Chevrolet Corvette C4
Encyclopedia
The Chevrolet Corvette (C4) is a sports car
produced by the Chevrolet
division of General Motors
for the 1984 through 1996 model year
s. The editors of Consumer Guide stated: "The first fully redesigned Corvette in 15 years was more sophisticated and more practical than the beloved Shark. And like previous generations, the new C4 only got better in time." The convertible returned, as did higher performing engines, exemplified by the 405 hp LT5 found in the ZR-1. In early March 1990, The ZR-1 would set a new record for the highest 24 hour-5,000 mile land-speed by going over 175 mph (281.6 km/h). Though prices rose even as sales declined, the fourth generation Corvette won its own loyal following as one of the world's most desirable sports cars. The last C4 was produced on June 20, 1996.
The C4 represented a clean break with the previous generation of Corvette. Since emissions regulations were still changing and electronic engine management was in its infancy, horsepower was, compared to earlier generations, comparatively low. Therefore the primary design emphasis, at least for the launch, was on handling. The price of this no-holds-barred emphasis on handling was ride comfort, especially with the Z51 performance handling package. The unit-body
frame used in the C4 was prone to rattles and squeaks due to minimal sound deadening. Also due to the external unit-body frame, the door sills were quite deep, with entry and exit likened by contemporary auto journals to a "fall in and climb out" experience. The emergency brake, located between the door sill and the drivers seat, was moved lower and toward the rear of the car in 1988 for easier entry and exit.
From 1984 through 1988, the Corvette was available with a Doug Nash "4+3" transmission - a 4-speed manual coupled to an automatic
overdrive on the top three gears. This unusual transmission was a synergy that allowed Corvette to keep a stout 4 speed, but add an overdrive. As technology progressed, it was replaced by a modern ZF 6-speed manual
. However, the C4 performance was hampered by its L98 250 hp engine until 1992, when the second-generation Chevy small block, LT1, was introduced, markedly improving the C4s performance. 1996 was a high point of small block Chevrolet development and the 330 hp LT4 was introduced in all manual transmission cars.
The 1986 Corvette saw the reintroduction of the convertible and was named as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500
. GM had created the Pass Key I, wherein each key contained a special pellet that could be detected and identified by the car's computer system by detecting electrical resistance. Being early in the rollout of this new technology, there were only 15 different resistance values available, which, once thieves discovered this weakness, markedly reduced the value of this early system.
44 Corvettes were manufactured with a 1983 Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN), but none were released to the public as official production vehicles. All were destroyed except one, VIN 1G1AY0783D5100023 (white with medium blue interior), L83 350 cu in (5.7 l), 250 hp V8, 4-speed automatic transmission and was retired to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (MY
1984 Corvettes were produced for 17 months.)
During 1986, General Motors
acquired Group Lotus
, the UK based engineering consulting and performance car manufacturing firm. The Corvette division approached Lotus with the idea of developing the world's fastest production car, to be based on the C4 generation Corvette. With input from GM, Lotus designed a new engine to fit in place of the L98 V8 that was powering the standard C4. The result was what GM dubbed the LT5, an aluminum-block V-8 with the same bore centers as the L98, but with four overhead camshafts, 32 valves. Lotus also designed a unique air management system for the engine to provide a wider power band
by shutting off 8 of the 16 intake runners and fuel injectors when the engine was at part-throttle, while still giving the ZR-1 375 hp when at wide open throttle
.
In addition to the engine, Lotus helped GM design the ZR-1's upgraded braking and steering systems, and helped them pick the settings for the standard "FX3" adjustable active ride control that Chevrolet was fitting to the car, helping to ensure that the vehicle was more than just a modern-day muscle car with a big engine and no real capability on the track.
GM found that the engine required special assembly, and that neither the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky nor any of their normal production facilities could handle the workload, so Mercury Marine
corporation of Stillwater, Oklahoma
was contracted to assemble the engines and ship them to the Corvette factory in Bowling Green where the ZR-1s were being assembled.
The vehicle went on sale in 1990 and was available only as a coupe. It was distinguishable from other Corvette coupes by its wider tail section, 11" wide rear wheels and its new convex rear fascia with four square shaped taillights and a CHMSL (center high mounted stop lamp) attached to the top of the hatch glass instead of between the taillights.
