1992 Chevrolet Corvette

One of the longest running sports cars of all time, and what has become an icon of the American automotive industry, thanks largely to its constant evolution, changing with the times to stay on top!

The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after the type of small, manoeuvrable warship called a corvette.

The fourth generation Corvette was the first complete redesign of the Corvette since 1963. Production was to begin for the 1983 model year but quality issues and part delays resulted in only 43 prototypes for the 1983 model year being produced that were never sold. All of the 1983 prototypes were destroyed or serialized to 1984 except one with a white exterior, medium blue interior, 205hp V8, and 4-speed automatic transmission. After extensive testing and modifications were completed, it was initially retired as a display sitting in an external wall over the Bowling Green Assembly Plant's employee entrance. Later this only surviving 1983 prototype was removed, restored and is now on public display at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is still owned by GM. On February 12, 2014, it was nearly lost to a sinkhole which opened up under the museum. Eight Corvettes were lost.

Regular fourth generation production began on January 3, 1983; the 1984 model year and delivery to customers began in March 1983. The 1984 model carried over the 5.7L L83 slightly more powerful (by 5bhp) "Crossfire" V8 engine from the final 1982 third generation model. New chassis features were aluminium brake callipers and an all-aluminium suspension for weight savings and rigidity. The new one piece targa top had no centre reinforcement. A new electronic dashboard with digital liquid crystal displays for the speedometer and tachometer was standard. Beginning in 1985, the 230hp L98 engine with tuned port fuel injection became the standard engine.

September 1984 through 1988 Corvettes offered a Doug Nash designed "4+3" transmission – a 4-speed manual coupled to an automatic overdrive on the top three gears. It was designed to help the Corvette meet U.S. fuel economy standards. Since 1981 (when it was last offered), a manual transmission returned to the Corvette starting with production in late-1984. The transmission proved to be problematic and was replaced by a modern ZF 6-speed manual gearbox in 1989.

In 1986, the second Corvette Indy Pace Car was released. It was the first convertible Corvette since 1975. A Centre High Mounted Signal Light (a third centre brake light) was added in 1986 to comply with safety regulations. While the colour of the pace car used in the race was yellow, all 1986 convertibles also had an Indy 500 emblem mounted on the console, making any colour a "pace car edition". In 1987, the B2K twin-turbo option became available from the factory. The Callaway Corvette was a Regular Production Option (RPO B2K). The B2K option coexisted from 1990 to 1991 with the ZR-1 option, which then replaced it. Early B2Ks produced 345hp, while later versions boasted 450hp.

For the 1992 model year, the 300hp LT1 engine was introduced, an increase of 50hp over 1991's L98 engine. This engine featured reverse-flow cooling (the heads were cooled before the block), which allowed for a higher compression ratio of 10.5:1. A new distributor also made its début. Called "Optispark", the distributor was driven directly off the front of the camshaft and mounted in front of the timing cover, just above the crankshaft and harmonic balancer. Also new for 1992 was Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR), a form of traction control which utilized the Corvette's brakes, spark retard, and throttle close-down to prevent excessive rear wheel spin and possible loss of control. The traction control device could be switched off if desired.

The 1993 Corvette also marked the introduction of the Passive Keyless Entry System, making it the first GM car to feature it. Production of the ZR-1 ended in 1995, after 6,939 cars had been built. 1996 was the final year of C4 production, and featured special models and options, including the Grand Sport and Collector Edition, OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics), run flat tires, and the LT4 engine. The 330 bhp (246 kW) LT4 V8 was available only with a manual transmission, while all 300hp LT1 Corvettes used automatic transmissions.

Chevrolet released the Grand Sport (GS) version in 1996 to mark the end of production of the C4 Corvette. The Grand Sport moniker was a nod to the original Grand Sport model produced in 1963. A total of 1,000 GS Corvettes were produced, 810 as coupés and 190 as convertibles. The 1996 GS came with the high-performance LT4 V8 engine, producing 330hp. The Grand Sport came only in Admiral Blue with a white stripe down the middle, and black wheels and two red stripes on the front left wheel arch.

In total, 366,227 C4 Corvettes were constructed during its 12 year production, of which many still potter about the United States and other parts of the globe even today. Thirsty cars such as this don't often fly so well here in the UK unless you've got the money to back them up, and handling can be something of an issue due to our winding roads. Either way the plucky Corvette's of this 1980's generation still find their way into various amounts of fame, be they in movies or shows, though some don't make it. I seem to recall on one of Jeremy Clarkson's early videos in the mid-1990's that he had a less than stellar opinion of the C4 Corvette (much like any other American car he comes across), and thus chose to destroy a remote controlled one on a desert saltflat using a Helicopter Gunship armed with twin-mounted Miniguns.

Another popular place for these cars is in the High School parking lot apparently. According to several of my very good American friends, up until a few years ago you could pick these cars up 2nd hand for a song, with some teenagers going so far as to buy them as their first car after passing their driving test! Here in the UK we're only able to land ourselves a small hatchback like a Citroen C2 or a Ford Ka, yet in America you can land yourself first time around with a 300hp 80's sports car!

Should make you a hit with the ladies!