1984 Corvette

The eagerly-awaited sixth-generation Corvette for the '80s missed the 1983 model year completely, but arrived in spring 1983 in an all-new form.

An aerodynamic exterior featuring an "acute" windshield rake (64 degrees) covered a series of engineering improvements.
A one-piece, full-width fiberglass roof (no T-bar) was removable.
It had a transparent, acrylic lift-off panel with a solar screen optional.
At the rear was a frameless glass back window or hatch above four round tail lamps.
Hidden headlamps were featured, along with clear, integrated halogen fog lamps and front cornering lamps.
The dual sport mirrors were electrically remote controlled.
The unit body (with partial front frame) used a front-hinged "clam shell" hood with integral twin-duct air intake.
The sole 1984 V-8 was L83 350-cid (5.7-liter) V-8 with cross-fire fuel injection.
Stainless steel headers led into its exhaust system.
The air cleaner and the valve train had cast magnesium covers.
After being unavailable in 1982, a four-speed manual gearbox returned as the standard Corvette transmission (although not until January 1984).
A four-plus-three-speed automatic with computer-activated overdrive in every gear except first, was offered at no extra cost.
It used a hydraulic clutch.
Overdrive was locked out during rigorous acceleration above specified speeds and when a console switch was activated.
Under the chassis were an aluminum drive shaft, forged-aluminum suspension arms, and a fiberglass transverse leaf spring.
Power rack-and-pinion steering and power four-wheel disc brakes were standard.
Optional Goodyear 50-series "uni-directional" tires were designed for mounting on a specific wheel.
Inside, an electronic instrument panel featured both analog and digital LCD readouts in either English or metric measure.
A Driver Information System between the speedometer and tachometer gave a selection of switch-chosen readings.
At the driver's left was the parking brake.
Corvette's ample standard equipment list included an advanced (and very necessary) theft-prevention system with starter-interrupt.
Other standard equipment included: air conditioning; power windows; electronic-tuning seek/scan AM/FM stereo radio with digital clock; reclining bucket seats; leather-wrapped tilt/telescope steering wheel; luggage security shade; and side window defoggers.
Body colors were
- White
- Bright Silver Metallic
- Medium Gray Metallic
- Black
- Light Blue Metallic
- Medium Blue Metallic
- Gold Metallic
- Light Bronze Metallic
- Dark Brown Metallic
- Bright Red
Two-tone options were
- Silver and Medium Gray
- Light Blue and Medium Blue
- Light Bronze and Dark Bronze
Interior colors came in Carmine; Bronze; Graphite; Medium Blue; Medium Gray; and Saddle

VIN Numbers

The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
The Serial numbers ranged from 1G1AY07*2E5100001 to 1G1AY07*2E5151547

Position	Character	Description
1	1	US built
2	G	General Motors product
3	1	Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
4	A	Type of non-passive passenger restraint system
5	Y	Corvette car line series
6 & 7	07	Body style number: two-door hatchback coupe
8	8	5.7-liter Cross-Fire Injection (CFI) Chevrolet V8
9	?	A check digit that calculates the characters in the serial number and gives it a single digit code and can be used to verify that the serial number is legitimate
10	E	The model year 1984
11	5	Bowling Green, KY
12-17	100001 and up	production sequence

Engine serial number began 0001001
Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter engine code suffix
Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when the engine was built
- The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
- The one or two numbers shows the month
- The last digit shows the year
Engine suffixes:

Code	Engine	Horsepower	Compression	Transmission	Fuel Supply	Emission Control System
ZFC	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	THM automatic	cross-fire fuel injection
ZFD	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	manual	cross-fire fuel injection
ZFF	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	THM automatic	cross-fire fuel injection	California
ZFH	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	THM automatic	cross-fire fuel injection	for export
ZFJ	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	manual	cross-fire fuel injection	for export
ZFK	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	THM automatic	cross-fire fuel injection
ZFM	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	THM automatic	cross-fire fuel injection	California
ZFN	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	THM automatic	cross-fire fuel injection	California
ZFR	L83 350-cid	205-hp V-8	9.0:1	THM automatic	cross-fire fuel injection	California

