Is the 1986 Chevrolet C4 Corvette Z51 the MOST underrated sports car?
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- čas přidán 13. 01. 2024
- The Corvette is very personal to me. The C4 generation of the was a game changer for Chevrolet. On the outside you will discover a sleek shape with pop-up headlights, 16in wheels and quad-tip exhaust. On the inside you will be greeted by a red leather interior, LCD dash, Bose sound system and removable targa roof. Under the hood is a 5.7L V8 that is mated to a Doug Nash 4 +3 manual gearbox. Is the 1986 Chevrolet C4 Corvette Z51 the MOST underrated sports car?
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i wish cars today were more simplistic . low to the ground, just enough power to have fun but not get arrested or cause accidents, and affordable. and skip all the pointless electronics, just stick to physical buttons.
I totally agree with you
So you can't get in an accident in this car 🤣🤣🤣🤡
What about if you want to go to your work place, do you think you could do that with a lo to the ground car?
Agree
What’s “just enough power to have fun”
The C4 is seriously underrated. These mid 80's models had the coolest instrument panel ever. Excellent find, incredible condition for that car. Super clean. Great job getting all that info correct on Corvette history. I grew up around my dad's 92, and I got myself an 08. So I've done a lot of studying on the brand. When the stars align I'll hopefully be able to get a C8. We need more retro reviews!
Congratulations on your Corvette! You've gotten yourself a real gem!
That really means so much! Thank you
Glad you got this classic Chevrolet C4 Corvette on your channel bro
In 2002 I had a red 1988 Z51 corvette manual. It was my first, and it was awesome. In 2004 I bought a 1991 ZR-1. Today I have a 2016 Z06. All were great fun cars. I'm glad you got your old car back! Thanks Joe!
You have great taste! Thanks for letting me bring it to you!
Which one was your favorite?
@@brotherakuma Z06 for sure.
@@RaitisRides I can't find the link to your high school C4 video?? How do I get to it? Thanks!!
Wow! I love the Corvette C4! And it’s so cool that you bought this! Awesome choice!
I love my 1995 C4 6-speed. Such an underrated gem of a car. It might have to leave my life soon due to a recent addition to our family but I’ll forever be grateful that I got to experience it!
You are so very right!
I also have a 95 6spd z51… SERIOUSLY underrated car especially in terms of handling
In April i get a 89 6 speed. I love the digital dash so much and the round taillights so for me the 80s c4 was the best. And the car has the electrics seats where you can chance everything on the seats and it has the FX3 chassis (i hope its the right word. I'm from germany). The best think is it only has 17600 miles
The C4 is incredibly underrated and super affordable. The 0-60 and 1/4 times really aren't that bad today (of course not compared to other sports cars), but for the times they were crazy. One thing that is really noticeable in these older cars is how great visibility is. I'd love to pick one of these up, but I have an 86 IROC-Z to hold me over for now.
The C4, is the most underrated Vette and that's my favorite generation it was definitely ahead of it's time!
Thank you for this Raiti your best episode yet!
Congrats on finding such a nice example of teen Joe's ride.
Now go find an IROC-Z to race 😁
Now we are talking
Happy for you Joe. I fell in love with Corvettes when I saw C4 in 1990 for the first time(I came to USA in 90)
That’s so wonderful!
After the challenger I said man, all Joe is missing now is the corvette lol, so happy for you man!
You nailed it!
Proud 86 two toned grey stocked #c4 owner!!!!! My son and I love our car!!!!! Yessss I have my name on my plate as well 😁 ….I have videos up on mine.
Congrats Raiti! I’ve always loved the older vettes.
Thanks man!
@@RaitisRides no problem
You're gonna need a warehouse to house all your rides! Congrats on the 'Vette.
I think you may be right! 😂 Thanks man!
@RaitisRides I haven't seen your other video on the one you owned at 17 yet, but I bought an 84 in my senior year of high school. (2000) I worked from the time I was 14 and a half with a vette as the goal and got it for 8k cash on my 18th birthday
I was born in 1977, so my first real memories of seeing Corvettes are of the C4. The C4 is my favorite Corvette, and I would love to drive a C4, or maybe even own one.
