1984 Corvette - The First C4 Corvette Released to the Public
Mecum Auction Listing
Lot: S8
Monterey 2015
August 13 - 15, 2015
ESTIMATE: $75,000 - $100,000
VIN: 1G1AY0781E5100071
Description:
The C4 Corvette catapulted the brand into a new realm of performance and engineering. In the March 1983 issue of Car and Driver, Brock Yates bellowed in the first paragraph that, "...the new Corvette is a truly stout automobile." He went on to spout that the car was, "...a true-born, world-class sports car loaded with technical sophistication." He then backed up his claims with evidence from prior tests of Corvettes, Porsches and Ferraris. The C4's 350/205 HP V-8 had Crossfire Injection, a carryover from the 1982 cars. It proved 0.90 G-force on the skidpad, the highest ever recorded by C&D, the closest being 0.82 G created by Porsche 928 and assorted Ferraris. On and on the evidence stacked up in favor of this complete redesign from Chevrolet, which was also praised by the motoring press as the world�s best-cornering automobile. And, aside from the fabulous performance, the C4 boasted a truly purposeful look, sleek and modern which resonated well with 1980s sports car buyers. Inside was a very period-popular digital dashboard and a Targa top replaced the T-Top, helping Corvette into the modern era with Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche. Chevrolet took C4 seriously enough to build 44 prototypes, of which, number 23 still resides at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
This Corvette is likely the closest enthusiasts will come to owning a prototype C4 because it is the first production C4 Corvette to be sold to the public. It's been kept by two owners since new, the current owner having bought the car in 1987. It is equipped with power steering, power brakes, Z51 Performance Handling Package, heavy-duty shocks, power windows and locks, a six-way power adjustable driver seat, tilt/telescoping steering wheel and factory 16-inch aluminum wheels. The owner will also include service records, the original window sticker, build sheet from the National Corvette Museum and a copy of the original title.
Highlights:
- The first C4 Corvette released to the public
- Two-owner car
- Owned by current owner since 1987
- 350/205 HP V-8 engine
- Crossfire injection
- Automatic transmission
- Gymkhana suspension
- Power steering
- Power brakes
- Heavy duty shock absorbers
- Z51 Performance handling package
- White with Graphite leather interior
- 6-way power seat
- Tilt and telescopic steering column
- Power windows and locks
- 16 inch aluminum wheels
- Build sheet from the National Corvette Museum
- Window sticker
- Miscellaneous service records
- Copy of original title