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Here's the story:
Illustrated Corvette Series No. 98 1995 Corvette -
"'Small Improvements = A Better Corvette"
It's
funny how the mind remembers things. When you mention muscle cars, we
usually think of Hemi 'Cudas, GTOs, 396 Camaros, or Boss 429 Mustangs.
A 1995 Corvette certainly doesn't come to mind. But the fact is that
Dave Hill and his team slowly and carefully honed the Corvette into
what would have been hailed as one of the baddest of pavement burners
of the muscle car era.
When you consider the dark days of 1981 when Chevrolet actually dropped
a 307 passenger car engine into the Corvette, the base model 1995
Corvette is nothing less than amazing. In the good old days, '67 to '70
big-block 427 and 454 Corvettes were at the top of the feeding chain.
Quarter-mile times in the low 14's and high 13's made enthusiast's
head's spin. The '95 base model Corvette ran 0-to-60 in just 5.1
seconds and the quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds at 103 mph! Remember,
that's with a 350 cubic-inch small-block engine. And lets not forget
the 161 mph top speed! Of course the icing on the Corvette cake was the
EPA gas mileage of 17 mpg in the city, and 27 mpg on the highway.
The C4 Corvette was a example of how factory participation in racing
can dramatically improve a performance car. Through the '80s we saw
spectacular factory-supported cars such as the Showroom Stock Series
Corvettes, the Corvette Challenge racers, the GTP Lola chassis -
Chevrolet-powered racers, and the jewel-like, racing inspired ZR-1.
Lessons learned from those efforts were gradually integrated into
street-driven Corvettes.
1995 was a significant year for two other reasons. It was the last year
for the ZR-1 and it was the third time the Corvette was chosen to pace
the Indy 500. Although the ZR-1 was not a sales success, it was a
record setting, high-speed performance machine. The Indy 500 Pace Car
Replica was by far the rarest of the three Corvette pace cars with only
527 units built and sold.
Although the '95 Corvette was essentially a carry over car, there were
several improvements made on the car. The only visual change for the
'95 model was the redesign of the front fender vents and new windshield
wipers that eliminated chatter and floating at high speeds. Dark purple
metallic paint was the only new color for the '95 model.
The power rating of the LT1 engine was unchanged, however new
powdered-metal connecting rods were used for increased strength and
uniformity of weight. At the top end of the LT1, the fuel injectors
were improved to better cope with alcohol-blended fuels and to
eliminate fuel dripping after the engine was shut off. A quieter fan
was installed for overall noise improvement
A new shifter for the 6-speed manual transmission replaced the
reverse-lock with a high detent design for easier operation. Automatic
transmission equipped cars had improved clutch controls and a lighter
torque converter.
Suspension improvements included softer springs for better ride quality
and cars with the optional adjustable suspension were equipped with the
13-inch brakes from the ZR-1.
Small interior improvements included a transmission temperature readout
on the dash, velcro straps to reduce rattling, improved stitching on
the optional sport seats, and improved weather stripping to reduce
water intrusion.
Overall, the '95 Corvette was a stunning car, making the number one
spot on reader's poll. The end of the C4 lineage was fast approaching
and the "Grand Sport" was about to make another appearance.
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