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Here's the story:
Illustrated Corvette Series No. 95 - 1994 Corvette
"No Revolution, Just Solid Evolution"
The Corvette team sure knows
how to make a big splash. Three major events happened in '93 - the 40th
Anniversary edition was released, Dave Hill was named the new Chief of
Corvette Engineering, and the C6 Corvette was officially scheduled as a
1997 model. But there were three more model years to produce before the
C5 arrived. So what's a new Chief of Corvette Engineering to do?
Simple, make a great performance car even better.
With the
C4 Corvette's scheduled demise, there obviously weren't going to be any
more big improvements made to the Corvette. After all, at this point,
the design of the car was over 12 years old and had already racked up a
long list of very impressive accomplishments. And considering the state
of the last C3 model, the Corvette's performance resurrection was an
automotive miracle. The goal for the remaining years of the C4 was to
refine the car to the limits of its basic design, keep costs in check,
and maintain customer interest in the light of the up-coming all-new
'97 Corvette.
Let's
face it, as a car owner, you spend most of your time looking at your
car through the steering wheel in your interior. The '94 Corvette
received a complete revamping of its interior. Most obvious was the new
2-spoke steering wheel and the new standard leather seats. Someone
decided that a $30,000 car should not have cloth seats. And down at
your feet there was new carpeting. The new floor covering was premium
material, thicker, and more durable. The door panels were revised to
fit into the two-tone dash. Passengers received added protection with
their own air bag. The new air bag took up the space where the glove
box used to be, so a new storage compartment was designed into the
center armrest. The plastic Roadster rear glass was replaced with real
glass . Instruments were revised for better visibility and the overall
car was subjected to a "squeak and rattle track" to isolate and
eliminate rattles. An excellent thing for a premium automobile.
The 1994
Corvette didn't just get new interior digs. While engine power levels
of the LT-1 and the ZR-1 remained the same, numerous mechanical
improvements were made. Both engines received the latest Sequential
Fuel Injection units for better throttle response, idle, and lower
emissions. The LT-1 engine received an improved oil pan with a new oil
sensor, a new coolant pump, and composite rocker arms. The 4-speed
automatic was redesigned with new electronic controls for improved
shift quality and rpm shift-point consistency.
For sport
enthusiasts, the $1,695 FX3 Selective Ride and handling option received
slightly softer springs for improved ride quality. But the big
suspension news was the new Goodyear run-flat tires and low-pressure
warning indicator. The new tires could be driven at 55 mph for 200
miles with zero tire pressure! That's why the pressure indicator was
necessary.
Price
increase for the '94 model wasn't too bad. The new list price for the
coupe was $36,185 (up $1,590 from '93) and $42,443 for the roadster (up
$1,765 from '93). The ZR-1 option was down $425 to $31,258! That's part
why only 448 ZR-1s were ordered in '94. The ZR-1 models could be easily
spotted by their new unidirectional 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels and
aluminumized brake rotors.
Of
course, no one ever buys a basic stripped down Corvette. A "loaded"
coupe cost almost $43,000, while a roadster was over $50,000. A
similarly equipped ZR-1 cost almost $70,000! It all added up to an
evolutionary sales improvement, with total sales at 23,330 units, up
1,740 from '93. Not too shabby for the 11th season of a car with only
three years before retirement. Dave Hill's team successfully kept the
'94 Corvette fresh and exciting.
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