I was 15 when the Tuned port injection was introduced and I remember the wow factor it gave everyone.
Good old days
I have never seen JR so passionate. I love hearing the excitement in your voice. Congratulations on the purchase.
I’ve owned my 86 Corvette pace car for nearly 37 years, nicest C4 in the country !
I owned one too how many times has your dash cluster burned out?
@@craigthescott5074 never still original !
@@JIMFED63 oh your lucky I think both my 85 and 86 burned out at least once. I specifically remember it was $500 back then to fix them..
@@craigthescott5074 I guess I’ve gotten lucky 😊
_Great news right here for you Joe. Been a Corvette aficionado since I was barely 20(the first three were C3s). Fast forward to my 30s when I could finally afford a brand new 1991 Corvette convertible, I was hooked on the fourth gens. Seven C4s later, I still love what the General did for the thirteen model-year run of a Corvette that in my eyes saved the car from the ultimate chopping block. I know folks think it was the C5 that did that(but seriously without the success of the 1984 to 1996 Corvettes, there would have been no C5, and what we see today as the ultimate American Muscle car in the C8)._
Congratulations Joe.....I owned a1985 C4.....a wonderful experience with that 4 + 2 manual. Thanks Joe.
I’m so glad that I could share it with you
"4+3"
Joe, congrats on the Vette. Thank you for a very tubular on throttle! Being Gen Z, it's very interesting learning about the past.
Thanks brother! I’m glad that I can share it with you
I drove an '88 Corvette for awhile it was a great car, the 245 hp engine plus a lot of torque was a rocket at that time and the large ABS brakes were no joke. The car looked great, handled well and was a guidette magnet in the NY Metro burbs at that time.
That's a well kept '86 with low miles. My very first corvette was an '85 and fell in love with it when I saw it, Was always a Camaro guy because I could not afford the Corvettes but I made it happen with that '84. Did not keep it too long though because it was too stiff of ride in NYC roads and felt every single little bump. Traded it in on a '85 after test driving it and had it a while until it got flooded in some terrible heavy rains. With those high sills I had a couple of nice size fish tanks (one on each side) awaiting some fishes lol, They were both an automatic because that 4+3 was crap.My next was a C5 ZO6 and now currently own a '19 Sebring Orange, naturally aspirated manual Grand Sport... which I love, love, love!
Oh wow that is so amazing! Thank you for sharing your hat great story!
I'll never forget hopping into my uncle's gran sport as a kid. Seeing that digital dash light up for the first time made me believe I was in a rocket ship. _Which at that time it was._ 😂
Congrats, Joe! I had a '91 back in the day...and now my second Vette is an '06. Pure nostalgia.
Love my 06 Corvette also
The C4 gets MY love. It’s the corvette that was around when I was growing up and I always thought it was beautiful.
That’s by far the most interesting review you have done…I had a 1990 just like it and I loved it so much and was stone cold reliable!!!! Lucky guy to have one SO nice!!!!
Dang it this is my all time vette second to the c7 great review Joe 😮
Thanks for letting me share it with you!
OMGOMGOMG. My first Corvette was a 1990 C4 that I bought in 1992 when I was 25 years old. I also had a C3 (1980) and now I have a C7 Z06. If I had a bigger garage I'd get another C4 and a C3. They were dogs performance-wise compared to modern cars but they made up for it in style. Congrats. It's a beauty. My C4 was Black and my C3 was Blue. My C7 is Arctic White.
Oh man that is so cool! You have great taste!
My first new car was a 1990 Corvette, I sold it and it is now enjoying retirment in Florida, the current owner has a C7 Z06 also.
When I was 17 (1985) I had a built '64 Nova. Good times such good memories. That's awesome you got a Vette at such a young age.
Thanks for letting me share the memories!
