| Chevrolet's brawny plastic-bodied two-seater has | | | | new performance cars. Best of all, you can find |
| long been a dream machine for countless | | | | loads of good C4s practically anywhere in the U.S. |
| enthusiasts. Today, that dream is more in reach | | | | for less than $10,000.When shopping for a C4, it's |
| than ever. The fourth generation or "C4" version | | | | best to look for as late a model as you can, to |
| of these cars are absolute steals on used-car | | | | take advantage of the many refinements the |
| lots.These potent performers made their debut | | | | design received over the years. The most |
| for 1984, replacing the soft, boulevardier 1968-82 | | | | desirable cars are the 1992 and later ones. |
| "Shark" design. With vastly improved | | | | Besides having considerably more power, their |
| aerodynamics and extensive use of aluminum in | | | | softer styling is less 1980s "high-tech" and thus |
| its construction, the C4 was enormously more | | | | doesn't look as dated at this point.Early C4 coupes |
| capable than its predecessor.Throughout the C4's | | | | (1984-91) show up by the truckload for less than |
| long production run, practically every model year | | | | eight grand, with a fair number of them listing for |
| brought significant improvements, including revised | | | | under $5000. But realistically, you should expect to |
| suspension, higher-quality interiors, and new | | | | pay $6000 or more for a decent one. Scrounge |
| electronic performance aids. Horsepower for 1984 | | | | up at least another thousand or two on top of |
| was a somewhat tame 205, but it went up by 25 | | | | that if you have your heart set on a good |
| hp the next year and continued to steadily climb. | | | | 1992-96. As for ZR-1s, forget about 'em -- they |
| A convertible was introduced for 1986, and the | | | | currently sell for about $25-$40k.Convertibles |
| following year horsepower reached 240.For 1990, | | | | command about a 30-percent premium over |
| the C4 got a redesigned dashboard, followed a | | | | equivalent coupes, which basically puts the |
| year later with an exterior facelift that included | | | | 1992-96 ragtops out of our $10k Budget-Speed |
| more rounded front- and rear-fascia styling. For | | | | cap. Earlier convertibles, however, are still within |
| 1992, horsepower jumped to 300. From 1990 to | | | | range.So while the performance-car world is |
| 1995, Chevrolet offered the limited-production | | | | drooling over new C6s or shopping for used C5s, |
| ZR-1, which was powered by a 375-405hp | | | | these cars' fine predecessor is going for |
| Lotus-designed V8. Output of the regular | | | | clearance-sale prices. And that's great for you -- a |
| small-block-V8 C4 peaked in 1996, at an optional | | | | good used C4 can offer more thrills per dollar |
| 330hp.With strong V8 power and exceptional | | | | than most performance cars, making them well |
| handling, any C4 is a tremendously potent | | | | worth a look. |
| machine, even against some of today's pricier | | | | |