1985 CORVETTE

  • Two details marked the 1985 Corvette as being different from its newly-restyled 1984 predecessor.
  • The first detail was a new Tuned Port Injection nameplate on fender molding and the second was the straight tailpipes at the rear.
  • That nameplate identified a new 350-cid (5.7-liter) V-8 under the hood.
  • It had a tuned-port-fuel-injection (TPI) system and 230 hp.
  • City fuel economy ratings went up.
  • Otherwise, the only evident change was a slight strengthening in the intensity of the Red and Silver body colors.
  • The Corvette's smoothly-sloped nose, adorned by nothing other than a circular emblem, held retracting halogen headlamps.
  • Wide parking and signal lamps nearly filled the space between license plate and outer body edge.
  • Wide horizontal side marker lenses were just ahead of the front wheels.
  • The large air cleaner of 1982 was replaced by an elongated plenum chamber with eight curved aluminum runners.
  • Mounted ahead of the radiator, it ducted incoming air into the plenum through a Bosch hot-wire mass-airflow sensor.
  • Those tuned runners were meant to boost power at low to medium rpms, following a principle similar to that used for the tall intake stacks in racing engines.
  • Electronic Spark Control (ESC) sensed knocking and adjusted timing to fit fuel octane.
  • Under the chassis, the 1985 Corvette carried a reworked suspension (both standard and optional Z51) to soften the ride without losing control.
  • The Z5l handling package now included 9.5-inch wheels all around, along with Delco-Bilstein gas-charged shock absorbers and a heavy-duty cooling system.
  • The stabilizer bars in the Z51 package were thicker.
  • Spring rates on both suspensions were reduced.
  • Cast aluminum wheels held P255/50VR-16 Eagle GT tires.
  • Brake master cylinders used a new large-capacity plastic booster.
  • Manual gearboxes drove rear axles with 8.5-inch ring gears.
  • The Corvette's instrument-cluster graphics had a bolder look and its root panels added more solar screening.
  • An optional leather-trimmed sport seat arrived at midyear.
  • Corvette standard equipment included
    • an electronic information center
    • air conditioning
    • limited-slip differential
    • power four-wheel disc brakes
    • power steering
    • cornering lamps
    • a seek-and-scan AM/FM stereo radio with four speakers
    • automatic power antenna.
    • cigarette lighter
    • digital clock
    • tachometer
    • intermittent windshield wipers
    • halogen fog lamps
    • side window defoggers.
  • Corvettes had
    • contour high-back cloth bucket seats
    • power windows
    • a trip odometer
    • a theft-deterrent system with starter interrupt
    • a compact spare tire
    • dual electric remote-control sport mirrors
    • tinted glass.
  • Black belt, windshield, and body side moldings, plus color-keyed rocker panel moldings protected the bodies.
  • A four-speed overdrive automatic transmission was standard, with a four-speed manual (with overdrive in three gears) available at no extra cost.
  • Body colors were
    • Silver Metallic
    • Medium Gray Metallic
    • Light Blue Metallic
    • Medium Blue Metallic
    • White
    • Black
    • Gold Metallic
    • Light Bronze Metallic
    • Dark Bronze Metallic
    • Bright Red
  • Two-tone options were
    • Silver and Gray
    • Light Blue and Medium Blue
    • Light Bronze and Dark Bronze
  • Interiors came in Carmine; Bronze; Graphite; Medium Blue; Medium Gray; and Saddle.

I.D. 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 1G1YY07*7F5100001 to 1G1YY07*7F5139729
    PositionCharacterDescription
    11US built
    2GGeneral Motors product
    31Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
    4YType of restraint system
    5YCorvette car line series
    6 & 707Body style number: two-door hatchback coupe
    885.7-liter Tuned-Port-Injection (TPI) 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
    10FThe model year where 1985
    115Bowling Green, KY
    12-17100001 and upproduction 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:
    CodeEngineHorsepowerCompressionTransmissionFuel SupplyExtra features
    ZDFL98 350-cid230-hp V-89.0:1THM automatictuned port injection 
    ZJBL98 350-cid230-hp V-89.0:1manualtuned port injection 
    ZJCL98 350-cid230-hp V-89.0:1THM automatictuned port injectionfor export
    ZJJL98 350-cid230-hp V-89.0:1THM automatictuned port injectionengine oil cooler
    ZJKL98 350-cid230-hp V-89.0:1manualtuned port injectionengine oil cooler
  • The 1985 Corvette exterior colors were:
    • 13 = Silver Metallic
    • 18 = Medium Gray Metallic
    • 20 = Light Blue Metallic
    • 23 = Medium Blue Metallic
    • 40 = White
    • 41 = Black
    • 53 = Gold Metallic
    • 63 = Light Bronze Metallic
    • 66 = Dark Bronze Metallic
    • 81 = Bright Red
    • 13/18 = Silver and Gray
    • 20/23 = Light Blue and Medium Blue
    • 63/66 = Light Bronze and Dark Bronze
  • Upholstery Codes
    ColorCloth & Leather UpholsterySport Cloth UpholsteryLeather Upholstery
    Green12C12V 
    Medium Gray15C15V152
    Medium Blue28C28V282
    Saddle62C62V622
    Bronze65C65V652
    Graphite  122
    Carmine  742