The ZR-1 displayed stunning ability both in terms of acceleration and handling capabilities, but carried with it an astonishingly high price. MSRP
for the ZR-1 in 1990 was $58,995, almost twice the cost of a non-ZR-1, and had ballooned to $66,278 by 1995; some dealers successfully marked units as high as $100,000. Even at base MSRP, this meant that the ZR-1 was competing in the same price bracket as cars like the Porsche 964
, making it a hard sell for GM dealers.
In 1991, the ZR-1 and base model received updates to body work, interior, and wheels. The rear convex fascia that set the 1990 ZR-1 apart from the base model found its way to all models, making the high-priced ZR-1 even less distinguishable. Further changes were made in 1992, including extra ZR-1 badges on the fenders and the introduction of Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR) or traction control. For model year 1993, Lotus design modifications were made to the cylinder heads, exhaust system and valvetrain of the LT5, bringing horsepower up to 405. In addition, a new exhaust gas recirculation system improved emissions control. The model remained nearly unchanged into the 1995 model year, after which the ZR-1 was discontinued as the result of waning interest, development of the LS series engines, cost and the coming of the C5 generation. A total of 6,939 ZR-1s were manufactured over the six year period.
Not until the debut of the C5 platform Z06 would Chevrolet have another production Corvette capable of matching the ZR-1's performance.
Although the ZR-1 was extremely quick (0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and onto 180+ mph), the huge performance of the LT5 engine was matched by its robustness. As evidence of this, a stock ZR-1 set a number of international and world records at a test track in Fort Stockton, Texas
on March 1, 1990, verified by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
), including seven new international records: at 175.6 mi/h at 175.503 mi/h at 174.428 mi/h at 175.71 mi/h (World Record) at 173.791 mi/h (World Record)
25 active suspension vehicles were built at the Bowling Green Plant.
A prototype was sold in 2009 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction for $60000 (before buyer premium).
The Callaway Corvette was a Regular Production Option (RPO)
B2K, the only time in Chevrolet's history a specialist manufacturer was entrusted with a technically advanced high performance RPO. The B2K option was critical in bringing a select few Corvettes to a higher performance level. Although often compared with Chevrolet's ZR-1 option, they were simply two different approaches to solving the issue of bringing a higher performance Corvette to market. The early B2K's produced 345 hp and 450 lbft of torque. [4] The later B2K's produced 450 hp and 613 lbft of torque. [5]
A derivative of the Twin Turbo Corvette, the 880 hp Callaway SledgeHammer, recorded a speed of 254.76 mi/h on Ohio's Transportation Research Center track making it the fastest road-going car at the time.
race. This marked the return of the convertible body style, absent from the Corvette lineup since 1975. All 7,315 1986 convertible Corvettes (all exterior colors) had "Indy 500 Pace Car" console identification.
In 2009, the Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction house offered an original, one owner Z01 optioned 35th Anniversary Corvette with only 682 miles (1,097.6 km). The 350/245 engine was coupled to a rare 4-speed manual transmission (MMF), an option chosen by only 19%. For 21 years this Corvette was stored in a climate controlled environment. The 35th Anniversary Corvette hammered home for $37,500 and with commission the final sales price was $41,250. This easily beats the high price for a 35th Anniversary edition of $32,100 at an RM Auction held in 1998 in Monterey as listed in the VetteMarket.com database.
Chevrolet released the Grand Sport (GS) version in 1996 to mark the end of production of the C4 Corvette. The Grand Sport moniker is a nod to the original Grand Sport model produced in 1963. A total of 1,000 GS Corvettes were produced, 810 as coupes and 190 as convertibles. The 1996 GS came with the high-performance LT4 V8 engine
, producing 330 hp and 340 lbft of torque. The Grand Sport came only in Admiral Blue with a white stripe down the middle, and black wheels and two red stripes on the front driver's side wheel arch added to its distinctive look.
In June 1985, Chevrolet Chief Engineer Don Runkle and Lotus' Tony Rudd discuss creating a new show car to show off their engineering expertise. The project would become the CERV III (Corporate Engineering Research Vehicle III). It was first unveiled in Detroit Automobile Show in January 1986 as Corvette Indy prototype car.
The vehicle was built by Corvette Development Engineering as a development car to study the possibility of achieving ZR-1 performance while reducing cost by utilizing a big block engine. The engine was rated 400 hp.
