1983 Chevrolet Corvette C4 Coupe Photos, engines & full specs

After 15 years, the Corvette C3 deserved an honorable retirement and was replaced by the fourth generation of this nameplate, a car that rocked the sports car world.

The C4’s styling and engineering started from a blank sheet of paper. It was designed by a team led by Dave McLellan, who took over the Corvette department from Zora Arkus-Duntov in 1975. With the Malaise Era gone and the horsepower race on, the American sports car had to prove its worthiness and slam the door on European manufacturers such as Ferrari and Porsche. It was a challenging task, but the team mastered it. Furthermore, it was the beginning of the ‘80s, and many outdated rules were already gone, such as the one stating that the headlamps had to be round. Still, a few ideas were carried over on the C4 Corvette, such as the pop-up headlights, the fiberglass bodywork, and the front-engine RWD construction.

McLellan penned the car with a narrow front end where the bumper sported the turn signals and the parking lights flanking the license plate holder. To comply with newer safety regulations, the C4 also featured an additional set of blinkers on the bumper’s sides. Above it, Chevrolet placed the retractable headlights, which, unlike on the C3, featured a single headlamp, not twin-round ones. On the hood, the automaker installed the famous Corvette unique badge with two flags.

From its profile, the low nose and the long hood followed the general idea of a classic sports car. Its panoramic windshield was raked even more than on the C3, but it was slightly taller, providing better headroom. On the front fenders, the C4 sported twin louvers, a design element inspired by the short-lived C2. To comply with U.S. regulations, Chevrolet installed flush door handles on the sides instead of on the upper edge of the doors. The car’s cabin featured a vertical B-pillar, while behind it was a panoramic rear window. This element continued the styling line of the Corvette C2 and the latest versions of the C3. Finally, at the back, on the rear fascia, the automaker installed two round taillights on each side. Like on the C3, the rear window didn’t open.

Inside, Chevrolet installed high-bolstered sports seats that could keep their occupants in place during high-speed cornering maneuvers. The automaker installed a tall center console that sported the buttons for the power windows, the gear stick, and an ashtray. On the center stack, the automaker placed the HVAC control panel and the stereo. Fronting the driver was a rectangular-looking instrument cluster and a two-spoke steering wheel.

Under its skin, the C4 featured a completely new platform developed especially for the Corvette, which featured independent suspension in all corners. Surprisingly, since the engineering team considered the transverse leaf springs a suitable solution, it kept it. Under the hood, GM installed a range of V8 engines paired with either a four-speed manual or a four- and six-speed automatic.