Two Desirable C4 Corvettes: Which is Better?
The fourth iteration of Chevrolet’s Corvette – more widely referred to as the C4 by fanatics – was manufactured within a spectrum of model years from 1984 through 1996. This video from Retro Cars Forever contrasts two of the more powerful types of this Car: The ZR-1 and the ’96 model with the LT4 engine.
The ZR-1 – take note that the current versions do not have the same hyphenation – was a highly advanced automobile compared to its contemporaries. At the time, General Motors owned Lotus, thus requesting from them the making of an eight-cylinder motor for this elevated model. The final outcome was a 5.7-liter V8 featuring dual-overhead cams for each group of cylinders – a drastic shift from the typical overhead valves and pushrods found in many other Corvette engines.
The Lotus-enhanced V8 released with 375 horsepower, growing to 405 horses with the ’93 model. Its maximum rotation was reached at 7,200 RPM, a higher speed than that of the Ferrari 348’s 3.4-liter engine which produced 320 hp and capped out at 7,200 revs.
The street-driven C4 was constantly powered by the 5.7-liter V8, though Chevrolet advanced it on numerous occasions across the production line. 1996 marked the finishing of the fourth-generation Corvette, but Chevy made a decision to introduce the new LT4 motor as an extra. Per manufacturer details, it generated 330 hp. In a video featuring Brad Hansen, it’s implied that this force might be lower than the exact amount, with dynamometer tests setting the number somewhere in between 350 and 360 hp.
Retro Cars Forever does realistic 0-60 mph acceleration tests with both vehicles carrying two people inside. The C4 outfitted with the LT4 achieves a maximum time of 6.78 seconds, while the ZR-1s superior sprint clocks in at 6.46 seconds.
The LT4 stands out as a vehicle that you’d want to drive on a daily basis. This particular engine is an advanced version of the renowned Chevy small-block V8, thus making repairs simpler than that of the ZR-1’s more uncommon motor.
Notably, the ZR-1 boasts an exclusive body design, featuring doors that widen out to the broader fenders. In the event of harm, locating substitution pieces will be more intricate than with a C4, which possesses a much more general exterior.
Which one you decide to take home is up to you! Both of these Corvettes are estimated around $25,000 in their current condition. Although the more advanced ZR-1s can reach higher prices, as well as the LT4-fitted Grand Sport. Individuals with a more limited budget can explore at the earlier lower out-put models which are cheaper, as acknowledged by the Hagerty Insurance coverage. So ultimately, the choice of which one to get is entirely up to you!