The prototype vehicle was sold in 2009 Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale auction for winning bid price of $65,000.
As part of GM's initiative to promote the new C4 Corvette, they funded a program in the IMSA GT Championship
to run a GTP-class prototype under the Corvette name, mostly run by Hendrick Motorsports
. Although the Corvette GTP actually shared with the C4 Corvette, including the lack of a V8* engine in some races, it did use some styling cues. The project lasted until 1988 with mixed success.
Note*:-
The final Corvette GTP built (HU8811.01) as raced by Peerless Racing under went extensive wind tunnel testing by GM with much of the 'aero' developmnets such as the short tail design was used in the later production C4's. The Peerless GTP Corvette also went back to the V-8 small block engine from the turbo V-6. This final GTP Corvette (Peerless) was driven by Hobbs, Baldwin, Villeneuve & Goodyear in IMSA before having the BBC based Eagle (10.2) engine installed to take to Le Mans in 1990.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
produced by the Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
division of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
for the 1984 through 1996 model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
s. The editors of Consumer Guide stated: "The first fully redesigned Corvette in 15 years was more sophisticated and more practical than the beloved Shark. And like previous generations, the new C4 only got better in time." The convertible returned, as did higher performing engines, exemplified by the 405 hp LT5 found in the ZR-1. In early March 1990, The ZR-1 would set a new record for the highest 24 hour-5,000 mile land-speed by going over 175 mph (281.6 km/h). Though prices rose even as sales declined, the fourth generation Corvette won its own loyal following as one of the world's most desirable sports cars. The last C4 was produced on June 20, 1996.
Overview
The C4 Corvette was known for its evolved, sleek and modern look. In a departure from the fiberglass panels of its forebearers, the c4's rear bumpers and panels were made from molding plastics, a sheet molding compound. The C4 coupe was the first general production Corvette to have a glass hatchback (the limited edition 1982 Collector Edition being the first Corvette equipped with this feature) for better storage access. It also had all new brakes with aluminum calipers. The Corvette C4 came standard with an electronic dashboard with a digital liquid crystal display dash, with graphics for speed and RPM and digital displays for other important engine functions.The C4 represented a clean break with the previous generation of Corvette. Since emissions regulations were still changing and electronic engine management was in its infancy, horsepower was, compared to earlier generations, comparatively low. Therefore the primary design emphasis, at least for the launch, was on handling. The price of this no-holds-barred emphasis on handling was ride comfort, especially with the Z51 performance handling package. The unit-body
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
frame used in the C4 was prone to rattles and squeaks due to minimal sound deadening. Also due to the external unit-body frame, the door sills were quite deep, with entry and exit likened by contemporary auto journals to a "fall in and climb out" experience. The emergency brake, located between the door sill and the drivers seat, was moved lower and toward the rear of the car in 1988 for easier entry and exit.
From 1984 through 1988, the Corvette was available with a Doug Nash "4+3" transmission - a 4-speed manual coupled to an automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
overdrive on the top three gears. This unusual transmission was a synergy that allowed Corvette to keep a stout 4 speed, but add an overdrive. As technology progressed, it was replaced by a modern ZF 6-speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. However, the C4 performance was hampered by its L98 250 hp engine until 1992, when the second-generation Chevy small block, LT1, was introduced, markedly improving the C4s performance. 1996 was a high point of small block Chevrolet development and the 330 hp LT4 was introduced in all manual transmission cars.
The 1986 Corvette saw the reintroduction of the convertible and was named as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
. GM had created the Pass Key I, wherein each key contained a special pellet that could be detected and identified by the car's computer system by detecting electrical resistance. Being early in the rollout of this new technology, there were only 15 different resistance values available, which, once thieves discovered this weakness, markedly reduced the value of this early system.
44 Corvettes were manufactured with a 1983 Vehicle Identification Number
Vehicle identification number
A Vehicle Identification Number, commonly abbreviated to VIN, is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. VINs were first used in 1954...
(VIN), but none were released to the public as official production vehicles. All were destroyed except one, VIN 1G1AY0783D5100023 (white with medium blue interior), L83 350 cu in (5.7 l), 250 hp V8, 4-speed automatic transmission and was retired to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (MY
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
1984 Corvettes were produced for 17 months.)
ZR-1 (1990-95)
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
acquired Group Lotus
Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and fine handling characteristics...
