1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD

This Chevrolet Corvette C4 is a highly original example of the 1980s American performance car, which has interesting royal provenance, and would now benefit from some cosmetic refurbishment. It is equipped with a 5.7-litre V8 engine producing around 249bhp, coupled with a four-speed Doug Nash ‘4+3’ manual transmission with automatic overdrive. The odometer currently indicates 41,526 miles.

This Corvette is understood to have been initially purchased in Washington DC for a young Saoud bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family, though does not appear to have been registered until November 1987. The car is then understood to have been imported to the UK by the family in 1988. There are five previous keepers on the log book, and the vendor purchased the car in September 2019 with the aim of taking it on a European road-trip in 2020 – though this did not go ahead due to the Covid-19 lockdown. The car has therefore only covered around 1,500 miles during the vendor’s short tenure, and has proved to a thoroughly enjoyable modern classic.

The bodywork of this Corvette presents in good order, with an iconic ‘80s aesthetic featuring the period-perfect pop-up headlights. The vendor notes the front lower plastic splitter has some damage from grounding out, while the offside headlight aperture has a small dent. The two-tone silver and black finish is described as being in fair condition and is believed to be entirely original, though the silver layer presents with some visible blemishes. There is bubbling over the panels, most noticeably on the offside door and bonnet, while there is also an open crack in the finish at the rear near the fuel tank. Some other minor marks and stone chips are also visible, so the silver layer would certainly benefit from a strip and respray.

The lower black layer is in better condition, with some minor scuffs to the nearside front corner, and some touched-in chips around the passenger-side front wheel arch. The car rides on an original set of 16-inch alloys, which appear with only some very minor grazes around the rims, and are in good condition overall. The light clusters have also been changed and are now EU compliant thanks to the addition of a rear fog lamp and correctly coloured indicators. It comes with the original targa top, which stores conveniently and securely in the boot when you want to drive with the roof off.

Moving inside, the seats are trimmed in the original grey leather upholstery, which appears with some creasing, sagging on the base cushions, and wear to the bolsters. The vendor notes that the two-spoke steering wheel also presents with some age-related wear, though the dashboard plastics all remain in good order with no cracks. This Corvette has a full digital dashboard, which is reported to work as it should. The vendor reports the driver’s side boot latch is inoperative, though the other two latches function correctly, while the central locking switch on the driver’s door is missing its plastic cover – though it is working. The headlight switch is also slightly loose, while the air-conditioning radiator appears to be blocked.

The last service was undertaken in February 2020 at 40,459 miles, where technicians at Topcats Racing in Westcott changed the engine oil, filters, spark plugs and fluids, before fitting a new rocker cover gasket and a new battery. In January 2018, other gaskets were renewed, and the fuel pump was replaced, while in June 2017 the car received a new clutch, master cylinder, slave cylinder, clutch pipe and headlamp assembly. The vendor notes a new alternator was also fitted in October 2020.

The most recent MOT test was on 27 June 2019 at 39,946 miles, which resulted in a pass with the only advisories to monitor some slight play in the rear wheel bearings. Due to the six-month extension, the current certificate is valid until 24 January 2021. The wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres all round, which the vendor reports are in good condition with plenty of tread remaining.

The vendor notes the original handbook and service book are missing, though this Corvette is accompanied by a binder containing service invoices and documentation dating back to 1991, as well as import documentation dating back to 1988. The car comes with original documentation as proof of the sale to member of the Qatari royal family in Washington DC, along with a Corvette C4 buying guide and Haynes manual.

This Chevrolet Corvette C4 is an unmodified example of the breed, boasting intriguing early history and supported by an extensive history file. After some sprucing up of the paintwork and detailing of the interior, this American icon would be a very presentable modern classic. With a smart two-tone finish and classic ‘80s styling cues, the Corvette C4 also delivers brisk performance and is a great cruiser for sunny weekends and road trips.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence through HPI checks and MOT history where available. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.

Car Overview

  • 41,526 miles
  • manual
  • LHD
  • Silver / Black
  • Dark Grey
  • 5.7L


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Lot Overview

  • Lot #01952
  • private Sale
  • Leamington Spa, United Kingdom

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1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C4 - LHD
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