Vintage Corvette for the Price of a Used Civic
With circa 9,000 miles on the odometer, this particular 1985 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 is a lot of car for not a lot of money. Listed on Bring a Trailer, this could be your ticket to the affordable Corvette dream. It’s a private party sale, and the potential buyer gets access to the owner’s manual, service records, the original window sticker, and a clean Michigan title.
Normally, cars of this vintage can be a bit of a money pit. However, the current owner, who took custody in 2015, spent a lot of money on maintenance and upkeep. You’ll find that in 2016, the Corvette saw its water pump and overdrive unit replaced, and a transmission leak repaired. Per BaT, the C4 Corvette’s freon-based air conditioning system was converted to use R134a refrigerant in 2022. During the same period, a brake flush was performed, and a concern surrounding the car’s malfunctioning master cylinder switch was also addressed.
Old, But Relevant
CarFax report shows no accident, and the C4 coupe, finished in GM Bright Red 81, looks to be in good shape. Other things of note include the turbine-style alloy wheels, removable painted roof panel, and the Z51 Performance Handling package. The latter adds an upgraded radiator, an auxiliary cooling fan, an engine oil cooler, and a heavy-duty suspension with Bilstein dampers.
Interior accoutrements feature a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a Delco-Bose sound system, an AM/FM/cassette stereo, cruise control, and an onboard computer. The LS9 V8, although a bit lacking by modern standards, puts out 230 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. Not huge numbers, but still a whole lot of fun. You get the excitement from rowing your own gears and sliding the tail out thanks to a Doug Nash “4+3” four-speed and a limited-slip rear end.
If cheap thrills were ever a thing in sports car land, this C4 Z51 sits near the top. It’s still a Corvette, but vintage. Current bid’s at $10,606, making it a fruity deal if you’re in the market for an ’80s Vette. The auction ends in five days, and it looks as though the bidding is already heating up.
