Chevrolet Debuts the New 1987 Corvette on October, 9, 1986

by Scott · Published October 9, 2014 · Updated April 10, 2026

The Gradual Refining Process of the C4 Corvette Is Underway

Dateline: 10.9.14 – Twenty-eight years ago today, Chevrolet released the new 1987 Corvette to the buying public. A look back at the 1987 Corvette fills me with irony. Performance was back to ‘60s levels. Fuel injection was standard (yes, a Fuelie!). The car had a top speed of 150-MPH, making it the fastest car in America in 1987. Kim Baker’s Corvette was kicking butt in the SCCA Showroom Stock racing series. And Corvette was one of Car and Driver’s Top Ten Cars of 1987. That’s not too shabby! Especially considering the Corvette’s dark disco days of the late ‘70s.

Yet today, 1987 Corvettes are some of the most unwanted used Corvettes on the market. Check out sites, such as BringATrailer.com. You’ll see many mid-‘80s Corvettes going for less than $10,000. Why is this? Simple – because since that time, Corvettes have gotten so progressively better! It doesn’t mean that there’s anything “wrong” or “bad” with the ‘80s Corvettes. (unless you can’t stand the square dash design), It’s just that Chevrolet did such a fine job of honing and refining the car; the new Vettes are just more desirable.

I covered the 1987 Corvette in my Illustrated Corvette Series No. 71 monthly column in the May 2003 issue of VETTE Magazine. Here’s the story copy. The article layout is below.

Illustrated Corvette Series No. 71 – 1987 Corvette “Return to Greatness”

The ’87 Corvette reestablished itself as America’s performance car. For over 15 years, Corvette was kicked around as an overweight has-been. You have to go back to the 1970-1/2 LT-1 and LS6 454 big-block to see performance figures like those of the ’87 Corvette. Although there was only a 5-hp increase in power, testers reported that it felt more like 25hp. With 0-60 mph times of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 152 mph, critics, the competition, and racers were beginning to notice.

Corvette Generational History

The 1984-1994 C4 Corvette Review: Engineering, Styling, Sales, and Legacy Story is now available.

The fuel-injected 350 engine only received two improvements. First, the old-style hydraulic lifters were replaced with racer-like roller valve lifters. And second, the spark plugs were relocated to the center of the combustion chambers. The overall performance of the ’87 Corvette was vastly improved with the new Z52 “sport package.”

1987-Corvette-1

For $470, the ’87 Corvette was treated to most of the parts used on the Z51 package, but with the softer, stock suspension. Z52 extras included a radiator boost fan, Bilstein shocks, an engine oil-cooler, and a heavy-duty radiator. Also, 16 x 9.5-inch wheels, faster 13:1 steering, and a larger front stabilizer bar. The Z52 option was available with the coupe and convertible, manual or automatic transmission.

The Duntov tradition continues on

And in keeping with the Duntov tradition of offering optional suspension packages, Corvette Chief Engineer Dave McLellan and his team offered the Z51 option. Z51 included all of the aforementioned, plus the stiffer suspension, as well as the extra structural stiffening from the convertible. The $795 Z51 option formed the basis of the SCCA Showroom Stock competition Corvettes that went undefeated for four years straight!

Visual changes on the ’87 Corvette are hard to spot. On the wheels, there was a paint change to argent gray on the center section and radial slots. Interior changes included relocating the “overdrive engage” light to the tachometer display area. Also, a lighted vanity mirror, heated side-view mirrors, a rear window defogger, six-way power seats, and standard electronic air-conditioning. Two anti-theft devices were now used; major parts received I.D. tags. If not properly started, the fuel pump was disengaged. The base price of a coupe was $27,999.

Successful racing is what has always made the Corvette a performance icon. The SCCA Showroom Stock Corvettes were so fast that Porsche bought two ’87 Corvettes to dissect to try to learn why their 944 racers couldn’t keep up with them. Revenge can be sweet! – Scott

Z_Scott_The_Dude_Cartoon