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Year 1955 Manual Transmissions 75 Units
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Year 1964 327 ci / 300 HP 10,471 Units
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Year 1996 Coupe base Price $ 36,785
Before Buying Your C4 Advice and Tips
Since C4 production stopped in 1996, any purchase will be of a used automobile, so assume its condition is suspect. Because of the Corvette's mystique and the C4's drop-dead good looks, it's easy to get caught up in the moment. Because of this, some unfortunate C4 purchasers have later found themselves owners of fiberglass basket cases. Although it isn't possible to list everything you should check, here are some general guidelines to follow when purchasing one of these wonderful automobiles.
Records
The very best defense against buying a carload of trouble is to ask for its service records. If the automobile only had one or two owners, you may be able to get its entire history. If there has been a whole host of owners, the last owner should have kept the receipts from the present service history. If he or she cannot or will not produce them, it is a red flag.

All GM dealers conduct their business via computers and if you approach a dealer to do a pre-purchase inspection, you may be able to persuade them to print out any records related to the VIN number. Although these records are purged from time to time, it is worth asking.

If the seller will disclose the shop or dealer who maintained it under their ownership, you can approach them with your questions. If no records or leads are available, you must thoroughly check everything on the vehicle. Most sellers will seldom pick up costs of a pre-purchase inspection. But lets be optimistic and assume you have found a low to moderate mileage C4 that appears to be in good shape.
Appearance
Every dealer and person selling an automobile knows it is the appearance that first gets a potential buyer's attention. If the visual pleasure is great enough, the buyer can be rendered unconscious to the defects present in the automobile. This is particularly true in the case of the Corvette. Beware of this fatal mistake!
What to look for
Normally, a savvy seller will have the automobile "detailed" prior to placing it on the market. A detail shop will steam clean the engine compartment to make the motor appear fresh and well cared for. They also will apply wax based interior products to the dash, seats and plastic trim. The shop thoroughly washes and waxes the exterior with a high gloss wax and applies protectant to the tires. Many detailers use products to hide swirl marks and minor scratches in the finish making the appearance as pleasing as possible.

A prospective buyer should look at the exterior finish in bright sunlight. Although the vehicle has been detailed, you then should be able to pick up scratches and paint problems hidden under the wax. Another detailer's trick is to apply Armor All to the actual paint. This technique hides problems with chipped clear coat and will make the front of the C4 in particular---where stone chips take a heavy toll---look better than it actually is. Also look carefully at the entire weather stripping on the car. It is almost certain that some of it will be cracked. If all the strips are in bad shape, it will cost several hundred dollars to replace them, even when you do the work.