Looking for ideas
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Looking for ideas
I am new to the Corvette world and looking to find out where I should start. As I am limited on my budget a new one is out of the question right now. I'm looking to start out way at the bottom and maybe over the years graduate to a new model. Right now from what I have seen I am torn between getting a 79 or an 85. I'm guessing the 79 would be carbureted and that is the only thing that would turn me off from it....but it looks soooo damn good!!! Thoughts....advice??
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Food for thought I am good at that,
Budget and corvettes, a hard mix...I know I am on a budget,
I daily drove 2 81's and an 86 very different creatures, first we have to compare apples to apples and both cars must be in good running order repairs on Corvette do get costly fast more so if you hire the work done,
The 81's compares well to your 79 as does the 86 to your 85,
The 86 was more refined, and vaguely more comfortable inside it, the pop open rear hatch is wonderful if you need to use the car as a "car" and not just a cool driver,
The 86 looks like a firebird from that era, and I would say the c4 is the most unpopular of all corvettes, I can say that I still own the 86,
C4's are pretty cheap right now for really nice cars,
81, ( 68-82 )
not as refined more sports car ish,
Hard to haul anything in the rear because the bubble window is fixed,
Easy to remove t tops,
It's a shark body car and that is timeless and the most beautiful of all corvettes,
Not as cheap to get into as a c4 ( 86 )
I would step over a super nice 86 for a so-so c3...would trade my 86 for a c3 in a heart beat even trading down and when my Mako is a driver I will sell the c4,
Did that help?
Budget and corvettes, a hard mix...I know I am on a budget,
I daily drove 2 81's and an 86 very different creatures, first we have to compare apples to apples and both cars must be in good running order repairs on Corvette do get costly fast more so if you hire the work done,
The 81's compares well to your 79 as does the 86 to your 85,
The 86 was more refined, and vaguely more comfortable inside it, the pop open rear hatch is wonderful if you need to use the car as a "car" and not just a cool driver,
The 86 looks like a firebird from that era, and I would say the c4 is the most unpopular of all corvettes, I can say that I still own the 86,
C4's are pretty cheap right now for really nice cars,
81, ( 68-82 )
not as refined more sports car ish,
Hard to haul anything in the rear because the bubble window is fixed,
Easy to remove t tops,
It's a shark body car and that is timeless and the most beautiful of all corvettes,
Not as cheap to get into as a c4 ( 86 )
I would step over a super nice 86 for a so-so c3...would trade my 86 for a c3 in a heart beat even trading down and when my Mako is a driver I will sell the c4,
Did that help?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
me and my vette buddy Fiberglass Mike talk about it a great deal,
It's not any one thing lots of things all mixed together,
Lots of smoke and mystery about the skipped year 83 but what I have read and tend to believe is that GM did plan for this to be the c4 the dream of John DeLorean
Then for all kinds of reasons at the last minute it was pulled and they fell back on the c4 as we know it, hence why they skipped a year,
At the risk of sounding bashing and snide the c4 as we know it is not style wise a next generation after the c3 , like you may have seen me call it a "Firebird" it's not a "Corvette"
The next generation in a car model should out do the last, the c4 didn't,
Of course had the c4 been the Aerovette lots of things would be very different right now.
Don't get me wrong my 86 is a fine driver and a great car but not to me a "Corvette"
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: Monroe Washington
Don't get me wrong my 86 is a fine driver and a great car but not to me a "Corvette"[/QUOTE]
Sorry but I have to differ an opinion. I recently traded my 1986 for a 1976. THE only reason was that as a kid, the shark body was what I saw first and it stuck with me as THE vette to own. I owned the 86 for 2 1/2 years and during that time never had a minutes problem with it. To be appreciated the C4 must be driven. Where most cars you get into, you put on a C4. Getting in and sitting down is like getting into a cockpit, more like wearing the car. Add the starwars dash and you feel like your in a cockpit. Sure it rattles but most cars of the 80's rattle. And lets not forget the clamshell hood. Talk about nice when you want to work on the engine.
There was a reason the 84 won Car of the Year. Has a C3 laid claim to that?? I remember my first winding road drive in the 86, man could it hug the road and curves.
Would I own another, yes.
Okay, my 5 cents worth.
Yes, C4's are made out to be the redheaded stepchild but
Sorry but I have to differ an opinion. I recently traded my 1986 for a 1976. THE only reason was that as a kid, the shark body was what I saw first and it stuck with me as THE vette to own. I owned the 86 for 2 1/2 years and during that time never had a minutes problem with it. To be appreciated the C4 must be driven. Where most cars you get into, you put on a C4. Getting in and sitting down is like getting into a cockpit, more like wearing the car. Add the starwars dash and you feel like your in a cockpit. Sure it rattles but most cars of the 80's rattle. And lets not forget the clamshell hood. Talk about nice when you want to work on the engine.
There was a reason the 84 won Car of the Year. Has a C3 laid claim to that?? I remember my first winding road drive in the 86, man could it hug the road and curves.
Would I own another, yes.
Okay, my 5 cents worth.