, the UK based engineering consulting and performance car manufacturing firm. The Corvette division approached Lotus with the idea of developing the world's fastest production car, to be based on the C4 generation Corvette. With input from GM, Lotus designed a new engine to fit in place of the L98 V8 that was powering the standard C4. The result was what GM dubbed the LT5, an aluminum-block V-8 with the same bore centers as the L98, but with four overhead camshafts, 32 valves. Lotus also designed a unique air management system for the engine to provide a wider power band
Power band
The power band of an engine or electric motor refers to the range of operating speeds under which an the engine or motor is able to operate efficiently...
by shutting off 8 of the 16 intake runners and fuel injectors when the engine was at part-throttle, while still giving the ZR-1 375 hp when at wide open throttle
Wide open throttle
Wide open throttle refers to an internal combustion engine's maximum intake of air and fuel that occurs when the throttle plates inside the carburettor or throttle body are "wide open", providing the least resistance to the incoming air...
.
In addition to the engine, Lotus helped GM design the ZR-1's upgraded braking and steering systems, and helped them pick the settings for the standard "FX3" adjustable active ride control that Chevrolet was fitting to the car, helping to ensure that the vehicle was more than just a modern-day muscle car with a big engine and no real capability on the track.
GM found that the engine required special assembly, and that neither the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky nor any of their normal production facilities could handle the workload, so Mercury Marine
Mercury Marine
Mercury Marine, founded in 1939, is a division of Brunswick of Lake Forest, Illinois, in the United States. Mercury provides engines for private, commercial and government sales. Mercury also has its own line of very successful racing engines tailored for power and speed. The company's primary...
corporation of Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51. It is the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 45,688. Stillwater is the principal city of the Stillwater Micropolitan Statistical...
was contracted to assemble the engines and ship them to the Corvette factory in Bowling Green where the ZR-1s were being assembled.
The vehicle went on sale in 1990 and was available only as a coupe. It was distinguishable from other Corvette coupes by its wider tail section, 11" wide rear wheels and its new convex rear fascia with four square shaped taillights and a CHMSL (center high mounted stop lamp) attached to the top of the hatch glass instead of between the taillights.
The ZR-1 displayed stunning ability both in terms of acceleration and handling capabilities, but carried with it an astonishingly high price. MSRP
Suggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
for the ZR-1 in 1990 was $58,995, almost twice the cost of a non-ZR-1, and had ballooned to $66,278 by 1995; some dealers successfully marked units as high as $100,000. Even at base MSRP, this meant that the ZR-1 was competing in the same price bracket as cars like the Porsche 964
Porsche 964
The Porsche 964 is the company's internal name for the version of the Porsche 911 model manufactured and sold between 1989 and 1994. It featured significant styling revisions over previous versions of the 911, most prominently the more integrated bumpers , although it was still obviously a 911...
, making it a hard sell for GM dealers.
In 1991, the ZR-1 and base model received updates to body work, interior, and wheels. The rear convex fascia that set the 1990 ZR-1 apart from the base model found its way to all models, making the high-priced ZR-1 even less distinguishable. Further changes were made in 1992, including extra ZR-1 badges on the fenders and the introduction of Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR) or traction control. For model year 1993, Lotus design modifications were made to the cylinder heads, exhaust system and valvetrain of the LT5, bringing horsepower up to 405. In addition, a new exhaust gas recirculation system improved emissions control. The model remained nearly unchanged into the 1995 model year, after which the ZR-1 was discontinued as the result of waning interest, development of the LS series engines, cost and the coming of the C5 generation. A total of 6,939 ZR-1s were manufactured over the six year period.
Not until the debut of the C5 platform Z06 would Chevrolet have another production Corvette capable of matching the ZR-1's performance.
Although the ZR-1 was extremely quick (0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and onto 180+ mph), the huge performance of the LT5 engine was matched by its robustness. As evidence of this, a stock ZR-1 set a number of international and world records at a test track in Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pecos County.-Geography:Fort Stockton is located at ....
on March 1, 1990, verified by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
), including seven new international records: at 175.6 mi/h at 175.503 mi/h at 174.428 mi/h at 175.71 mi/h (World Record) at 173.791 mi/h (World Record)
- 12 Hours Endurance at 175.523 mi/h
- 24 Hours Endurance at 175.885 mi/h for 4221.256 miles (6,793.436 km) (World Record)
ZR-1 Active Suspension prototype (1990)
It was based on ZR-1, but it includes active hydraulic suspension found in GTP Corvette race car. It was developed as a prototype for a limited edition run in the 1990 model year.25 active suspension vehicles were built at the Bowling Green Plant.