That’s exactly car is what made me fall in love with corvettes when I was young. 1986 TPI bright red except it was a convertible. 👍
I have an 88 35th Anniversary C4 that I’ve owned for over 22 years. Most underrated and under appreciated cars still today. Also have a 71 454 4 spd coupe. Having both a C3 and a C4 the tech, performance and handling was light years ahead of the C3. Great video and driving these older cars throws ya back to those times.
I don’t think I have ever seen a C4 in that mint of condition it is beautiful
That’s so awesome I could bring you mine
@@RaitisRides Keep up the great videos 👍🏼
Joe! Congratulations. C4's are a lot of fun!
Thanks for letting me share it with you!
When we get to a certain age we take a look and see how good we had it. Then we start looking for something that defined that era, it's like looking for a needle in a stack of needles. I'm happy you were able to find your Corvette, a true needle in a stack of them. Amazing find in OEM form. Congrats 👏
You hit the nail on the head Pietro!
My dad had an ‘87 that he ordered a brand new. Pretty much loaded out with Z51 and 4+3. I was around 16 at the time and he’d let me drive it occasionally. That car hooked me on Corvettes for life! We never had any trouble with that car and it ran flawlessly. The L-98’s torque was a blast too!
Years later, I bought a ‘93 red on red 6-speed and drove that car as my daily for three years. However, I became a dad around late 2002 so I had to sell it. I always missed that car.
I pulled the trigger and recently bought a pristine, now 40,000 mile ‘91 ZR-1 red on black. I removed the gawdy Borla exhaust system the previous owner had installed and had it straight piped, resonator and muffler delete with H-pipe just aft of the exhaust manifolds. Not only does it bark big time, but it’s a musical LT-5 symphony above 4,000 rpm at full throttle.
Long live the C4. It’s the one true Vette that changed the game.
You're knocking it out of the park Joe!
I can’t do it without your support!
Yes of course Joe & I can't wait to buy mines.
PLEASE SHUT UP JERIMAH
Lori, you do a great job with the camera. Now, with Joe reliving his teen years, you've got the additional assignment of supervising him in this classic 86 Vette. Thanks for all you do. This channel is fantastic!
Thanks so much!!
@@loriraiti4924 Lori, where is the Link to Joe's High School C4? I can't find it?? Thanks!
Joe, I'm an old car girl who grew up washing and learning how to wax the family car with my dad. Good memories! The first car I recall riding in was a black 64 Buick Wildcat (yes, my father loved cars lol). My dad let me sit on his lap and "steer" the Buick throughout the neighborhood. Anyway, I was in undergrad school from 81-85. GM was seriously considering canceling the Corvette. I was relieved when they announced they would come out with an 84. We young adults waited and waited. GM built suspense by advertising shadowy silhouette pics in magazines. I cut one out and taped it inside one of my notebooks as a motivator to keep me studying- a goal to shoot for. I had an enjoyable career as a teacher, but could never afford one. However, I just purchased a beautiful car that I will so enjoy- a 3lt Panther black collector edition Camaro. 335 horses are affordable and plenty of power for me. The car is very well built, has a beautiful wing, and front splitter to balance the styling. It's retro, yet modern, too, which I love. I also prefer being able to raise the hood and see everything. The performance exhaust provides a nice growl, and the special paint is gorgeous. And boy, the polished wheels pop with the paint lol.. I'm not bragging, but letting you know that folks of all ages appreciate your reviews and feel the same way about cars. Thanks for sharing this beautiful Corvette that brought the car back from near cancelation! I hope you enjoy it for many years to come! God bless you!
Oh wow! Thanks for sharing your story from the past!! I’m so glad that I can share my car passion with you!
Man, your 86 Vette is super clean with Uber low miles & very nice! It was a better simpler time back then. Crank up the pearl jam & ace of base of take your nice vette on a road trip 👍
Awesome blast from the past!!! Lori gets 5⭐️’s on the great job as always!!! I remember these racing 5.0s back in the late ‘80s! Those were the good old days!!! C/O ‘87 here…great years in HS, with some nice cars in the parking lot!
Awesome Car Joe I'm glad you had a special connection with this car.
