Calling all early C4's
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,449
Likes: 343
From: SC
May I ask why collectors ins? My insurance is only $350 / yr. with no milage restrictions. What are the benefits of collectors ins?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
We drove our 1985 over 500 miles last weekend...
...in fact, we were in the OP's area at Seven Springs.
...in fact, we were in the OP's area at Seven Springs.
Last edited by j3studio; Jun 21, 2008 at 02:06 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Few of them are daily drivers anymore. Most are just weekend fun cars. I would venture to guess that there are a lot of C4's out there just rotting away in back yards or junkyards because the owners gave up on them.
Remember, if you can't do your own wrenching, a serious malfunction can mean that the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car. It's one thing if your transmission goes out and you and a buddy pull it yourselves and have it rebuilt for $500, and then back in and running the same week.....it's quite another if you have to take it to a shop to do all the labor and they want $2500 to do it.
$75 per hour and up for labor means that a lot of early C4's are, in essence, constructive total losses....that is, disposable. If you get a lower engine knock on an 84 and can't work on it yourself, be prepared for sticker shock....and the fact that you'd be plowing $3000 into a car that isn't worth much more than that even if it's in very nice condition. And something else may break next week rendering it useless again.
For those of us who can do our own wrenching and save the labor costs, these cars can be kept on the road indefinitely for a reasonable amount of money, and they're a lot of bang for the buck. But few of us still use them to get back and forth to work or on long trips.
Kinda nice really....makes them more unique.
Remember, if you can't do your own wrenching, a serious malfunction can mean that the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car. It's one thing if your transmission goes out and you and a buddy pull it yourselves and have it rebuilt for $500, and then back in and running the same week.....it's quite another if you have to take it to a shop to do all the labor and they want $2500 to do it.
$75 per hour and up for labor means that a lot of early C4's are, in essence, constructive total losses....that is, disposable. If you get a lower engine knock on an 84 and can't work on it yourself, be prepared for sticker shock....and the fact that you'd be plowing $3000 into a car that isn't worth much more than that even if it's in very nice condition. And something else may break next week rendering it useless again.
For those of us who can do our own wrenching and save the labor costs, these cars can be kept on the road indefinitely for a reasonable amount of money, and they're a lot of bang for the buck. But few of us still use them to get back and forth to work or on long trips.
Kinda nice really....makes them more unique.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Spanaway WA
My 84 also stays in the garage. She comes out on nice days when I have time. Here in Washington nice days have been on the scarce side lately. 147,000 on her so definately not a garage queen, maybe like a duchess or something. No driving in the rain and I have a take home car for work.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 27
From: Monroe Twp, NJ
Mine comes out a couple of times a month. Almost 25 years old now and still beaten up by some other vette owners who continue to insist 'Its the bad year'. With that said had some nice compliments last night at the car show. Its displayed with paper work and history of the 84 along with Car of the year decals. To me first year Corvettes 53,63,68 and 84 are special in there own way.
Last edited by ps374; Jun 22, 2008 at 12:22 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,284
Likes: 1
From: Whitehall Pa.
We have quite a few around the eastern Pennsylvania area. My 84 just went 150 miles to the Jersey shore for a show at the beach. Getting ready for another show next Sunday. It is also going to be in the American flag picture at Corvettes at Carlisle this year. She was just out yesterday visiting a friend with a 95.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,093
Likes: 282
From: Phila., PA burbs
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,590
Likes: 48
From: W MI
Few of them are daily drivers anymore. Most are just weekend fun cars. I would venture to guess that there are a lot of C4's out there just rotting away in back yards or junkyards because the owners gave up on them.
Remember, if you can't do your own wrenching, a serious malfunction can mean that the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car. It's one thing if your transmission goes out and you and a buddy pull it yourselves and have it rebuilt for $500, and then back in and running the same week.....it's quite another if you have to take it to a shop to do all the labor and they want $2500 to do it.
$75 per hour and up for labor means that a lot of early C4's are, in essence, constructive total losses....that is, disposable. If you get a lower engine knock on an 84 and can't work on it yourself, be prepared for sticker shock....and the fact that you'd be plowing $3000 into a car that isn't worth much more than that even if it's in very nice condition. And something else may break next week rendering it useless again.
For those of us who can do our own wrenching and save the labor costs, these cars can be kept on the road indefinitely for a reasonable amount of money, and they're a lot of bang for the buck. But few of us still use them to get back and forth to work or on long trips.
Kinda nice really....makes them more unique.
Remember, if you can't do your own wrenching, a serious malfunction can mean that the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car. It's one thing if your transmission goes out and you and a buddy pull it yourselves and have it rebuilt for $500, and then back in and running the same week.....it's quite another if you have to take it to a shop to do all the labor and they want $2500 to do it.
$75 per hour and up for labor means that a lot of early C4's are, in essence, constructive total losses....that is, disposable. If you get a lower engine knock on an 84 and can't work on it yourself, be prepared for sticker shock....and the fact that you'd be plowing $3000 into a car that isn't worth much more than that even if it's in very nice condition. And something else may break next week rendering it useless again.
For those of us who can do our own wrenching and save the labor costs, these cars can be kept on the road indefinitely for a reasonable amount of money, and they're a lot of bang for the buck. But few of us still use them to get back and forth to work or on long trips.
Kinda nice really....makes them more unique.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 230
Likes: 1
From: Covington GA
Mine splits daily driving chores with my Suzuki sportbike. As my commute is 40 miles each way, though, I'm looking to replace it with something less thirsty and a bit newer. It really should be someone's racer or project car.
