C4
The fourth generation was introduced at the close of 1982 production as a 1984 model and ended in 1996, meaning that there’s no such thing as a “1983 Corvette”. The C4 corvette is known for its boxy look. In the coupe it also is the first Corvette to have a glass hatchback (except for the 1982 Collector’s Edition) for better storage access. It also had all new brakes with aluminum calipers. The Corvette C4 came standard with an electronic dashboard with digital liquid crystal displays for speed and RPM. The C4 was a complete redesign of the previous generation, and the emphasis was on handling. The C4 Corvette was proclaimed the best handling car ever when it was released. This handling came at the expense of a stiff, unforgiving ride. The unit-body frame used in the C4 was also prone to rattles and squeaks due to frame flexing. Also due to the external unit-body frame, the door sills were quite deep and entry and exit were impeded. Lastly, the bumper did not meet federal bumper regulations.
ZR-1
Corvette ZR-1
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Corvette ZR-1
In 1990, the Corvette ZR-1 was introduced as a limited-production, high-performance version of the standard Corvette, which contained a special 32-valve overhead cam LT5 engine designed by Lotus Engineering and built by Mercury Marine. One of the fastest street cars ever built up to that time, the final year of ZR-1 production was 1995.
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Grand Sport
1996 Corvette Grand Sport
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1996 Corvette Grand Sport
Chevrolet released the Grand Sport (GS) version in 1996 to mark the end of production of the C4 Corvette. The Grand Sport moniker is a nod to the original Grand Sport model produced in 1963. A total of 1,000 GS Corvettes were produced, 810 as coupes and 190 as convertibles. The 1996 GS came with the high-performance LT4 engine, producing 330 hp (246 kW) and 340 ft·lbf (461 N·m) of torque. The Grand Sport came only in Admiral Blue with a white stripe down the middle, and black wheels and red stripes on the front left wheel arch added to its distinctive look.