The 1989 Corvette was launched at a time when Chevrolet was using the slogan “The Heartbeat of America.” It was a vibrant time in pop culture, with innovation spawning things like the Nintendo Game Boy, “The Simpsons” TV show, and “The Little Mermaid” in movie theaters.
One magazine advertisement from the era said, “The mark of a true champion is that he never stops striving for improvement. Over the years, Corvette’s experience on the track has led to improvements in braking, suspension, and chassis while running up an impressive string of victories. So not only have we learned some lessons, but we also taught some to the competition.”
Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1989 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. The car is being offered by a dealer in Norwell, Massachusetts, and the auction will end Wednesday.
There’s a lot to love with this ‘Vette. The color combo – black over red leather – is eye-catching, and aside from an aftermarket Flowmaster dual exhaust system, the car is unmodified. Best of all, it has accrued just 46,862 miles since new. The window sticker shows the car’s original delivery to Cranberry Chevrolet in Wareham, Massachusetts and a retail price of $39,371. The CARFAX report shows that the car has stayed in Massachusetts its entire life (and it has remained accident-free all the while).
Manufactured in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for model years 1984 through 1996, the fourth-generation Corvette was originally designed by Jerry Palmer. Palmer had been appointed as chief designer for Chevrolet a decade prior, in 1974. Aside from his involvement in designing the C4 Corvette, he also had his hand in the 1982 Camaro and the 1987 Beretta – both of which have become enthusiast favorites today. In 2000, Palmer had the honor of becoming inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame.
Under the hood of this C4 is a 5.7-liter L98 V8 with what Chevrolet referred to as “tuned port fuel injection.” The engine was rated at 245 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque, and a fully synchronized ZF six-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels. One thing that stood out to me from the car’s spec sheet is that it has relatively good fuel economy for a performance car: The window sticker shows 16 city mpg and 25 highway mpg.
Within the past year, the car received replacement of the mass air flow sensor, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, coolant, and battery. It is sorted and ready for some top-down cruising as soon as weather allows.
Own an icon that was once the Heartbeat of America. Place a bid today!
The auction for this 1989 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible will end Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (MST)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
Source: www.classiccars.com