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Corvette Of The Day: 1986 Chevrolet Corvette

1986 Corvette - The Ultimate Guide

An advancement of the 1986 model year involved the introduction of the first anti-lock braking system to the Chevrolet Corvette. Antilock brakes (or ABS), which utilized the latest ABS II setup from Bosch in Germany, prevented wheel lock up in extreme braking conditions and reduced/eliminated skidding and subsequent loss of control of the car.

1986 Corvette Special Editions

What a year for special Corvettes. We had a pace car, futuristic concept, a mid-engined race car and a tuner-special.

The big news for 1986 was that a Corvette would pace the Indy 500 for the second time. Retired General Chuck Yeager was enjoying celebrity status as a result of the book and movie, “The Right Stuff.” But Chevrolet was still smarting from the heavy criticism over the ‘78 Corvette Pace Car debacle and decided that all 1986 Corvette convertibles were designated as “Pace Car Replica”.
The 1986 Corvette Indy Prototype was developed beyond clay modeling to the point of a fully-functioning, drivable car, though it was clearly understood that this car would never evolve beyond the prototype stage.  Like the clay mock-up before it, development of the mid-engine Indy prototype began in 1985, pulling design cues from its predecessor.
When Dick Guldstrand introduced the GS80 series in 1986, the car was targeted specifically at Pro-Solo and autocross enthusiasts. He knew all about the needs of these groups, as he was a longtime provider of performance upgrades for the C3 and a direct supporter of a small team of racers from the Western Council of Corvette Clubs. Up to this point, Dick had basically been a tuner. With the intro of the GS80 he was venturing into the realm of small-volume manufacturing.
A Corvette in name only, the Corvette GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) was one of the fastest and most exotic race cars ever to wear a red Bowtie. Based on an English Lola T600 chassis and powered by an all-American turbocharged Chevy V6, the mid-engined racer was a rocketship. At full boost, the Corvette GTP's 3.4-liter (209ci) V6 pumped out more than 1,000 horsepower.

1986 Corvette Engines

Looking for information on the engines powering the 1986 Corvette? Look no further.

1986 Corvette Market & Sales Data

1986 Corvette auction and sales area. We share upcoming auctions, recent auction results, cool 1986 Corvettes we find for sale and commentary on the current market for the 1986 Corvette.

The Best Resource for 1986 Corvette News, Auctions, Reviews & Videos

Get all the latest news stories, upcoming auctions, prices, videos and more about the 1986 Chevrolet Corvette! The latest headlines here.

American Racing Headers C4 Corvette 1984-1991/1992-1996 Long Tube System
These are the top full exhausts for 1984-1996 Corvettes. The installation of a custom exhaust provides a great way to enhance the C4’s naturally-aggressive exhaust tone, while also potentially increasing overall horsepower as well. Find Your Next Full Exhaust We vetted the market so you don’t have to! Our Exhaust...
1984 L83 350CI V8 Engine
The C4 Corvette debuted to a frenzy of publicity and would ultimately enjoy a lengthy run, spanning 13 years of production. During this period, GM installed a number of memorable powerplants. Many of these engines proved to be quite innovative in design, even when saddled with newly-mandated emissions equipment of the era. The following is a comprehensive guide to powerplants of the C4 era.
1986 Corvette Sales Brochures
Download this 1986 Corvette Dealers Sales Brochure for a quick look at the features of the car. Conversations with owners and engineers of the Corvette's latest generation. What does it take for a car t0 become "world class?" It's not something a car can achieve instantly...
The big news for 1986 was that a Corvette would pace the Indy 500 for the second time. Retired General Chuck Yeager was enjoying celebrity status as a result of the book and movie, “The Right Stuff.” But Chevrolet was still smarting from the heavy criticism over the ‘78 Corvette Pace Car debacle and decided that all 1986 Corvette convertibles were designated as “Pace Car Replica”.
The early C4's had their problems, what with the 1984 Cross-Fire Injection and its unusual 4+3 manual transmission. By the late 1980's, the fourth-generation Corvette had evolved into a more desirable automobile, thanks in part to the arrival of the ZR-1. 

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