Over 40 years have passed since the fourth-generation Corvette reshaped the global sports-car landscape. The 1984 debut brought with it a host of notable milestones—the arrival of the legendary “King of the Hill” ZR-1 soon after, the unprecedented gap in production for the 1983 model year, and what would become the second-longest production run of any Corvette generation. But one of the era’s most defining chapters unfolded not on the street, but on the track.
Let’s revisit the moment when the Corvette became so good that racing enthusiasts were prompted to create their own series. Then, we’ll get into how these remarkable race cars are performing in today’s market. You may be surprised by how many of these pivotal race cars have recently changed hands. Lastly, we have a bonus YouTube video which digs even deeper into these icons of early Corvette Racing.
In SCCA Showroom Stock GT competition, the C4 quickly proved its capabilities. With its supercar-level 0.9-g cornering, dependable Chevy small-block V-8 power, and robust braking performance, the platform didn’t merely hold its own—it dominated. Between 1985 and 1987, the C4 delivered a staggering 29–0 record against the Porsche 944 Turbo, a run so commanding that it sent shockwaves through the series. The success, however, had a downside. The Corvette’s unmatched performance threatened grid diversity and audience balance, prompting SCCA officials to ban the C4 from the class entirely.
You read that correctly — the C4 was kicked out of SCCA racing.
That decision set the stage for a pivotal moment in Corvette racing history. Key figures within GM and the racing community collaborated to launch the Corvette Challenge Series—a dedicated, factory-backed proving ground. Major sponsors quickly signed on, creating a then-unprecedented $1 million series purse.
For the first year of this brand-new series in 1988, 56 Corvettes were factory-built and modified to racing specifications by Protofab Engineering. Each Corvette Challenge car carried a price tag just north of $33,000 (over $90,000 today), with teams investing an additional $15,000 for race preparation, including a welded roll cage, racing seat and harness, fire-suppression system, Bilstein shocks, Dymag magnesium wheels, upgraded brake pads, and other minor modifications. Beyond those essentials, the cars remained showroom-stock, reinforcing the C4’s engineering credibility. A television partnership with ESPN helped bring national visibility to the new series.
Though the Corvette Challenge lasted only two seasons—paused as GM prioritized the launch of the 1990 ZR-1—it remains a milestone moment for the brand. It showcased the C4’s revolutionary capabilities and cemented its influence on modern sports-car racing. Afterward, the C4 returned to SCCA competition, where it continued its success for many years in the World Challenge series.
Before Roger Judski retired and closed his iconic Orlando dealership, Roger’s Corvette Center, CorvSport had the privilege of seeing one of these Corvette Challenge C4s in person and speaking with the man who purchased it shortly after the series ended. That ‘Vette, pictured below, was 1 of only 22 to run in all 10 races for the inaugural year. You can read that full feature with the impromptu talk with Roger Judski here: Roger’s Race Car: Meet The #98 Corvette Challenge Champion.
Tracking the Legends:
Recent BaT Sales Of The C4 Corvette Challenge Race Cars
The #42 — 1989 — Hammer Price: $28,000
This Corvette is one of roughly 30 factory-built racers created for the 1989 SCCA Corvette Challenge Series, campaigned by Randy Ruhlman in all 12 championship rounds. After the season, it was sold to its second owner and later displayed at the Mid America Motorworks MY Garage Museum in Effingham, Illinois. The car then passed through another collection before joining the selling dealer in late 2017. It appeared on BaT in February 2019 and is now offered in Connecticut with a clean Florida title.
Finished in its black, white, and red #42 livery, the car retains its factory Challenge–spec details, including:
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5.7L L98 V8 with Tuned Port Injection
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ZF six-speed manual transmission (new for 1989 Challenge cars)
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White 17-inch Dymag wheels wearing 275/40 Goodyear Eagle ZR40 tires
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Welded roll cage, brake-cooling ducts, and unrestricted off-road exhaust
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FX3 Selective Ride Control, Bilstein shocks, and racing brake pads
The exterior shows authentic race patina—rub marks at the left front and rear arch, chips on the nose, and wheel scratches consistent with competition use. Inside, the cockpit remains largely stock, including the factory trip computer, climate controls, and Delco cassette deck. A Powell Development America placard documents the official Challenge Series conversion date: March 15, 1989. The digital cluster displays just under 7,000 miles, with approximately 200 added by the selling dealer.
Each Challenge car was dyno-verified to fall within 2.5% of the factory-rated 245 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. Recent maintenance includes fluid service and a battery replacement around three years ago. Underside images confirm the free-flowing off-road exhaust is still in place. This is an authentically preserved, museum-displayed, race-proven 1989 Corvette Challenge car—one of the most collectible variants of the C4 era.
Views: 11,407 Watchers: 310 Comments: 48 Bids: 34
Miles Shown: 7k
Date Sold: 6/18/2020
Offered By: Dealer
The #37 — 1988 — Hammer Price: $30,000
This 1988 Corvette is one of roughly 50 cars prepared by Protofab for Bergstrom Racing to compete in the inaugural 1988 SCCA Corvette Challenge Series. Built to strict spec rules, each car received a uniform set of race upgrades, and this example retains its authentic #37 livery as last campaigned by Jeff Andretti. Ken Murillo and Mitch Wright also drove the car during the first half of the season.
