Raysur

It is a short but great read:

http://www.keepitwideopen.com/

A friend at work sent this to me. As a Designer I appreciate leaving the stereotypes out of the car and just talk design.

Cygnus

That is a great read!

Axial

Very nice read, thanks for sharing!

DinoBob

Well done. Truly, the C4 is a very clean and understated design. Like most designs, even good ones, they begin to look dated. The good ones then start to look classic. The C4is turning that corner now. Body kits aside.

Paul Workman

The C4 has a clean, modern line. So many times I'll be gassing up and someone will complement its beauty, and are amazed when I tell them it is a 1990. More than a few times I've heard: "Really!? Wow! I thought it was new!" The C4 has beautiful lines.



P.

mrmtrtrnd

I enjoyed reading that and was surprised to know that the C4 is 9" shorter than the C3. When I look at a car I know right away if I like it or not but sometimes not sure why the design doesn't work. It was interesting to read a point by point breakdown of what was good and what wasn't with each car. I'm not sure if the C5 and C3 guys will like the article as much as I did. Maybe I'm just to much of a Corvette nut to be completely open minded about the article because I like both generations and didn't necessarily agree with all the negative comments about them but still it was good reading.

2vette2

mfi

Its good to read something like this, like a smack in the head to remind me that I really don't want a c5...

Cygnus

I migrated from the C3 to the 4 and still have a couple of things that I liked better about the 3.

One line from the article about the C3 "If the first generation ‘Vette was voluptuous then the third gen was positively pornographic." was so spot on.

It has a stance that is instantly recognizable from a long ways off.

I miss that instant "vette" look that the C3 has with non vette people. That is why I was so excited about the C7 prototype. It had the advantages with the aggressive styling.

I expect to always own a C4 as it has become my favorite vette.

Geof180

yes Paul.. the same thing happens to me...

Geof180

or people will say something about the lack of window in my hood... "i thought the ZR-1 has a window in the hood.." hehe

Eakster

Nice write-ups! Perhaps this helps validate some of us C4 owners who could have a C5 but for its styling and attitude

Shame it doesn't mention the C4 styling updates throughout its run which imo were significant (enough to split many C4 owners in preference, early to late version, post-kamm tail styling)

dizwiz24

I've been frustrated that I don't associate with other corvette owners (c6; 5, and even 3) due to c4 bashing.

Its a real shame.

I have more mustang friends than I do other non c4 friends.

Klondike

I too came from the Mustang camp. I always loved Corvettes, just never thought I could ever own one. I get poked by some for moving away from my Mustangs, but I just say; "Been there, done that and I've moved on." I'll never live long enough to have every car I want, but I can have a C4 and I like it.
The article was correct about not being able to improve on the style of the C2 when going to the C3. When you say Corvette, my brain flashes images of a split window 63 or maybe a 67 convertable I love the C2 but never really liked the C3's even when they poured bigger horses into them.

Axial

I passed on C5 precisely for all of the reasons mentioned in the C5 article. Bar of soap, indeed.

Still a part of the family though. The FRC and subsequent Z06s were actually a little easier on the eyes.

Drop-dead gorgeous Z. Always loved the black rub-strip of the earlier body style, and the '90 ZR-1 was the perfect combination of squircle lights (which I also love) with early C4 looks. The only thing that could make it prettier to me is the addition of mid-generation sawblade wheels.

FWC

Things You Can And Can't See In '84-'96 Corvettes

From the October, 2003 issue of Corvette Fever

All contributors: Andy Bolig











In a short 12 years, Corvette has progressed from a great-performing sports car, reeling in accolades using only the most basic of electronic computer technology, to a refined canyon carver, producing historic amounts of horsepower and performance using technology that dwarfs its predecessor by light-years. Horsepower was back and it was clear that GM wasn't going to be deterred from installing as much as possible in every Corvette. Of course, it had to be emissions-friendly as well a great performer, which it grew into. The forward thinking that went into the C4 improved the current Corvette, but also laid a foundation, the benefits of which would be reaped well into the next generation.


So the next time a C5 owner tells you how great their car is, just say "You're welcome."

I found this awhile back and thought it fitting here.

Jbws86928

Excellent !!! As a C3 lover , I just don't think C3s were absurd. We lived in an era where hp was king and C3s did just that. Better than most I might add. As a C4 owner I have come to love the sleeker lines and torque that is provided. As the original poster said , " leave out the innuendo and stick with the design " All hail every generation of vette. IMO

tomtom72

I guess I'm on the fence about styling. It's too subjective a subject to me. IDK, maybe I'm not thinking clearly?

My first vette was a 72 LT-1 and I still to this day have a soft spot in my heart for chrome bumper sharks....they were/are sexy, and sensual in their body shape.....but She was my 1st vette so I could be forgiven for my opinion, right?

One thing for sure I see a family blood line when I look at my 90. The front fender peaks are just a hint of the 3rd generation, and the center of the clam shell also hints at the dome of the LT-1's hood.....okay, maybe I'm looking thru rose colored glasses! Ya think?

I loved the C6 from the jump, and now even the C5 has me thinking it's not so fat in the rear. The C5 FRC's always looked good to me too. Okay I guess I like all of them. That's not so bad, right? I mean our cars, whatever generation, were never going to be wall flowers, no?


Tom

Jbws86928

Couldn't have said it better. I see the C3 lines in the wheel wells when looking out the windshield and down the hood. Rose colored glasses, I don't think so. You see what every former C3 owner sees and that is the evolution of the vette and that is great. That is vision.Love the 2000 FRC also. And

tomtom72

I will say one thing about my 90 C4 ZR-1 versus my 72 LT-1 car....my 90 is everything my 72 wishes it could have been but couldn't be. Not because of any other reason than engineering evolution. That's what I respect about our cars, corvettes in general I mean. Every generation brings something new to the table, and not just fluff either.

People could think that the C2's and C3's were identical cars, and they'd be not exactly correct. Yes the basic chassis design, but there were evolutionary subtle changes that happened almost every year. The C4 chassis was a radical departure, perimeter chassis vs ladder. Then the 5's and 6's were an ongoing evolution of that perimeter frame. Each year it became more sophisticated. That's what I love about our cars! Okay, well that and we get to drive them!


Tom