Wanted:- C4 Corvette - South Wales
Discussion
Hi,
I'm seeking to purchase a nice C4 prior to new season.
Must be very good condition, well maintained example, full/long MOT, good history.
Budget up to £6000 for right car, will be prepared to travel for a good 'un, but with respect, please don't disappoint me by getting me to travel if there's any reason I won't like the car for sale
Regards
Jay
PS - Yes, I am watching a couple on ebay, auto-trader, pistonheads and CCCUK
I'm seeking to purchase a nice C4 prior to new season.
Must be very good condition, well maintained example, full/long MOT, good history.
Budget up to £6000 for right car, will be prepared to travel for a good 'un, but with respect, please don't disappoint me by getting me to travel if there's any reason I won't like the car for sale
Regards
Jay
PS - Yes, I am watching a couple on ebay, auto-trader, pistonheads and CCCUK
LuS1fer said:
They will all be a minimum of 17 years old, were never built particularly well and when I had one at 9 years old, it was already suffering so good luck! Being on that cusp between worthless and unwanted for the time being, neither do they get restored much (unless possibly a ZR1).
Hey thanks for that, I'm coming from a TVR wedge, so understand about dubious build quality and unreliable electrics etc, but I have to say my TVR never let me down due to being so well looked after and well maintained by previous owners I have a couple of vettes in mind.... One in particular - if only the owner was as keen to sell as I am to buy lol
I'll keep you posted
LuS1fer said:
They will all be a minimum of 17 years old, were never built particularly well and when I had one at 9 years old, it was already suffering so good luck! Being on that cusp between worthless and unwanted for the time being, neither do they get restored much (unless possibly a ZR1).
Well, they are definitely "Cheap as chips" to buy, run and maintain? Had my 1985 C4 since 1989/20k miles (24 years) now with 45k miles on it. It has never let me down/broken down. Apart from service parts inc. tyres & exhausts etc., the only other bits it has needed in 24 years are a new heater matrix, starter motor, fuel pump and one instrument cluster bulb. Sails through the MoT each year. Dubious build quality? Forget it. OK a Vette's build quality reflects the GM US build quality standards at the time/year they were made. A good one will not break down every time you drive round the corner. As Jay Leno says, they are built like a truck/fix them with a hammer. So my advice would be, if you fancy one, find a good/well cared for example and go for it!
Edited by Silver C6 on Thursday 14th March 11:32
Edited by Silver C6 on Thursday 14th March 12:57
Silver C6 said:
And if you don't know about this already, have a look at the Eckler's and Mid America Motorworks websites (order a catalogue?) to see all the "goodies" and replacement bits you can buy for a C4. 
The first thing I'd like to change are the wheels.... I like the original "turbine" wheels, but the car I'm looking at has the later flat faced wheels... PHJayV8 said:
The first thing I'd like to change are the wheels.... I like the original "turbine" wheels, but the car I'm looking at has the later flat faced wheels...
Funny you mention that. . I have a spare set of original '85 wheels (16" x 9.5" wide (Z51 suspension)) and centre caps in the garage. Bought them of a guy in Norfolk last year who was putting a Ford Coupe body on a '85 Vette drivetrain. Bought them intending to get them refurbished (they are good but not mint/as new), but just not got round to it. When/if you get a C4, PM me if you are interested? LuS1fer said:
Think you face a 16" vs 17" choice there - not sure if they channged the size of the brakes too.
You are right. As Jason probably knows already, the 16" "turbine" wheel came on the early 84-87 cars (17" from 1988). Don't know what years Jason is considering, but guess if I had £6k to spend on a C4, I would be trying to buy as late a car as possible, considering the improvements they made to them over the years e.g ABS from 1986, chassis stiffening additions, airbags etc. Having said that, I prefer the round rear lights of the earlier cars and even the original "flat look" dash (once you have put a nice Momo Nero steering wheel on it ).Edited by Silver C6 on Thursday 14th March 16:40
This one:- I have communicated with owner, It's an early car with later car mods?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281076998261?ssPageName=...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281076998261?ssPageName=...
[quote=PHJayV8]This one:- I have communicated with owner, It's an early car with later car mods?
Personally, I would wait for a later year car and/or go for a Coupe. Think the Coupe looks better, you still have open air motoring with the lift out roof, more storage/trunk space and none of the convertible roof "worries."
The '87 is not too different to the 85/86 (has ABS obviously). There were a couple of '85 Coupes advertised on here last year with 70k miles on them for £4.5k (don't know what they sold for obviously). One of the CCCUK members sold recently (after some time) a very nice 1996 (last C4 year) Collector Edition with low miles for circa £8k I believe.
Personally, I would wait for a later year car and/or go for a Coupe. Think the Coupe looks better, you still have open air motoring with the lift out roof, more storage/trunk space and none of the convertible roof "worries."
The '87 is not too different to the 85/86 (has ABS obviously). There were a couple of '85 Coupes advertised on here last year with 70k miles on them for £4.5k (don't know what they sold for obviously). One of the CCCUK members sold recently (after some time) a very nice 1996 (last C4 year) Collector Edition with low miles for circa £8k I believe.
I have to echo the preference for a Coupe (Targa) as the convertibles I have seen tend to look half-finished. That said, targas are equally prone to leaks from poor seals which in turn allow the windows to suck outward at speeed, creating wind roar.
One thing you should do is carefully inspect any paintwork for bubbles. The reason is that becuase the bodywork is fibreglass, it can pinhole underneath and allow air through. This in turn sucks moisture through and under the paint, causing bubbles which, when pricked, are full of water. It happened on mine on the nose section though I think mine had had a respray during it's life.
The C5 has a different type of plastic construction which is more durable.
One thing you should do is carefully inspect any paintwork for bubbles. The reason is that becuase the bodywork is fibreglass, it can pinhole underneath and allow air through. This in turn sucks moisture through and under the paint, causing bubbles which, when pricked, are full of water. It happened on mine on the nose section though I think mine had had a respray during it's life.
The C5 has a different type of plastic construction which is more durable.
LuS1fer said:
One thing you should do is carefully inspect any paintwork for bubbles. The reason is that becuase the bodywork is fibreglass, it can pinhole underneath and allow air through. This in turn sucks moisture through and under the paint, causing bubbles which, when pricked, are full of water. It happened on mine on the nose section though I think mine had had a respray during it's life.
Must admit LuS1fer, I have not heard that before. As you probably know, on the early (and later?) C4s, the original front cone and rear panel are made of Urethane which is more flexible than the re-inforced GRP/fibreglass of the other panels/doors. Replacement aftermarket front cones and rear panels are available in fibreglass from the States if you need/want to replace them. Perhaps your car had a replacement fibreglass front & new paint before you got it?What does happen with the original Urethane front and back panels, is that the paint on them tends to fade, unlike the other panels. Suspect that most earlier cars around have probably been repainted somewhere by now anyway?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-general-discuss...
Edited by Silver C6 on Thursday 14th March 23:10
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