Yes, C4's are made out to be the redheaded stepchild but
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Sorry but I have to differ an opinion. I recently traded my 1986 for a 1976. THE only reason was that as a kid, the shark body was what I saw first and it stuck with me as THE vette to own. I owned the 86 for 2 1/2 years and during that time never had a minutes problem with it. To be appreciated the C4 must be driven. Where most cars you get into, you put on a C4. Getting in and sitting down is like getting into a cockpit, more like wearing the car. Add the starwars dash and you feel like your in a cockpit. Sure it rattles but most cars of the 80's rattle. And lets not forget the clamshell hood. Talk about nice when you want to work on the engine.
There was a reason the 84 won Car of the Year. Has a C3 laid claim to that?? I remember my first winding road drive in the 86, man could it hug the road and curves.
Would I own another, yes.
Okay, my 5 cents worth.
Yes, C4's are made out to be the redheaded stepchild but
There was a reason the 84 won Car of the Year. Has a C3 laid claim to that?? I remember my first winding road drive in the 86, man could it hug the road and curves.
Would I own another, yes.
Okay, my 5 cents worth.
Yes, C4's are made out to be the redheaded stepchild but
I respect your view, I know my posts about my feelings on the c4 will get me flamed so your reply is tame,
C4 won Car of the year...was someone paid off....
But I can't make the c4 out to be anything more than it is...."redheaded step child"..okay.
Driven?
I have owned and driven the thing well over 6 years.
Everything you dig about the C4 I actually don't find in it, I find all that in the C3, well, besides the Starwars dash,
Digital gauges , tilt front ends, my C3 builds have that...
But hey...if you reqret swapping your 86 for a 76 then undo that error, swap your 76 for my 86.....
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: Monroe Washington
Did not mean in imply I was unhappy with the trade I made. I simply get tired of many, unlike you and me who have actually owned a C4, badmouthing a car they have no experience with. I have never owned or driven a C1,C2,C5, or a C6 but I would not make judgements about those cars unless I owned or drove one. I understand your dislikes about the C4, I was simply stating my likes. Sorry I traded, no. Would I own another C4, yes.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Did not mean in imply I was unhappy with the trade I made. I simply get tired of many, unlike you and me who have actually owned a C4, badmouthing a car they have no experience with. I have never owned or driven a C1,C2,C5, or a C6 but I would not make judgements about those cars unless I owned or drove one. I understand your dislikes about the C4, I was simply stating my likes. Sorry I traded, no. Would I own another C4, yes.
I really didn't believe you would be taking me up on a trade...
Once you get c3 in your blood they are addictive...
I have owned and daily driven many vettes from many years and would never talk out a paper #$%hole about something I know nothing about,
I did say a c4 is more refined but for me lacks the heart, soul and spirit of the Corvette found in earlier models, I would go as far to say I don't care for any vette after 82,
I hate to think I am badmouthing of trashing c4vettes I just simply do not like them compared to c3's
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Louisville Kentucky
I think GM did a great job on all generations. This car could have easily seen its demise several times during its almost 6 decades. If we did'nt have the C3's and C4's we would'nt have the incredible C5's and C6's. We should all rejoice that we never had a car like the Mustang II "are that goofy square T-Bird that Ford produced.
PS C4 guys this is the C3 forum so you gotta expect a little bias in our opinions.
PS C4 guys this is the C3 forum so you gotta expect a little bias in our opinions.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
There is a long lead time between the first design & production. For example by the time the first Mustang sales figures came in the accountants couldn't wait for a Camaro & that was a modification of an existng design & rebody. Note first month & year for Mustang & Camaro. The C4 was to be all new.
I was planning on buying the Aerovette & was keeping close track. It was hard enough for a kid to get 1 Corvette & insurance, a second one could take some planning depending on intro. date & whether I could wait for the second year which could be expected to be better.
One of the first decisions that had to be made was whether to change to a rear mid engine. By about the end of 78 it was already known there would be no production Aerovette. Note the small foot space area. They were already working on the C4 & McLellan had said the styling would be reeled in. A smaller engine 305 was considered which is why both the CFI & TPI were designed for a 305. 84 induction & 700R4 were in production in 81 for 82.
Before the 84 came out a video of it was shown at a Corvette show. A friend of mine who owns airplanes (not really a car guy) said he never saw a more disappointed group of guys.
I have driven a 96 C4 6 spd. & feel right at home in it.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 7
From: Toronto Ontario
I really didn't believe you would be taking me up on a trade...
Once you get c3 in your blood they are addictive...
I have owned and daily driven many vettes from many years and would never talk out a paper #$%hole about something I know nothing about,
I did say a c4 is more refined but for me lacks the heart, soul and spirit of the Corvette found in earlier models, I would go as far to say I don't care for any vette after 82,
I hate to think I am badmouthing of trashing c4vettes I just simply do not like them compared to c3's
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Well yesterday I went out and sat in a couple of C4's and a couple of C3's and being a tall guy I think I fit alot better in a C3.....and they look so bad ***!!! I wont lie....I will start out with a C3 but a C4 is in my future down the road as well.