I’ve toyed with buying a used Viper, but for the time being I simply don’t need a newer C5, C6, or a Viper. While I can afford them I simply see no need to buy one as I have the same level of fun fixing an older car and seeing just how nice I can make it. In fact it’s rather nice to invest time and money on an older car and make it as good or in some cases even better than new.
I think perhaps in many ways the C4 was ahead of its time. Perhaps it is just now coming into its own…. As I drive the car here and there I often get looks and a nod from what I suppose are car crazies, or perhaps people that just like to see a middle aged man in a convertible with top down on a sunny day and a smile on his face. Personally I think the used C4 are perhaps the best fun per dollar spent that can be had today. They are fast enough, handle like a race car if a little care is taken in the set up, and from what I can tell can take some harsh driving, gear jamming, and high revs with the best of them.
Hats off to you guys that caught the C4 bug sooner than I did. But as you can see, I am a late bloomer where vettes are concerned……….
4LT GS Roadster
