6 rad special-edition Corvettes of the ’80s and ’90s

To this day, I cannot understand why the C4 Corvette (1984–96) is so underappreciated. Actually, no, that’s a lie, and I apologize for misleading you, dear reader.

The C4 was unpopular relative to the more approachable Camaro, and its level of performance wasn’t necessarily appreciated by the Porsche crowd, who sought prestige and Germanic build quality. Factor in the “boring” modernist styling, and the C4 Corvette found itself in a tough spot right from the get-go.

But that’s not to say there aren’t some real gems in the C4 lineup, specifically among the special-edition cars. These six beauties have the hallmarks of steady collectibles, thanks to their limited production numbers and rare trim items.

Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments if we missed anything!

1993 Corvette ZR-1 40th Anniversary Edition

A 40th birthday party usually means you are “over the hill,” but is that even possible when you’re the King of the Hill?

Keep in mind that the Corvette’s 40th Anniversary was also the same year that the King received a 30-horsepower boost, bringing the output of that fabled dual-overhead cam V-8 to a grand total of 405 ponies.

Getting that power boost with a monochrome ruby red trim package made the 40th Anniversary Edition (AE) that much more appealing; carpets and leather seats matched the exterior paint, ditto the wheel’s center caps. The special “40” emblems on the clamshell and headrests were thin and understated, utilizing the Corvette’s round logo as the zero in “40.

Like Mercedes with its modern-day AMG Black Series, Chevy even splurged for a unique ZR-1 clamshell emblem to ensure everyone knew this wasn’t a base model.

While the 40th Anniversary Edition may not be on the top of your list, remember that it could be ordered with a wide-body kit and 405 ponies under its ruby red clamshell. Celebrate in style while putting the hurt on Ferrari Testarossas!

1996 Corvette Grand Sport

I reckon more than a few Corvette fans believe the Grand Sport should take the top spot on this list. Fair enough, as I certainly do appreciate the mandatory six-speed manual paired with the LT-4 motor, a mill sporting significant changes over the already impressive LT-1 small-block. Chevrolet took great pains to make a good transitional motor between the ZR-1’s LT-5 and the forthcoming LS-1 for the C5 Corvette.

The Arctic White stripe over the Admiral Blue body ensured that the Grand Sport looked like no other C4, and the red hash marks over the front wheels complete the retro C2 Grand Sport look. Throw in the optional Torch Red leather interior, and you’ve got yourself a truly exceptional special-edition C4.

Last time I checked, these limited-production Grand Sports (1000 built) can sometimes fetch more than a ZR-1. I reckon it’s the bold look of the Grand Sport livery combined with the fender flares used to house the ZR-1 style wheels. There’s nothing subtle about the Grand Sport, and that might be the best thing about it.

1988 Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition

The early C4 body (1984–90) was one of the more iconic cars of the 1980s, as it blurred the lines between American muscle and sophisticated European sports car. That sleek, angular styling certainly fit the bill for shows like Miami Vice. While the drug kingpins may have preferred Italian exotics, the C4 was adequate transportation for a mid-level employee (or his accountant). And why not get one in the same color as the, ahem, product that was making Miami so wealthy?

The 1988 Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition (AE), by color palette alone, might be the most period-correct C4. The hallmark black rub-strip around the body had a fresh coat of powder, as did the wheels. Before the Acura NSX made it cool, the 35th AE painted the roof black to let the white body truly shine. Seats, center armrest, and door cards got snowed in, but the most shocking white-out of all was the steering wheel atop a black steering column.

Much like the 40th Anniversary Edition, the earlier 35th AE utilized the Corvette’s round emblem, creating a tri-hoop affair with circles dedicated to the original Corvette logo. The emblem was seen on the clamshell, the headrests, and the center console.

It’s a good look: How can you go wrong with black and white?

1986 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car

Perhaps the black-and-white treatment is a bit too basic, even for the modernist contours of a C4 Corvette. In that case, how about a yellow convertible with a graphite leather interior? And understated bodyside decals proclaiming this car paced the field at the 1986 Indianapolis 500?

Consider the fact that 1986 was the first year of the C4 Corvette convertible, a body style missing since its departure after 1975. A new yellow color was introduced to accompany the droptop model. Naturally, both new features were applied to the car that actually paced the 1986 Indy 500. But, no matter the color, all 1986 Corvette convertibles were technically pace-car replicas and came with the same emblems and door decals. Perhaps that’s a disappointment for some, but how great is it to celebrate the return of the droptop Vette with a special edition for everyone’s taste?

1995 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car

And then there’s the complete opposite. For the 1995 running of the Indy 500, the Corvette donned a radical Pace Car (RPO Z4Z) paint scheme of purple over white, with a red stripe/unfurling flag decal to accentuate the scheme.

Like the 1986 model, every ’95 Pace Car was a convertible—although this time each one sported a white top. A set of ZR-1-style five-spoke wheels rounded out the package, while interior differences were limited to a pair of bucket seats finished in black/purple leather with Indy 500 graphics embroidered on the headrests. The ’95 Pace Car is quite rare (527 made) and its design was a clear influence on the 1998 C5 Corvette Pace Car that would follow.

1986 Malcolm Konner Commemorative Edition

In case you didn’t know just how valuable a good dealership is to an automaker, witness the Malcolm Konner Chevrolet franchise and its history as the world’s largest Corvette dealer. Not only was this franchise known for moving Chevy’s metal fiberglass, but it also took a majority stake in the investment needed to create the Corvette Challenge series. That race series began out of necessity because the C4 was just too darn good for the Porsche 944 Turbos and the others in SCCA’s Showroom Stock GT class.

As a token of its appreciation, Chevrolet probably felt obligated to let Konner and Co. drum up its very own special-edition C4.

The vehicle itself wasn’t terribly unique: RPO code 4001ZA was a modest $500 package that brought you a unique silver-and-black paint treatment, decals within the exterior emblems, and a gold plaque on the console. Just 50 examples were made—20 coupes with the Doug Nash 4+3 manual transmission and 30 coupes with the automatic gearbox.

While the Malcolm Konner Commemorative Edition is at the bottom of our list, there’s one more example that might be the best C4 Corvette of all time: The very special unit that came equipped with RPO code B2K …

(Dis)honorable mention: 1987 Callaway Twin Turbo

It’s difficult to add the Callaway Twin Turbo to this list with a straight face, as it was far, far more than a “mere” special edition. Sure, you could order it straight from a Chevy dealership using RPO order code B2K, and it sported unique trim that ensured you’d never confuse it for any other C4 Corvette. But even mentioning the Callaway in this list feels … dishonorable?

That’s because the Callaway Corvette sported twin turbochargers, twin intercoolers, 382 horsepower, and a stunning 562 lb-ft of neck-snapping torque. It was 49-state legal, came with a warranty, and the upgrades were brilliantly packaged to fit within the C4’s low-slung hood and sports-car undercarriage.

More to the point, the Callaway Twin Turbo wasn’t a special edition: It was the ultimate edition of the C4 Corvette.

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