Corvette Challenge–spec features included:
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Full-welded roll cage
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Onboard fire-suppression system
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Racing seat and harness
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Bilstein shocks & competition brake pads/ducting
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17-inch Dymag wheels
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5.7L L98 V8 with a Doug Nash 4+3 manual transmission
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Low-restriction race exhaust (factory-style system included)
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Blue-tinted removable glass roof panel (24S)
Believed to be one of just 24 Challenge cars ordered in white, this C4 remains visually faithful to its period configuration. The seller notes the headlight actuators were recently rebuilt, and spare decals are included.
Recent service and updates (2024) include:
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Replacement digital instrument cluster
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New Nitto NT555 G2 tires on Dymag wheels
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New brake master cylinder
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New fuel pump
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New cooling fan sensor and relays
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Fluids and filters refreshed
Inside, the two-spoke leather wheel frames the newer digital cluster, which displays speed, rpm, and a full set of numeric engine readouts. The odometer shows 9k miles, with approximately 200 added under current ownership; mileage prior to the 1990s is unclear. Under the hood, the sealed L98—required in the 1988 spec series to prevent tampering—retains its Tuned Port Injection setup and sends power through the Doug Nash 4+3 gearbox with overdrive on the top three gears. Z51 Performance Handling, Bilstein dampers, and proper Challenge-spec brake hardware complete the factory-required racing package.
This 1988 Corvette Challenge racer was offered with its stock exhaust system, spare decals, a clean Carfax, and a clean Oklahoma title in the seller’s name—an opportunity to own one of the rare, factory-backed cars that launched the Corvette Challenge legacy.
Views: 4,990 Watchers: 446 Comments: 35 Bids: 14
Miles Shown: 9k
Date Sold: 7/07/2025
Offered By: Private Party
The #9 — 1989 — Hammer Price: $38,500
This 1989 Corvette Challenge car was originally delivered to Tom Bell Chevrolet in Redlands, California, and campaigned by Kip Laughlin in 11 races during the 1989 SCCA Corvette Challenge season. The current owner purchased the car in 1990, continued to run it in various racing events, and later loaned it for a photo shoot tied to the launch of the C8 Corvette. It now shows 9k miles and was offered on dealer consignment with extensive documentation and its original drivetrain.
Finished in its striking yellow-and-white #9 livery, this Challenge-spec C4 features:
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5.7L L98 Challenge V8 (replacement engine installed in 1992)
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ZF six-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential
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17-inch Dymag wheels on 275/40 Hoosier racing tires
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Side-exit exhaust, front tow hook, and removable glass roof
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QA1 shocks with adjustable dampers and revised adjustable rear control arms
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Four-wheel disc brakes
The race-prepped cockpit includes:
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Welded roll cage and driver-side window net
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Fixed-back Corvette Challenge seats with G-Force harness
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Fire-suppression system
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Factory trip computer, air conditioning, and Delco-Bose cassette deck
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Digital graph-style gauges with an 85-mph speedometer (low coolant warning remains illuminated)
The replacement L98 retains Tuned Port Injection, MSD ignition, and aluminum cylinder heads. Approximately 7k of the 9k recorded miles were added by the current owner during years of exhibition and racing use.
Included with the car:
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Window sticker, build sheet, period advertisements, poster, and SCCA logbook
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1992-dated Chevrolet correspondence
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Removed factory engine, transmission, fuel tank, rear end, and wheels
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Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (no title; dealer assistance available for registration)
This is a documented, well-preserved example of the 1989 Corvette Challenge program—complete with period racing history, original components, and the visual attitude that defined the series.
Views: 6,821 Watchers: 543 Comments: 37 Bids: 23
Miles Shown: 9k
Date Sold: 11/04/2025
Offered By: Dealer
The #20 — 1989 — Hammer Price: $40,000
This 1989 Corvette Challenge car is #20 of roughly 30 examples prepared by Powell Development America for the 1989 SCCA Corvette Challenge season. Campaigned by Al Lamb in all 12 races, this C4 wears its original red, white, and blue #20 livery and now shows just over 4,700 miles. It was offered with a clean Carfax and a clean Illinois title.
Power comes from a 5.7L L98 V8 paired with a ZF six-speed manual, backed by the full suite of Challenge-required equipment, including:
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Welded roll cage and driver-side window net
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Fire-suppression system
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Fixed-back Challenge bucket seats with Simpson harness
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Side-exit exhaust
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Bilstein shocks with FX3 Selective Ride Control
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17-inch Dymag wheels wearing Nitto NT555 G2 tires
Powell’s conversion work also added brake-cooling ducts routed through the radiator opening and dual open exhaust outlets through the lower quarter panels. This car experienced two on-track incidents during its racing career and was repaired afterward.
Inside, the car retains a surprising amount of factory equipment—air conditioning, climate controls, window switches, and the trip computer—alongside the race hardware. The factory digital graph-style gauges remain in place, showing just over 4,700 miles, with about 500 added under current ownership. A dash plaque documents the official Powell conversion date of March 31, 1989, confirming this as the 20th car built.
The L98 V8 uses Tuned Port Injection and drives the rear wheels through the ZF six-speed transaxle. All Challenge cars were dyno-tested to fall within 2.5% of the factory-rated 245 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. Recent services included an oil change and fuel-injector cleaning, and the seller reported that suspension components were recently lubricated. This is a well-preserved, documented example from the final Corvette Challenge season—one of the rare C4 factory race cars that helped cement the generation’s motorsport legacy.
Views: 14,802 Watchers: 546 Comments: 116 Bids: 32
Miles Shown: 5k
Date Sold: 01/02/2022
Offered By: Private Party
Bonus Video
Made For One Purpose.. Racing | 1989 Corvette Challenge Car
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