A total of 43 - 1983 model Corvettes were
built, but there were so many quality problems with them it was decided to
halt production until they could be corrected. By the time the problems
were corrected, it was so late into the model year that the car was
brought out as a 1984 model which was run for a year and a half. The
1983's were never sold to the public and the only one that is known to
still exist is in the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY
The 1984 Corvette was the first American
production car to have a 64% windshield angle.
A single transverse plastic front and rear
spring first made it's appearance on the 1984 Corvette.
Twenty 1986 Corvettes were sent to Lotus in
England to be converted into LT5 powered prototypes for the ZR1 project.
In 1986, Corvette offered the "Malcolm
Konner Commemorative Edition" with two transmissions. A manual
4-speed and an automatic. Only 20 4-speed manual transmissions were
installed at the factory.
In 1987 you could buy a Corvette without an
engine installed by the factory.
A total of 30,632 Corvettes were produced
in 1987. 184 of these Corvettes were Callaways, and 121 of the Callaway's
were coupes.
1982 and 1987 Corvettes had something in
common, 16 exterior colors were available.
The last year a CB radio was offered as a
Corvette option was 1985.
In 1988 a thirty-fifth anniversary edition
Corvette package was available for coupes only. It featured a two tone
exterior of white with black roof bow, white leather seats, steering
wheel, special interior and exterior accents, a console-mounted
anniversary plaque, special emblems and other special features. Sales
totals 2,050 cars.
In 1988, Corvette started using a
unidirectional 17" wheel as an option with RP0 Z51 and Z52. New six
slot 16x8.5 were standard with P255/50ZR16 Tires.
In 1989, the ZR1 was produced to
approximately 80 cars, however, none were sold to the public. The last of
these ZR1s were shipped out of the factory on Dec. 22, 1988
1991 was the 10th anniversary of Corvette
production at the Bowling Green, KY plant
The LT4 exhaust system has a distinguishing
feature from the LT1 system. It has a balance tube incorporated into it!
96 Grand Sports: There is a small area
behind the hatch roof and in front of the panel that attaches to the rear
window that is taped, not painted. It is 1" long and the tape is
about 18" wide. This change was early in production. The purpose is
to eliminate a problem area in the paint booth during manufacturing.
96 Grand Sports: The Grand Sport's stripe
is not the same width all the way back. It gets wider as it goes up the
hood, and the top is narrower, and then it gets somewhat wider in the back
end.