A prototype was sold in 2009 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction for $60000 (before buyer premium).
B2K Callaway Twin-Turbo
In 1987, the factory B2K option appeared at dealers. The option's price was almost equal to the base price of the Corvette.The Callaway Corvette was a Regular Production Option (RPO)
Regular Production Option
A Regular Production Option is a General Motors standard coding for vehicle configuration options. These codes are a combination of 3 alphanumeric characters and refer to a specific option or modification to the vehicle...
B2K, the only time in Chevrolet's history a specialist manufacturer was entrusted with a technically advanced high performance RPO. The B2K option was critical in bringing a select few Corvettes to a higher performance level. Although often compared with Chevrolet's ZR-1 option, they were simply two different approaches to solving the issue of bringing a higher performance Corvette to market. The early B2K's produced 345 hp and 450 lbft of torque. [4] The later B2K's produced 450 hp and 613 lbft of torque. [5]
A derivative of the Twin Turbo Corvette, the 880 hp Callaway SledgeHammer, recorded a speed of 254.76 mi/h on Ohio's Transportation Research Center track making it the fastest road-going car at the time.
Pace Car Convertible
A yellow convertible was the pace car for the 1986 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
race. This marked the return of the convertible body style, absent from the Corvette lineup since 1975. All 7,315 1986 convertible Corvettes (all exterior colors) had "Indy 500 Pace Car" console identification.
35th Anniversary
The 1988 35th Anniversary edition, also known as the "Triple White Corvette" is a white coupe with white wheels and white interior (seats & steering wheel). It also features a removable black top and came equipped with everything, including special emblems. The 35th Anniversary car is the 2nd Serialized Corvette in Corvette History, with each car receiving a numbered plaque on the console. There were 2050 of these cars built and a quoted 180 of these were Manual Transmission cars, making this a rare Corvette and collectible Vette.In 2009, the Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction house offered an original, one owner Z01 optioned 35th Anniversary Corvette with only 682 miles (1,097.6 km). The 350/245 engine was coupled to a rare 4-speed manual transmission (MMF), an option chosen by only 19%. For 21 years this Corvette was stored in a climate controlled environment. The 35th Anniversary Corvette hammered home for $37,500 and with commission the final sales price was $41,250. This easily beats the high price for a 35th Anniversary edition of $32,100 at an RM Auction held in 1998 in Monterey as listed in the VetteMarket.com database.
40th Anniversary
The 1993 40th Anniversary package was available on all models. It included Ruby Red metallic paint and Ruby Red leather sport seats, along with special trim and emblems. 6,749 were sold at an additional cost of $1,455.Indy Pace Car
In 1995 a C4 convertible was again the pace car for the Indianapolis 500, and a special pace car edition was offered. 527 were built.Grand Sport
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, producing 330 hp and 340 lbft of torque. The Grand Sport came only in Admiral Blue with a white stripe down the middle, and black wheels and two red stripes on the front driver's side wheel arch added to its distinctive look.
