What to look for

CABIN FEVER

Interior trim tends to last well. After the first three years, when cloth was an option, all seats were trimmed in leather, which can wear, but letting in fresh sections or retrimming altogether isn’t especially costly. The plastic dash surround is tough and is unlikely to be cracked or damaged, even after years of exposure to the sun.

RAMP UP YOUR ASSESSMENTS

The Corvette features a semi-spaceframe galvanised steel chassis (dubbed by GM as a Uniframe) onto which a plastic bodyshell is bonded. The body and chassis are tough; corrosion is only likely in the latter if the car has been in a shunt. As a result, you must put the car onto a ramp before buying.

LONG-LASTING RUNNING GEAR

The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and five-link suspension system at the rear are incredibly durable, although everything is still available. The brakes are also trouble-free; remember that they were uprated in 1988.

ELECTRICAL GREMLINS

As with many GRP-bodied cars, earthing problems aren’t uncommon, but it’s not usually difficult to fix. The exception to this is the Opti Spark electronic ignition (fitted between 1992 and 1996), which suffers from damp, leading to poor starting and rough running. The only solution is to replace it, for which you’ll need to budget £700. Until 1990 the dashboard was digital and these can fail. They can be revived in the US, but expect to pay £500.

DROP TOP TIPS

Make sure that a convertible’s roof is unworn. New soft-tops are available for £300, but by the time you’ve replaced all of the seals and fittings the parts bill will be close to £1000. All coupés came with a lift-out singlepiece roof panel, in either solid body colour or smoked translucent acrylic.

SHIFTING SMOOTHLY

Until 1988 the manual option was a four-speed with overdrive, with a ZF five-speed taking over in 1989. The automatic transmissions are as tough as the manuals and they suit the Corvette’s easy touring nature. From 1994 the auto featured electronic control, which helps the transmission to shift more smoothly.

KNOW YOUR POWERPLANTS

The V8 is incredibly strong and will run for 400,000 miles as long as it’s looked after. While the regular L98 engine features overhead valves, the Lotus-tuned V8 in the ZR-1 features four valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts to give up to 405bhp, depending on the model year. The regular V8 was rated at between 205bhp and 330bhp; the 300bhp unit that arrived in 1992 (designated LT1) is the one to go for. The only likely problem with the engine is an oil leak on cars built between 1986 and 1991; lubricant can leak from the cylinder head and intake manifold. But if this is fixed properly by a specialist, chances are that it’ll never be a problem again.

STANDARD IS KING

Corrosion is likely to be crash damage-related, although this is also rare according to Tom Falconer. However, you should still look for evidence of the chassis having been in an impact and check the panel fit; these cars were built by hand and the shutlines should be tight and uniformly even. Repainting GRP is a specialist job, so look for evidence of paint sinkage, which points to scrapes having been patched up. While some owners won’t care about originality too much, many Corvette fans don’t want a car that’s been messed about with. Colour changes can be a deal-breaker for some buyers, and it’s the same for significant modifications and deviations from the factory spec.