The 1984 Corvette exterior colors were:
- 10 = White
- 16 = Bright Silver
- 18 = Medium Gray Metallic
- 19 = Black
- 20 = Light Blue Metallic
- 23 = Medium Blue Metallic
- 53 = Gold Metallic
- 63 = Light Bronze Metallic
- 66 = Dark Bronze Metallic
- 72 = Bright Red
- 16/18 = Silver and Medium Gray
- 20/23 = Light Blue and Medium Blue
- 83/66 = Light Bronze and Dark Bronze
Upholstery Codes

Color	Cloth & Leather Upholstery	Sport Cloth Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
Green	12C	12V
Medium Gray	15C	15V	152
Medium Blue	28C	28V
Saddle	62C	62V	622
Bronze	65C	65V	652
Graphite			122
Carmine			742

IDENTIFICATION

Model	Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
Corvette	1Y	Y07	2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger	$21,800	3088	51,547

ENGINE

TRANSMISSION

Feature	Standard Engine (RPO L83)
Type	V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
Block	Cast iron block
Displacement	350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke	4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio	9.0:1
Brake horsepower	205 @ 4200
Torque	290 lb-ft @ 2800
Main bearing	five
Valve lifters	hydraulic
Fuel supply	Cross-fire fuel injection (twin TBI - throttle body injection)

CHASSIS

Feature	Coupe
Wheelbase	96.2 inches (2.443 m)
Overall length	176.5 inches (4.483 m)
Overall width	71.0 inches (1.803 m)
Overall height	46.7 inches (1.186 m)
Front tread	59.6 inches (1.514 m)
Rear tread	60.4 inches (1.534 m)
Standard Wheel size	15 x 7 inches
Optional Wheel size	16 x 8 inches
Standard Tires	P215/65R-15
Optional Tires	P225/50VR-16
Steering	rack and pinion (power assisted)
Front suspension	Single fiberglass composite monoleaf transverse spring with unequal-length aluminum control arms and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension	Fully independent five-link system with transverse fiberglass single-leaf springs, aluminum upper/lower trailing links and strut-rod tie-rod assembly
Brakes	Four-wheel power disc
Body construction	Unibody with partial front frame
Fuel tank	20 US Gal (16.7 Imp Gal) (76 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO AG9	Power driver seat	$210
RPO AQ9	Sports cloth seats	$210
RPO AR9	Base leather seats	$400
RPO AU3	Power door locks	$165
RPO CC3	Removable transparent roof panel	$595
RPO D84	Two-tone paint	$428
RPO FG3	Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers	$189
RPO G92	Performance axle ratio	$22
RPO KC4	Engine oil cooler	$158
RPO K34	Cruise control	$185
RPO MM4	Four-speed manual transmission	no-cost option
RPO QZD	P255/50VR-16 tires and 16-inch wheels	$561.20
RPO ULS	Radio delete	$331 credit
RPO UM6	AM-FM stereo radio with cassette	$153
RPO UN8	AM-FM stereo with Citizens Band	$153
RPO UU8	Delco-Bose stereo system	$895
RPO VO1	Heavy-duty radiator	$57
RPO YF5	California emissions certification	$75
RPO Z51	Performance handling package	$600.20
RPO Z6A	Rear window and side mirror defoggers	$160

HISTORICAL NOTES

Introduced: March 25,1983
Model-year production: 51,547 (in extended model year)
Calendar-year production: 35,661
Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 30,424
Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 53,877 (including 25,891 sold during the 1983 model year)
Car and Driver called the new Corvette "the most advanced production car on the planet."
Motor Trend described it as "the best-handling production car in the world, regardless of price."
Heady praise indeed.
During its year-and-a-half model run, orders poured in well ahead of schedule, even though the new edition cost over $5,000 more than the 1982 version.
The body offered the lowest drag coefficient of any Corvette: just 0.341
Testing at GM's Proving Grounds revealed 0.95G lateral acceleration-the highest ever for a production car.
Only 6,443 Corvettes had a four-speed manual transmission and only 410 came with a performance axle ratio, but 3,729 had Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers installed.

1984 CORVETTE