IDENTIFICATION

ModelModel No.Body/Style No.Body TypeFactory PriceShipping WeightProduction Total
Corvette1YY07
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger
$21,800308851,547

ENGINE

FeatureStandard Engine (RPO L98)
TypeV-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
BlockCast iron block
Displacement350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio9.0:1
Brake horsepower230 @ 4000
Torque330 lb-ft @ 3200
Main bearingfive
Valve liftershydraulic
Fuel supplyTuned-port injection (TPI) system

TRANSMISSION

Automatic Transmission
  • Four-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic (TMH 700-R4)
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 3.06:1
    • 2nd = 1.63:1
    • 3rd = 1.00:1
    • 4th = 0.70:1
    • Rev = 2.29:1
  • Final drive ratio: 2.73:1
Manual Transmission
  • Four-speed manual with overdrive
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.88:1
    • 2nd = 1.91:1
    • 3rd = 1.33:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • overdrive = 0.67:1
    • Rev = 2.78:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.07:1 (optional 3.31:1)
  • Planetary overdrive ratios:
    • 2nd = 1.28:1
    • 3rd = 0.89:1
    • 4th = 0.67:1

CHASSIS

FeatureCoupe
Wheelbase96.2 inches (2.443 m)
Overall length176.5 inches (4.483 m)
Overall width71.0 inches (1.803 m)
Overall height46.4 inches (1.179 m)
Front tread59.6 inches (1.514 m)
Rear tread60.4 inches (1.534 m)
Standard Wheel size16 x 8.5 inches
Standard TiresP255/50VR-16 SBR
Steeringrack and pinion (power assisted)
Front suspensionSingle fiberglass composite monoleaf transverse spring with unequal-length aluminum control arms and stabilizer bar
Rear suspensionFully independent five-link system with transverse fiberglass single-leaf springs, aluminum upper/lower trailing links and strut-rod tie-rod assembly
BrakesFour-wheel power disc
Body constructionUnibody with partial front frame
Fuel tank20 US Gal (16.7 Imp Gal) (76 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO AG9Power driver seat$215
RPO AQ9Sports leather seats$1025
RPO AR9Base leather seats$400
RPOSports seats, cloth$625
RPO AU3Power door locks$170
RPO CC3Removable transparent roof panel$595
RPO D84Two-tone paint$428
RPO FG3Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers$189
RPO G92Performance axle ratio$22
RPO K34Cruise control$185
RPO MM4Four-speed manual transmissionno-cost option
RPO UL5Radio delete$256 credit
RPO UN8AM-FM stereo with Citizens Band$215
RPO UU8Delco-Bose stereo system$895
RPO V08Heavy-duty cooling$225
RPO Z51Performance handling package$470
RPO Z6ARear window and side mirror defoggers$160

HISTORICAL NOTES


  • Chevrolet claimed a 17 percent reduction in 0-60 mph times with the TPI power plant.
  • To save weight, Corvettes used not only the fiberglass leaf springs front and rear, but over 400 pounds of aluminum parts (including steering, suspension components and frame members).
  • A total of 14,802 Corvettes had the Z51 performance handling package installed, 9,333 had Delco-Bilstein shocks were ordered separately and only 9,576 had a four-speed manual transmission.
  • Only 16 Corvettes are listed as having a CB radio, and only 82 were sold with an economy rear axle ratio.

1985 CORVETTE PHOTOS


1985 Corvette

LITERATURE & LINKS




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