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 Corvette's standard 16-inch wheels were redesigned for the 1988 Corvette; 17s remained available. |
To make the most of the new higher-performance tires and for better directional control in hard stops, front suspension geometry was reworked to incorporate "zero scrub radius." This means a steering axis that intersects the road at the exact center of the tire's contact patch, rather than outboard (positive scrub radius), as on previous Corvettes, or inboard of it (negative scrub radius) as on some European cars.
Rear suspension was also revised, with
slightly more rebound travel and reduced camber for improved straight-line and
braking stability. Brakes were fortified as well, gaining two-piston front
calipers, thicker rotors all around, and a handbrake integral with the rear
discs (replacing the previous small, separate drum brakes).
Like
the Porsche 928 of the day, the C4 had always had its pull-up handbrake mounted
outboard of the driver's seat, with a lever that could be folded down after
engagement so as not to interfere with entry/exit. This was retained for 1988,
but the assembly was moved a bit lower and farther back to be a bit less
intrusive. In addition, interior air extractors in coupes were modified to
increase the flow rate as an improvement to the climate-control system, which
was now offered with the extra-cost automatic temperature control that was
phased in toward the end of 1987 production.
With
total Corvette production nearing 900,000 units sold over a span of 35 years,
it was time to mark another anniversary with a special-edition Corvette.
Recalling the Waldorf debut of the original '53 Motorama car, the anniversary
car bowed at the New York Auto Show on
While the 35th Anniversary car was a sellout, it wasn't enough to lift the Corvette's fortunes at dealerships. The sales downturn continued for 1988, with production slipping to just under 23,000 units, the lowest model-year total since 1972.
Meanwhile, the C4 was continuing Corvette's winning ways on the track -- it was the undefeated class champion in SCCA Showroom Stock racing for three straight years. Fifty-six street-legal cars were built for the 1998 SCCA Corvette Challenge series. Stock engines would come from the CPC engine plant in Flint, Michigan, shipped to Bowling Green for installation, and the cars would then be trucked back to Wixom, Michigan, for roll cages and other racing modifications. During the course of the year, Chevy would replace most engines, however, swapping them for motors having more evenly calibrated power output.
Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:
| 1984 Corvette | 1985 Corvette | 1986 Corvette |
| 1987 Corvette | 1988 Corvette | 1989 Corvette |
| 1990 Corvette | 1991 Corvette | 1992 Corvette |
| 1993 Corvette | 1994 Corvette | 1995 Corvette |
| 1996 Corvette |
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
