1993 Corvette is an Awesome Eighties Throwback

C4 Corvette needs some TLC, but it could be a fun, inexpensive project transforming this ride into a daily driver.

You might think that it is impossible to get a nice, running-and-driving Corvette with a tiny budget, and for the most part, you would be correct. However, while checking out rides online we spotted this 1993 C4 that the ad says needs basic repairs to be a reliable daily driver, while a paint job or a wrap allow it to fall into the “nice” category. Then again, you could buy this car, address the minimal mechanical issues and enjoy the drive while ignoring the cosmetic issues for less than $5,000.

The Introduction

When this 1993 Corvette was listed for sale, the seller provided a quick overview of the car, what has been done in terms of maintenance, what needs to be repaired and why it is being sold.

“I have a 1993 Corvette with a 6 speed manual for sale,” wrote the seller. “The car has approximately 120,000. The car has near brand new tires, rebuilt suspension. Starts every time, very reliable have driven it on many road trips never left me stranded, was meticulously maintained by the family who owned it before me and still is. The car does need a throw-out bearing, which is a pretty cheap part just don’t have the time to do it.”

“The motor runs great and the transmission has no pop outs or grinds. The car does need paint around the quarter panel and some interior pieces are missing. This ‘Vette also has the door panel issue but pretty easy fix. Overall the car is clean and needs a new home, selling because I am a student in school and just bought another car.

The car also is not perfect needs some things I can’t think of off the top of my head.”

Driving Concerns

The seller also mentions that this 1993 Corvette is registered on a California “non-op” title, meaning that it is not currently legal for use on public roads. That could be due to the throw-out bearing or it could have some unmentioned emission-related item that prevents it from being compliant with California’s strict laws.

In any case, California legal issues aside, it sounds like the buyer could address the transmission issue, run through a thorough tune-up and enjoy the combination of 300 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque that the previous generation of the LT1 provides. With the car being listed at $3,300, a good tune-up and the transmission work should be inexpensive enough to keep you comfortably within a $5,000 budget.

Sprucing It Up

It seems that it won’t take much for this C4 to be a great driver, but it definitely has its aesthetic issues. The most obvious is the paint, but if you have a little more to spend on this project, that is easily addressed. The majority of the car looks great in the pictures, but the area around the rear hatch has some fading in the paint. A full paint job would have this car looking like new, but if you have body-work ability, this could be an easy fix.

Finally, the interior looks like it is pretty clean for being 26 years old, but shy of the passenger’s door panel assembly being broken, everything looks good.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com