Congrats Joe ! It must feel amazing to own a car you had from the past. I wish I had my 1985 Nissan 200sx. I wasn't fast but it was black, digital dash, flip up lights, it even talked to you.... Great memories and I am very happy for you that you were able to find your exact spec car when you were 17.
I really appreciate you saying that!
6:36 he almost let that F bomb slip 💣😂
LOL close but no cigar!
Love it! Congrats Joe. I have a C5 and looking to find a nice C4. Reuniting with a car from your teens is a wonderful moment in life. You're a lucky guy!
What a gem of car do you have now. Congrats bud 🎉
That means so much Coach!
The C4 platform is my favorite! I have been looking at getting one nonstop recently. Happy to see we have a common interest! Have fun🎉
What up Joe? Corvette time!
Excellent episode as always, Thank you Joe. Just some quick trivia that I always found interesting. The decade of the 60's is the only one to have bits of all three C1, 2 and 3 generations. I find that very special (despite not living through it lol).
Nice Joe. That paint is very nice.
Joe - The bad rap that the C4 got back in the days was due to the Cross-Fire injection.
Also, I drove one 30+ years ago. It felt front-heavy and the back-end light. So when you took an exit ramp at a fast pace, it felt like the back-end wanted to come around on you. It also didn't help that the engine did not want to rev. If you rev it to 4,000 RPM and got off the accelerator. It felt as if you had just hit the brakes. Also dangerous when taking an exit ramp.
I know I sound negative, but it was and still is a beautiful car that sounds great! You can't take that away from it!!
Same here, I had a 96' vette new back then,black on black, only had it a year and had to sell as life hit.... so it's unfinished business for me to get another black on black vette..
Great story Joe, I own an 89' automatic coupe . I've thought many times of upgrading many times but after 12 years of owning it, and at 70 years old, I think I will pass it on to one of my grandkids. My Vette has 77k miles and it only cost me $300 a year to insure it. It's sleeping now until winter is over here in the Hudson Valley but come spring it will fire right up and still put a smile on my face,
Thanks for letting me share it with you Anthony and for sharing your story with me. I think you are making the right decision.
Great video! I've got a '94 6-speed and it's a real blast. It may not be the fastest--but man when i race this car, punching it over 5000RPM in the street, that torque makes my heart race even more. bought it for $6k at 70,000mi in pretty decent shape.
That is so fantastic!
Beautiful, you finally did it. This was such a looker and still is!
I raced that car at Watkins glen, lime rock and Pocono for years. Just installed a full roll cage and fire suppression system and a Butler seat and kicked ass. Basically a corvette challenge spec. Weak points were rear wheel hubs and the engine would starve for oil during high lateral corners. Blown many an engine and then Kim Baker would rebuild them again..
Have a 96 CE Corvette, may not be fast compared to today's sports cars but still immensely fun to drive, all about the experience
Gotta be honest. When I first saw the C5, back in ‘97, I was like WOW! GOTTA HAVE ONE!
Badass corvette...congratulations guys...👍💪🤙
Thank you so much!
Thanks for this video. I had an '85 with the same color and equipment. I was glad to learn that they recalibrated the Z51 for '86. The '85 would rattle your teeth. My Doug Nash had the overdrive switch on the console. The '85 was still having teething problems. I had fits with electronics, e.g., dash, horn, power windows, battery drain. The gasoline of the day didn't have the additives needed by the tuned port injectors.
Still, it was one of my favorite cars. Today, I have a C8.
Your best video! I currently own a 1967 silver pearl coupe and a 2023 silver flare convertible. I’ve had a 68 and a 69 and a 96. I’ve never owned a C4 but always wished I did.
You have a Corvette dream garage!
❤
96 was the last year of C4?
Joe, what a great review as I had a 1985 C4 Z51, bright red with graphite cloth sport seats. Bought it new and had it for 37 years! It had 88K miles when I sold it in 2021 to make room for my C8. Yes, it did have the 4+3 gearbox, which seems archaic compared with the quick and smooth shifting DCT of today. Agree with everything you said about this one as it is nearly identical to my C4. I was so impressed that you did a review on this because as you said these C4' s do not seem to get much love.
