Earlier in this blog I have an entry on the C-3 series production concerning the number of automatic vs. manual transmissions. While I have always thought the C-4 series would bear out in favor a stronger preference for automatics vs. manuals, I have to admit I was a bit surprised by the numbers. Of the 366,082 C-4 Corvettes produced during the second longest series run in Corvette history, a respectable 77,405 cars were manual transmission equipped or 21.1% of the production total. This of course includes all the ZR-1’s produced from 1990-1995 (which required the manual gearbox). Here is the breakdown year by year:
1984—–51,447 coupes………………6,443 manual transmission equipped. This of course was the new 4 speed with 3 overdrive gears or the 4+3 as it is known.
1985—–39,720 coupes………………9,576 manual transmission equipped. This was a pretty respectable percentage of the total production.
1986—–33,109 coupes and convertibles. With the return of the convertible the Corvette was chosen again to pace the Indianapolis 500 and the manual transmission was installed in 6,835 of the production run.
1987—–30,632 coupes and convertibles……….4,229 manual transmission equipped.
1988—–22,789 coupes and convertibles……….4,282 manual transmission equipped.
1989—–26,412 coupes and convertibles……….4,113 manual transmission equipped, the first year for the new ZF 6 speed.
1990—–26,646 coupes and convertibles of which 3,049 coupes were ZR-1 optioned and 8,100 manual transmission equipped Corvettes were produced. The interior received a new wrap around dash and the introduction of a functional glove compartment on the passenger’s side. This was the last year for the kamm style rear end-ZR-1 and the Corvette rear bumpers were more rounded.
1991—–20,639 coupes and convertibles of which 2,044 were ZR-1’s and the manual transmission total was 5,875. Front and rear fascias received an updated look and were more rounded.
1992—–20,479 coupes and convertibles. The ZR-1 optioned cars fell to 502 and the manual transmission equipped total was 5,487.
1993—–21.590 coupes and convertibles. There were 5,330 manual transmission equipped Corvettes and the ZR-1 option again fell to only 448. This was the 40th anniversary of Corvette and a special all ruby colored paint scheme was offered with ruby red interior. The ZR-1 was also included this trim. There were low numbers of manual transmissions and ZR-1 production for this year. It is my belief that one of the soon to be desired collector Corvettes will be the 40th anniversary edition ZR-1.
1994—–23,330 coupes and convertibles…………..6,012 manual transmission equipped. The ZR-1 was stuck at 448 units, the sane total as last year and the same would continue for 1995.
1995—–20,742 coupes and convertibles…………..4,784 manual transmission equipped, the swan song year for the ZR-1.
1996—–21,536 coupes and convertibles…………..6,359 manual transmission equipped. This was the final year of C-4 production and Chevrolet offered two special editions. The ‘Grand Sport’ replica was available in both coupe and convertible with an admiral blue exterior and red hash stripes on the left fender. A bright red interior also adorned a lot of these cars although other interior color choices were available. This package required the LT-4 coupled to the six speed manual gear box. The other ’special’ was the collector edition sebring silver with your choice of interior, body style and transmission/engine. On a side note: if you opted for the LT-4 in any 1996 Corvette, you had to order the manual transmission. Well, that’s my report on the C-4 series transmission production. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed doing the research.

A technological tour de force, that is how the all new, built “from the ground up” 1984 Corvette was heralded. Indeed, a totally new design with only subtle hints at Corvettes of the past but enough to make sure everyone knew this was a Corvette. Consider if you will, that after a brief production run of 47 “mules” for 1983, (the only known surviving example is on display at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky) it was determined to skip the 1983 designation and go right to the 1984 model.
Production started in march of 1983 and adding in the few additional months, 1984 comes in at the second highest total production (behind 1979) at 51,537 units sold, all coupes. For a starting price of $21,800.00 the buyer was treated to a very nice list of standard and optional features and when you think about it, 21.8 was less than the previous generation’s closeout model (the collector edition) which retailed for $22,537.00 (base-but only a few options were available). So when you get down to it, the all new Corvette was a bargain compared to the 14 year old design of the previous series and even the new chassis design superseded a design that stretched back to 1963. 1984 saw a new manual gearbox return -the 4+3 developed by Doug Nash, but the automatic transmission dominated the C-4 series. Of course, the ZF-6 speed manual introduced later proved very popular but no where near the popularity level of the automatic. Now, the early C-4’s are absolute bargains as the resale values are low. That’s not to say that sometime in the future these cars may see a rebound as the “nostalgic” value kicks in. For 1984, technical gadgets were plentiful and bemoaned by a lot of buyers. These included the digital dash (hard to read in bright sunlight) and the passenger dash pad (“loaf of bread”). Most felt a functional glove compartment should have occupied that space and that came to fruition later in the C-4 run (1990). The Corvette has always been considered a bargain in high performance machinery and the 1984 is no exception, especially today given the low to moderate resale values. If you are in the market, an early C-4 series is definitely worth a look.

A 12 year run from 1984 through 1996 produced some very nice model Corvettes.  Now, the 1984’s are often maligned and current resale values are low but that is not to diminish the car for enjoyment and roadability. Of course, some of the stellar models in this series are:

1986 corvette was chosen to pace the Indy 500.

1988–35th anniversary edition— all white and if you can find a manual shifter you have a very low production model.

1990 the ZR-1 debuted as well as the new interior which wrapped around the driver and put a functional glove compartment back on the passenger side.

1993 the 40th anniversary ruby red edition available in all body styles coupe, convertible and ZR-1!!  A ruby Z is definitely a collectible car today.

1995 again selected to pace the Indy 500 and 527 replica pace cars were produced, all automatics.

1996 saw a grand sport edition ‘tribute’ car as well as a silver “collector edition” to close out the series run.

The C-4’s are very nice driving, comfortable and technically advanced machines providing great value for the dollar, and very good fuel economy.  These cars are worthy of a drive and look if you are in the market for a sporty car like the corvette.