A SAFE VETTE

Reader’s 1987 Corvette convertible only comes out on sunny, rain-free days,

Jody Glaser: Wheels reader Occupation: Auto sales and leasing rep The Car: 1987 Corvette convertible

Do people today still ask: “What is your favourite car?”

Well, for me, as a teenager it was the Corvette, and after 66 years it’s still a car that is considered to be an American icon.

My first one was a blue 1971 Corvette Stingray with a T-top and a 454 c.i. V8 that ran very hot. I sold it in the early ’80s and it wasn’t until1995 that I got the urge to own another one.

Back then I was waiting for the weekly printed version of Auto Trader magazine to come out. One small picture in it never told a car’s real condition, so I was very pleased when I found our ’Vette at a small auto lot. It was a 1987 convertible.

There was no such thing as CarProof back then, but luckily this car was an accident-free, all-original vehicle with all the numbers matching. Although it had several previous owners, I am grateful they did not modify anything.

While GM had discontinued all convertibles until 1986, I really wanted the top-down experience and the ’87 Corvette came with the convertible option. A few years ago the top was starting to fade and showing wear, so a visit to Total Auto Glass and Sunroofs made my ’Vette look brand new again.

Imagine paying $905 for the Delco Bose cassette/radio sold that year. It is still an awesome unit with a retractable power antenna to match. Remember those?

The 350 c.i. 5.7-litre V8 engine for this model year had rolling lifters as a serious improvement, and it has proved to be trouble free. For many years my weeks were spent cleaning everything in sight to prepare for weekend show & shine events. This C4 class Corvette had lots of entries and my work paid off, with it mostly coming in first or second place in open-hood concours judging, the most demanding category.

In fact, a tie would be deter- mined by how much gas was in your tank or another trivial method.

One can only do this circuit for so long. Happily today the ’Vette only comes out on sunny, rain-free days — no puddles or dirty roads are allowed.

I guess that is what still makes it an occasion each time we go for a spin.

JODY GLASER PHOTOS When he wanted to get a convertible Corvette in 1995, Jody Glaser found his ’87 ’Vette in Auto Trader. Although it had several previous owners, the car was in great condition, no modifications, and all it needed a few years later was a new convertible top.

Leather sport seats with lumbar support make for a comfy ride.

The 1987 Corvette has a 5.7-litre V8 engine, featuring Chevrolet’s “Tuned-Port” fuel injection system.

The Corvette C4 (fourth generation) models came with an electronic dashboard instrument cluster, featuring digital liquid crystal graphic displays for speed, RPM and engine functions.