1987 LS1 Corvette value

[darren lilly]

G'day I looked at a 87 LS1 manual corvette yesterday it seemed to be in good to very good condition & was priced at $35,000, RHD conversion by corvette queensland can anyone confirm if this is a good price as the c4's seem to vary from 20 - $35000 RHD all I can find is info on L98's & this one is at the high end in pricing. It shows 98000 (miles?) Thanks for any help. Darren

[VETTENUT]

Hi Darren. 1987 Corvettes were equipped with the L98 5.7 ltr engine, which had iron block and heads in '87. The LS1 engine was first fitted to the 1997 C5 Corvette, and to HSV's in Australia from around 1999 in the VT11. So your car has had a transplant somewhere along the line. You need to see the engineering paperwork on this.
$35k is certainly the top end of pricing for a 1987, and maybe a little too high for one with a non-original engine IMHO.
One of our members from the Newcastle area may chip in with the inspection service info you are after.

[Vette Obsessed]

LS engines in C4's require that you run a standalone computer for the engine as it isn't compatible with the C4 computer that also controls things such as the dash and abs.  So I'd be checking very carefully that your dash, abs, and everything else works right on the car.

As VETTENUT says, also make sure the engine transplant has engineering approval, otherwise you will have nothing but headaches with registration and insurance down the road.

[darren lilly]

Thanks for the replies I haven't heard back from the seller yet but I was a bit unsure of the engines originality as the car was close to immaculate but the engine was a bit neglected looking. To be fair though I haven't spoken to the owner yet & only got a small ammount of info off the salesman, it is in a car yard showroom & was not officially listed for sale & belonged to the company owner. Thanks Darren

[Jethro]

Darren, do yourself a favour and don't rush in  it's a buyers market and in the C4 the better buy far would be 1990 and onwards, ZR1 in this option is real killers ones like these

http://www.shannons.com.au/auctions/lot/AFB7D5758TG7XJAJ/

do your research, then go see some Vettes, then go drive some and then do more research Like I seaid it's a buyers market and 10 bucks (so to speak) saved on could end up costing you ten fold in ten long run. justs my 2 cents worth buddy.

Jethro

[darren lilly]

Your spot on there Jethro 100's for sale presently just looking around the Newcastle area at present, when you say the 1999 model is this a c5? Thanks

[Jethro]

No buddy 1990 was the Pick (if you ask me) of the last of the C4's and the ZR1 are the pick of the PICK, so to speak.  C4's Ran from 1984 to 1996 if you are seriously looking for a great C4 corvette and one that has been documented check out Ernie's ZR1 C4 for sale on the Australia Corvettes  Association

[sabre]

when you say the 1999 model is this a c5?

You're right Darren. I think Jethro's 9 is too close to his 0 on the keyboard.
Otherwise I agree with Jethro's assessment. Would have to be a very special '87 to bring that price.

[Jethro]

You're right Darren. I think Jethro's 9 is too close to his 0 on the keyboard.

you picked it , corrected now