I’d love to see you review an LT-1 version C4 with low mileage and not beaten on. That’d be awesome. My favorite car reviewer, my man Riati !
I love you man my father still owns this 1991
c3 & c7 are a must to own they are 🔥
Wow, awesome you got this opportunity! My Mom had one of the hated crossfire Vettes, every time I came home on leave i was working on that beast but I still loved driving it. Great episode Team Raiti!
That is so awesome! Thanks for letting me share it with you!
Congrats, bought a 96’ Collector Edition a couple of years ago. Thought about selling it but every time I look at it I think what an incredible car for the money!
I'm 16, just bought myself an 87 c4 automatic, but it is pristine!
Thanks for the great review ! I have a 92 and I love it. Was a dream car from my childhood. Been waiting on a good review from a respected reviewer!
I agree that the 1986 Corvette is my favorite one. I started my journey with Corvettes with a 1974 big block, but it was a disappointment. I bought my red '86 in 1998 with low mileage and paid around $12,000. It was an automatic with tan interior. I used it as a daily driver for a year commuting 60 miles round trip. Sad to say that shortly after that a fellow offered me more money for it than I paid, so I sold it. Subsequently I have owned 3 more Corvettes over the years. Thanks for the remembrance.
Oh wow Gary! That is fanatastic!
Hi Raiti's Rides You Make Great Video Can You Make A Review On The 2024 BMW X6 M Competition -
Man I love your videos brother I always end up watching at least 1 or 2 every few days
Happy to see you come full circle with your childhood car. That first car that's truly your own means so much to car enthusiasts. Also happy to see a review of something from yesteryear, it's a nice departure from the reviews of all of the modern vehicles of the recent 21st century.
Thanks for the shout out to St. Louis! It's a balmy -2 right now, I'm sure Lori misses it, lol.
Haha!
Man that is cold!
I know you miss it so much!
I too had a C4 as a teen back in 1995! Mine was a 1990 and the campus security officer at school would just shake his head a me every morning when I drove into the school parking lot. I knew it was thinking, "you lucky little bastard." Actually, he and I got a long just fine. Great car to own though!
Another thing about these Z51 C4's was that they came with wider rims than the standard C4, making the wheels more valuable and harder to find correct replacements. Beautiful Corvette to add to your collection! Congratulations.
Mine was a used 1991 Tpi Z28 Camaro with T Tops that I found on a used car lot for around $5,000 dollars. It was a Ford Thunderbird but loved how low the seat felt especially underneath my legs.The Ford Thunderbird had a lot of cushion and it did not feel like a natural seating position for me not even close as the 91 Z28 Camaro did.I wasn't involved into racing then but when I got settled into my ride and felt how long and big this car is I seen a friend that wasn't into cars but he had one I can't remember what it was but when he saw me I felt the presence and how much space is taken up on the road sitting then in the middle of the road talking to my friend at the time.His reaction was like I had this weapon this huge incredible spots car in black and I was loving the seating position with all of this car wrapped around me.The t tops are huge and Chevy couldn't have done a better job. No digital dash 110 electricly limited to 112 mph hot blonde and Italian ready to go chicks all around me with an automatic.Well worth the money zonk the drums and the super instability in rain. As soon as I pulled off the used car dealership lot it was a little more rainy and I was thinking about hey let's see if this car is fast and did a 180 out of the dealership lot no cars it wasn't a busy time kindy misty cloudy a little heavier light rain comfortable warm awesome easy super chill day but it was way way way to easy to loose control in the rain.A set of Goodyear GS C's made an improvement but my driving habit instantly changed. No one around me knew in any way how dangerous the tail end was in any way like I did.I would get into newer cars and be blown away how fast people went in the rain so trusting the suspension compared to me.I am thankful for instability because it kept me safer on the roads I only truthfully did one more another 180 degree wet turn except for the very same day about 5 blocks from coming home with my new ride a complete 180 degrees way way way way way to easily.Horsepower is fun but how I feel about my car is more important to me how it looks and feels to drive.I've got new adventures and changes in mind for my old school Z28 Camaro that I look forward to every day. Love the opportunity to share and your story wow a $20,000 dollar car but no room Randy for the chicks bro hahahaha.That's a real spots car an actual 350 not a detuned 305 wow.I imagine we probably had the same problem the Z28 is over the top and you have a $20,000 sports car everything changes.But hey we live and learn and to clean up our bad ass rides chill in the garage and let the summer time in good times and good memories and good people to be around and relax to good beer and good music and good food and an incredible atmospheres daily.
