1987 CORVETTE

  • Except for the addition of roller hydraulic lifters to the Corvette's 350-cid (5.7-liter) V-8, little changed this year.
  • Horsepower got a boost to 240 thanks to new friction-cutting roller-type valve lifters.
  • The 1987 Corvettes also had a higher fuel-economy rating.
  • Joining the option list was an electronic tire-pressure monitor that signaled a dashboard light to warn of low pressure in any tire.
  • Two four-speed transmissions were available: manual or automatic.
  • Standard equipment included power steering; power four-wheel disc brakes (with anti-locking); air conditioning; a theft-deterrent system; tinted glass; twin remote-control mirrors; power windows; intermittent wipers; tilt/telescope steering column; and an AM/FM seek/scan radio.
  • Both the centers and slots of the wheels (unpainted in 1986) were now finished in Argent Gray.
  • Corvettes colors were
    • Silver Metallic
    • Medium Gray Metallic
    • Medium Blue Metallic
    • Yellow
    • White
    • Black
    • Gold Metallic
    • Silver Beige Metallic
    • Copper Metallic
    • Medium Brown Metallic
    • Dark Red Metallic
    • Bright Red.
  • Two-tone combinations were
    • Silver and Gray
    • Gray and Black
    • White and Silver
    • Silver Beige and Medium Brown
  • Interior trims came in Blue; Black; Bronze; Graphite; Medium Gray; Red; Saddle; and White.
  • A removable body-colored roof panel for hatchbacks or body-colored convertible top were standard, along with cloth-upholstered seats.

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 Coupe serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY21*2H5100001 to 1G1YY21*2H5130632
  • The Convertible serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY31*2H5100001 to 1G1YY31*2H5130632
    PositionCharacterDescription
    11US built
    2GGeneral Motors product
    31Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
    4YType of restraint system
    5YCorvette car line series
    62 or 3Body style number
    2 = Two door hatchback style 07, 08, 77, or 87
    3 = Two door convertible style 67
    71 or 21=Manual seat belts
    2=Automatic seat belts
    885.7-liter Tuned-Port-Injection Chevrolet or GM of Canada 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
    10HThe model year where 1987
    115Bowling Green, KY
    12-17100001 and upproduction sequence for coupes and convertibles
  • 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
    ZJNL98 350-cid240-hp V-89.5:1THM automatictuned port injection 
    ZLCL98 350-cid240-hp V-89.5:1manualtuned port injectionengine oil cooler
    ZLBL98 350-cid240-hp V-89.5:1 tuned port injectionfor export
    ZLAL98 350-cid240-hp V-89.5:1THM automatictuned port injection
  • The 1987 Corvette exterior colors were:
    • 13 = Silver Metallic;
    • 18 = Medium Gray Metallic;
    • 20 = Medium Blue Metallic
    • 35 = Yellow
    • 40 = White
    • 41 = Black
    • 53 = Gold Metallic
    • 59 = Silver Beige Metallic;
    • 66 = Copper Metallic
    • 69 = Medium Brown Metallic
    • 74 = Dark Red Metallic
    • 81 = Bright Red
    • 13/18 = Silver and Gray
    • 18/41 = Gray and Black
    • 40/13 = White and Silver
    • 59/69 = Silver Beige and Medium Brown.
  • Upholstery Codes
    ColorCloth UpholsteryLeather Upholstery
    Green12C 
    Medium Gray15C152
    Blue21C212
    Saddle62C622
    Bronze65C652
    Graphite 122
    Red 732

IDENTIFICATION

ModelModel No.Body/Style No.Body TypeFactory PriceShipping WeightProduction Total
Coupe1YY07
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger
$27,999321620,007
Convertible1YY67
2-dr. Convertible - 2 passenger
$33,172327910,625

ENGINE

FeatureStandard Engine (RPO L98)
TypeV-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
BlockCast iron block and aluminum cylinder head
Displacement350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio9.5:1
Brake horsepower240 @ 4000
Torque345 lb-ft @ 3200
Main bearingfive
Valve liftershydraulic
Fuel supplyTuned-port induction (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: 2.59:1 or 3.07:1
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

CHASSIS

FeatureCoupeConvertible
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 TiresP245/50VR-16 or P255/50VR-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 AC1Power passenger seat$240
RPO AC3Power driver seat$240
RPO AQ9Leather sports seats$1025
RPO AR9Base leather seats$400
RPO AU3Power door locks$190
RPO B2KCallaway Twin Turbo installed by Callaway Engineering$19,995
RPO B4PRadiator boost fan$75
RPO C2LDual removable roof panels for coupe$915
RPO 24SRemovable roof panels with blue tint for coupe$615
RPO 64SRemovable roof panels with bronze tint for coupe$615
RPO C68Electronic air conditioning control$150
RPO DL8Twin remote heated mirrors for convertible$35
RPO D74Illuminated driver vanity mirror$58
RPO D84Two-tone paint on hatchback$428
RPO FG3Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers$189
RPO G92Performance axle ratio 3.07:1$22
RPO KC4Engine oil cooler$110
RPO K34Cruise control$185
RPO MM4Four-speed manual transmissionno-cost option
RPO NN5California emissions requirements$99
RPO UL5Radio delete$256 credit
RPO UM6AM-FM stereo radio with cassette$132
RPO UU8Delco-Bose stereo system$905
RPO V0lHeavy-duty radiator$40
RPO Z51Performance handling package for hatchback$795
RPO Z52Sport handling package$470
RPO Z6ARear window and side mirror defoggers for coupe$165

HISTORICAL NOTES


  • Introduced: October 9, 1986.
  • Model-Year Production: 30,632.
  • Calendar-year production (U.S.): 28,514.
  • Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 25,266.
  • A $19,995 Callaway Twin-Turbo engine package could be ordered through specific Chevrolet dealers as B2K.
  • Cars that received this package were sent from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to the Callaway factory in Old Lyme, Connecticut, to receive engine modifications and other upgrades.
  • A total of 184 Callaway Twin-Turbos were built (21 coupes and 63 convertibles).
  • The 1987 Callaways had 345 hp and 465 lbs.-ft. of torque.
  • All had manual transmissions and were not certified for sale in the state of California.
  • For 1987 Callaway Twin-Turbo Corvettes a different engine-coding system was used.
  • Callaway engines were stamped with the first two symbols indicating model year, followed by three symbols indicating order in the Callaway production sequence, followed by four symbols matching the last four digits of the Chevrolet VIN.

1987 CORVETTE PHOTOS


1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

1987 Corvette

LITERATURE & LINKS




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