‘90 C4 Convertible: 31k Miles, Factory Hardtop
Original survivor blends the earlier C4 exterior with the later C4 interior features
I like the look of this triple black ‘90 convertible with a factory hardtop and the ZF six-speed manual transmission. Although it’s an older car, this C4 seems to have been well cared for and the paint still shines brightly.
This 35-year-old survivor-grade C4 has apparently been pampered its entire life with garage storage and regular servicing and is offered for $18,500 in the Seattle area.
The low mileage and excellent condition probably warrant a higher asking price, but unfortunately the asking price is encroaching on C5/C6 territory and many buyers might opt for one of those better-performing models for only slightly more money.
The 1990 model was unique in that it was the final year in the C4 run for the “salad spinner” wheels and round taillights and the first year for the redesigned instrument panel cluster and the ZF manual transmission.
I personally like the later fourth-generation Corvettes (I had a ‘93 coupe a few years ago that I really liked) and there are many aspects of the C4s that remind me of the C2s and C3s that I owned in years past. I think they are under-appreciated and better cars than they get credit for. With the six-speed manual and hardtop, I think this C4 is one of the more desirable ones that I’ve seen.
The seller claims that this C4 still runs and drives like new and while it’s hard to accurately judge condition from photos, the car seems to be in excellent condition.
The vinyl interior shows no major signs of damage or excessive wear. I see no obvious damage to the cabin, and the seats look like they’re in generally good condition. I’m wondering if this car has been stored primarily with the rare factory hardtop in place; if so, that might explain the nice condition of the vinyl seat surfaces.
With a 245-horsepower tuned port injection L98 V8 engine, it’s clear that this Corvette can’t match the performance of later generations, or even the 1991-1996 C4s that put out 300 horsepower. But that being said, this Corvette in 1990 was capable of delivering levels of performance that put it among the top sports and GT cars of the era. And make no mistake - this car can still provide plenty of thrills on the open road, especially with the six-speed manual transmission.
This car (and the entire fourth generation in general) offers a lot of fun and performance for very little money. Perhaps someday this generation will be appreciated as a significant technical step in the evolution of the Corvette.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/seattle-1990-corvette/7855680120.html