The C4 Corvette has an amazing hood

"JR1" (type35bugatti) 08/25/2014 at 09:35 • Filed to: Monday morning meaningless rant

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Okay so I know for a lot of people the C4 Corvette is at the bottom of the Corvette heap. Sure the lines are a little conservative and the original horsepower figures mean it can probably be defeated by a V6 Honda in a straight line. All that being said I still like the C4 Vette. Also I would like to go out on a limb and say besides the Dodge Viper this is one of the best hoods on any modern car. The reverse clamshell shows us all the goodies. It is exceptionally sexy.

Nerd-Vol > JR1 08/25/2014 at 09:39

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So pretty! That's a real clamshell.

Thunderbee - Has the engine that kids like > JR1 08/25/2014 at 09:42

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I always thought the C4 'vette was one of the better ones. It manages to look cool without trying, and it screams the 80's!

Enginerrrrrrrrr > JR1 08/25/2014 at 09:42

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You already mentioned the viper, so I'll go with another gorgeous clamshell:

Clamshell hoods are the best hoods (mainly in looks)

Milky > JR1 08/25/2014 at 09:48

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The Vette should do that again, its pretty. But these 2 also come to mind (no good photos of the z's hood up :/ ).

JR1 > Nerd-Vol 08/25/2014 at 09:55

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Agreed the half-assed clamshell on the current car actually makes it harder to work on and look at the engine I think.

JR1 > Enginerrrrrrrrr 08/25/2014 at 09:56

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The E-type came to mind when I was writing this post. Absolutely gorgeous hood for possibly the most gorgeous car

JR1 > Milky 08/25/2014 at 09:57

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I was unaware either one of these cars came with a clamshell hood. How cool!

JR1 > Thunderbee - Has the engine that kids like 08/25/2014 at 09:58

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Very 80's. The wheels on this car are one of my favorite stock wheels of all time

JGrabowMSt > JR1 08/25/2014 at 10:01

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Lotus would like to know if they can join the club.

JR1 > JGrabowMSt 08/25/2014 at 10:04

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It may join. Is it still the hood of the car if it is mid-engined? I can't remember

JGrabowMSt > JR1 08/25/2014 at 10:06

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Well, if the engine cover is the bonnet and the cargo cover is the boot lid, maybe? I think so?

Milky > JR1 08/25/2014 at 10:09

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Ohh and this guy!

Tohru > JR1 08/25/2014 at 10:22

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I still want a Competition Yellow C4.

Even though that color was only on the later cars with the Cavalier dash.

For reference:

1989 digital dash:

1992 awful dash:

JR1 > Tohru 08/25/2014 at 10:27

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Dash was way color on the older cars. But the trade off is more horses and I like more horses. The yellow is a sweet color but for me Black Rose will always be the best color.

You won't understand until you see it sparkling on a sunny day.

willconltd > JR1 08/25/2014 at 11:01

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One could argue that the BMW Z3 has the same type of hood. In its day, it was the 2nd largest stamped piece on any production car.... After the original Viper hood of course.

Its orange, because V12, that's why.

JR1 > willconltd 08/25/2014 at 11:16

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I guess you could argue that but at the end of the day it has similar hood mechanism to 98% of the cars on market.

willconltd > JR1 08/25/2014 at 11:28

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I assumed the qualifier was the hood making up the top of the fender. If the direction the hood opens is the qualifying factor, then just pick any BMW prior to 1996.

Mattbob > willconltd 08/25/2014 at 11:42

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'96?? I think you mean 92-93ish. I have a '93 with a regular hood. Wish I had a clam shell hood.

Hammerdown > JR1 08/25/2014 at 11:48

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GM loved doing this for awhile...

JR1 > willconltd 08/25/2014 at 11:57

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I do love the BMW hoods of that vintage. I just wish they would have added the hood making up the fender like that did on the Z3

JR1 > Hammerdown 08/25/2014 at 11:58

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It adds character I don't blame them

sonicvato > JR1 08/25/2014 at 12:51

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Very cool...

don't forget the Ford though...

Tohru > JR1 08/25/2014 at 13:33

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I've seen them in person, trust me. I prefer Comp. Yellow because if you're going to own a C4, be outlandish with it.

My dad had an '89 C4 with the Z51 suspension package.

JR1 > sonicvato 08/25/2014 at 13:42

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Ford might have done it best. Or Pagani they have an awesome reverse clamshell as well

JR1 > Tohru 08/25/2014 at 13:46

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No shit? Did you ever get to drive it or were you too young?

Tohru > JR1 08/25/2014 at 13:56

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Yeah, I've driven it - he just sold it this Spring.

I've driven fast Camaros, and figured this would be more of the same. It's quite a jump up, especially with the sport suspension and the sticky-as-balls Fuzion tires he had on it. In a straight line it was quick - but not much more than a lot of things on the road now. The corners is where it comes alive.

There's a set of 90 degree S-curves near my dad's house in a 55 mph zone, posted for 25 mph. With my Escort, I could do 35 in them. With a 3rd gen Camaro, 45-50 was about the limit. The 'Vette could take them at 65.

JR1 > Tohru 08/25/2014 at 14:05

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God that sounds like loads of fun for a nice cheap price of admission. It seems like now is the time to buy a C4 Corvette. I believe the 89 had about 250hp. I wonder if that is a little lacking in fun factor. It makes me think the 92-96 Vette is the one to buy.

Tohru > JR1 08/25/2014 at 14:20

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The '89 was the last year of the traditional small block, being replaced by the LT1 in '90.

I am on record as not being a fan of the LT1, with the OptiSpark being one of the main things I hold against it.