The Chevrolet Corvette may be the definitive American sports car, but it wasn’t always at its best. Whether it was GM’s approach or simply, the times, the fourth-generation Corvette wasn’t considered the sports car’s finest hours. Nevertheless, it was not only a good all-around sports car proposition (for its time), but it also had its fair share of great editions. The 35th Anniversary edition was not the most powerful C4 Corvette, but it was special in its own right. One of the 2,050 examples built is currently being auctioned off on carsandbids.com for what, at the time of this writing, would be considered dirt cheap for a Corvette.
The 35th Anniversary Edition Was A 1988 Exclusive
The Chevrolet Corvette legacy began in 1953 with the C1. Ever since, the “Vette” has been the definitive American sports car and a great, more attainable alternative to anything European manufacturers like Ferrari or Porsche had to offer. In 1984 came the C4 Corvette, which was a sharp deviation from the luscious forms of the C3 Corvette. It was also very plastic, even more so than the C3. Regardless, in 1988 – 35 years after the Corvette’s inception – the C4 got a 35th Anniversary edition. Naturally, it was a one-year only and just 2,050 examples were made. Of those, only 180 were equipped with a manual transmission. Sadly, the one listed here features the original four-speed automatic.
The Most Special C4 Corvette Of Its Time
Performance-wise, the C4 Corvette was never all that special until the ZR-1 showed up. This 1988 model preceded the high-performance Vette, and for its day, it was as special as a C4 could get out of the factory. The Anniversary White paint, which in this particular example has been kept in great condition aside from the usual minor scratches, is complimented by a white leather interior with well-bolstered, electronically-adjustable seats. The interior, which features the old-style dashboard seems to have been well-preserved, and no visible tears can be seen on the seats. Of course, the main reason why this C4 Corvette 35th Anniversary looks so clean is the low mileage – just 12,900 miles (approx. 21,761 km) on the odometer.
The L98 V-8 Is What You Would Expect
The 5.7-liter, L98, V-8 boasts great reliability, and with less than 13,000 miles on the clock it has plenty of life in it. It packs a rather mediocre 240 horsepower and 340 pound-feet (461 Nm). With power going to the rear through a four-speed automatic (in this case), the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) takes 6.1 seconds on to a top speed of 157 mph (252 km/h) thanks to a drag coefficient of 0.34.
The C4 Corvette’s body panels and bumpers were made out of molded plastic, which doesn’t sound sophisticated at all, but keeps the weight relatively low at 3,236 pounds (1,468 kg) for the automatic-equipped version. Despite its shortcomings, the C4 Corvette remains one of the most iconic 1980s automobiles, and this low-mileage 35th Anniversary edition adds a bit of extra exclusivity while being a stylish cruiser with heritage.