As the owner of a 1992, I will say the C4 is an Excellent performance car. This 86 you got is beautiful.
Thank you so much for saying that.
Nice, bro, I have a 96 LT-4 car. These are so much fun to drive! Yours is beautiful!
That is so awesome! Thanks for taking the time to say that.
One word... NICE!
I rate the 1984 Corvette (C4) very highly, for sure! Classic and tasteful. Same goes for 4th generation F-Body Firebird (especially Formula V8 manual with LT1) and Camaro.
Nice vid Joe.I hope you take the z51 to the track. it will spank most modern cars for handling today.
i have sen your zr1 vids and the challenge car vid. stoked that you are a c4 owner again! that is low mileage!!
im a diehard c4 fan, own several. i have enjoyed the last ten years where these cars could be bought for beer money.
had no idea the z51 had 4 ported exhausts
the z51 airdam was either 1\4 inch or 1 inch taller cant recall which.
too bad about zonking the 4+3. personally i use 4OD as a 5th gear it works great. i leave it off otherwise. was a fantastic first road track hpde car.
keep the od unit fluid changed it will last forever.
89 was first year for zf6.
dont think z51 had bigger rotors until it came with j55 brakes in 88 but i could be wrong about that.
subbed, love the c4 vid. will watch your nostalgic one too. cheers! vt
I love the C4...
What year do you have.
1986 is my Birth year! 😎 Congrats, Sir! I just got a '72 last year.
Gorgeous C4 😮. Thx for sharing!
Proof that cars are more than just cars.
Your C4 should be in a museum with that being all original and those extremely low miles. I'd hate to drive it to put miles on it 😁
Man that C4 is crispy clean. Great find and congrats Raiti!
I have an 1985 Z51 with 26K miles. I had a 1984 Z51 when I was 16! Best street car for the money, ton of fun to drive.
That is so awesome!
wow what an absolutely gorgeous C4! Its a museum peace and glad to see it went to a good home.
Great review! You two make a great team! Hi from St Louis!
My retro favorite is the pontiac firebird trans am 1982 ( Knight Rider tv series).
My first car was a 1985 Firebird
My personal opinion is the best corvette that came on the market.
Oh wow! That is a serious statement
I drive my black 86 - Z51 automatic transmission C4 since 2015 in France. Fantastic car and I drive into France as soon as possible with it . Came from San Bernardino (CA) in 1999 and I'm the third owner since it was here. Often some electric or mechanical problem but nothing serious.and I can repair it everytime.
I love the C4 Corvette, but I never got a chance to own one until 37 years later I bought myself a 2023 C8 with Z51. My first Corvette. Love every second of it.
My dream car as a 3 year old 😊
Great review of your Corvette! Just to clarify the only 82 corvette, where the rear hatch window opened, was on the collector's edition. I myself had A C4 Corvette, 1988 convertible. It was an amazing car until a friend of mine took me for a ride in his sea 6 convertible. Well, the C4 convertible didn't last too much longer as I am the proud owner of a 2011 Corvette grand sport in jet stream blue that I happened to buy 10 years ago. What about four thousand miles on it.
Just bought 2 black on black on black 1989 C4 convertible six speed and coupe automatic one for me, one for my son both with 20,000 miles! Stay tuned to my channel for more c4 fun in the Valley of the Sun 🤩
First vet I drove at 17 was a new 1987. Fell in love. Owned Corvettes since 2004. My 2021 is vet #7. Go Joe!