Collector Edition
The 1996 Collector Edition was the last of the C4 Corvettes, just as the 1982 Collector Edition was the last of the C3s. It included Sebring Silver paint and special trim. Of the 5,412 built, 4,031 were coupes and 1,381 were convertibles. It cost $1,250 extra.Production notes
| Year | Production | Base Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 51,547 | $21,800 | C4 hatchback Hatchback A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box... body is popular. Digital instrumentation is controversial. L83 engine continued from 1982. |
| 1985 | 39,729 | $24,891 | More powerful and fuel efficient L98 engine introduced. |
| 1986 | 35,109 | $27,027 | First convertible since 1975-all 7,315 have Indy 500 pace car console id plaque. New were Third brake light, antilock brakes, and key-code anti-theft system. |
| 1987 | 36,632 | $27,999 | Callaway Callaway Cars Incorporated Callaway Cars Inc. is an engine design company who is notable for their modification of Chevrolet cars, the Corvette sport cars in particular, especially their twin-turbo kit that became a dealer option and their record breaking Corvette Sledgehammer car.... twin-turbo offered through dealers with GM warranty. |
| 1988 | 22,789 | $29,480 | New wheel design. All white 35th Anniversary special edition coupe. |
| 1989 | 26,412 | $32,045 | ZF 6-speed manual replaces Doug Nash 4+3. |
| 1990 | 23,646 | $32,479 | ZR-1 is introduced with DOHC LT5 engine. Interior redesigned to incorporate drivers-side air bag. |
| 1991 | 20,639 | $33,005 | Restyled exterior. Last year for the Callaway B2K twin turbo. |
| 1992 | 20,479 | $33,635 | New LT1 engine replaces the L98. Traction control Traction control system A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels... is standard. |
| 1993 | 21,590 | $34,595 | Passive keyless entry is a new standard feature. 40th Anniversary special edition. |
| 1994 | 23,330 | $36,185 | New interior including passenger airbag. |
| 1995 | 20,742 | $36,785 | Last year of the ZR-1. Minor exterior restyling. Indy Pace Car special edition. |
| 1996 | 21,536 | $37,225 | Optional LT4 engine with 330 hp. Collectors Edition and Grand Sport special editions. First year with OBD II diagnostics. |
| Total | 366,227 |
Engines
| Engine | Year | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350 cu in (5.7 l) L83 V8 | 1984 | 205 hp | 295 lbft |
| 350 cu in (5.7 l) L98 V8 | 1985–1986 | 230 hp | 330 lbft |
| 1987–1989 | 240 hp | 345 lbft | |
| 1987 (B2K Callaway) | 345 hp | 465 lbft | |
| 1988–1989 (coupes with 3.07 rear) | 245 hp | 345 lbft | |
| 1988–1989 (B2K Callaway) | 382 hp | 562 lbft | |
| 1990–1991 | 245 hp | 345 lbft | |
| 1990–1991 (coupes with 3.07 rear) | 250 hp | 345 lbft | |
| 1990–1991 (B2K Callaway) | 403 hp | 575 lbft | |
| 350 cu in (5.7 l) LT5 V8 | 1990–1992 | 375 hp | 370 lbft |
| 1993–1995 | 405 hp | 385 lbft | |
| 350 cu in (5.7 l) LT1 V8 | 1992 | 300 hp | 330 lbft |
| 1993–1995 | 300 hp | 340 lbft | |
| 1996 | 300 hp | 335 lbft | |
| 350 cu in (5.7 l) LT4 V8 | 1996 | 330 hp | 340 lbft |
CERV III
In June 1985, Chevrolet Chief Engineer Don Runkle and Lotus' Tony Rudd discuss creating a new show car to show off their engineering expertise. The project would become the CERV III (Corporate Engineering Research Vehicle III). It was first unveiled in Detroit Automobile Show in January 1986 as Corvette Indy prototype car.
ZR2
Also called 'Big Doggie', it is a concept model build based on C4 Corvette, But with a much larger 454ci big block v8 OHV engine with multi-port fuel injection similar to the tuned port injection found on the 5.7L corvette from 85-91, 6-speed manual transmission, and includes electronic fuel injection.The vehicle was built by Corvette Development Engineering as a development car to study the possibility of achieving ZR-1 performance while reducing cost by utilizing a big block engine. The engine was rated 400 hp.
The prototype vehicle was sold in 2009 Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction provides products and services to classic and collector car owners, collectors and automotive enthusiasts...
Scottsdale auction for winning bid price of $65,000.
Corvette GTP (IMSA)
As part of GM's initiative to promote the new C4 Corvette, they funded a program in the IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
to run a GTP-class prototype under the Corvette name, mostly run by Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
. Although the Corvette GTP actually shared with the C4 Corvette, including the lack of a V8* engine in some races, it did use some styling cues. The project lasted until 1988 with mixed success.
Note*:-
The final Corvette GTP built (HU8811.01) as raced by Peerless Racing under went extensive wind tunnel testing by GM with much of the 'aero' developmnets such as the short tail design was used in the later production C4's. The Peerless GTP Corvette also went back to the V-8 small block engine from the turbo V-6. This final GTP Corvette (Peerless) was driven by Hobbs, Baldwin, Villeneuve & Goodyear in IMSA before having the BBC based Eagle (10.2) engine installed to take to Le Mans in 1990.