1996 Chevrolet Corvette - $24,900 - Orange Village, OH - 14,150 original miles and just two owners from new. 100% stock with original equipment throughout, including the original tires! Beautifully preserved and ready to show or drive.
Finished in traditional Corvette Torch Red with a matching bright red leather interior and black top, this roadster shows just 14,150 original miles. It is a 2-owner car, and has been expertly maintained from new by enthusiasts who understand that Corvettes are not mere transportation appliances. The bodywork is in exceptional condition, and sports 100% of its original paint, which by 1996 was pretty darned good. There’s also a snug-fitting black canvas top that shows no wear, creases, or fading, and stows quickly and easily behind the seats, where it vanishes under a hard decklid.
The brilliant red leather upholstery is as-new, with deeply bolstered bucket seats, matching black and red door panels, and fitted red carpets. There is absolutely no wear or damage to any of the seating surfaces, not even the driver’s side bolsters, which often get scuffed with use. Almost everything was standard equipment on a Corvette, including A/C, power windows and locks, cruise control, power mirrors, and interval wipes, making it as much luxury car as sports car.
By 1996, the LT1 was making 300 horsepower and 335 pounds of torque, enough to give the Corvette low 13-second quarter mile times, yet it could still pull down 25 MPG on the highway. It starts instantly, idles with enough of a lope to let you know there’s some serious horsepower under the hood, and pulls hard at virtually any speed. Thanks to the breathing improvements that the LT1 received, it doesn’t run out of breath at high-RPM like the L98 did, and the sound is one of the most melodious in all of the automotive kingdom.
In this roadster, the LT1 is backed by GM’s reliable and quick-shifting 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission, which makes this perhaps the ultimate point-and-shoot machine. The C4’s fully-independent suspension was highly refined by 1996, and the transverse leaf springs were compliant enough to offer a supple ride without sacrificing handling. Of course, some of the credit must go to the tires, which are the original Goodyear GS-C performance radials and true state-of-the-art in 1996. Always famous for its braking performance, the 4-wheel discs are augmented by standard ABS, and deliver powerful stops and virtually zero fade, even under track use, should that be your intention.
If you’ve been watching the Corvette market, you know that prices on the late C4s like this 1996 convertible are on the move. They long ago stopped being mere used cars, and have crossed over into the realm of true collectables. This one, with just over 14,000 original miles, carries all of its factory-issued equipment, including the original tires, belts, hoses, and brake pads, making it a time-capsule for preservation class judging at the highest levels. Or perhaps you’re just looking for the cleanest C4 you can find, and this one certainly qualifies—I don’t even think it has ever seen the rain. Today, as when new, the C4 Corvette represents tremendous performance for not a lot of money, and we’ve never seen one nicer than this.
For more information and photos, please visit www.VintageMotorCarsUSA.com.