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Illustrated Corvette Series No. 69 - 1985 Corvette
"The Refining Process Begins"

The new C4 Corvette was on the cover of just about every car magazine in the automotive business. Although the '84 Corvette posted amazing skid-pad figures, using the car on real roads was no fun. The two main improvements of the '85 model were a softer suspension and more power.

The press was blown away with the '84 model's handling on the test track, but was very critical of its real-world ride. Chevrolet improved that by decreasing the spring rates by 26 percent in the front and 25 percent in the rear. The springs in the optional Z51 package were reduced by 16 percent in the front and 25 percent in the rear. Despite the changes, some still complained about the ride.

The most exciting new feature for the '85 Corvette was the new L96 fuel-injected engine. There hadn't been a fuelie Corvette since '65, and after years of wheezy performance, this was a welcome change. The new L96 engine was rated at 230 hp – up 25 hp and had 330 lb.ft. of torque up 40 lb-ft from the '84 model. Fuel economy increased by 11 percent.

The additional horsepower and torque really improved the Corvette's performance. One car magazine awarded the '85 Corvette as the "Fastest Car in America," beating out Porsche with a top speed of 150 mph. The 0-to-60 times were between 6.0 and 5.7 seconds!

The only exterior change on the '85 Corvette was the "Tuned Port Injection" inscription on the body molding behind the front wheelwell. Paint options were the same as the '84 model – 10 solid colors and three two-tone potions.

The interior received subtle improvements. Dash graphics were easier to read and a map strap was added to the driver's sunvisor. The optional sport seats were now available in leather for only $1,025! The optional clear roof panels had stronger sun tinting and only cost $595.

The Z51 suspension was priced at only $470. Included were FG3 Delco-Bilstein shocks, heavy-duty cooling, an extra radiator fan, heavy-duty front and rear springs, stabilizer bars, bushings, fast-ratio steering, and 16.5-inch aluminum wheels. The Z51 lowered the car by 3/4-inch.

Base price of the '85 Corvette was now $24,403 – up $2,603 from the previous model. A loaded '85 Corvette cost close to $28,500! Sales were good, but off from '84 with 39,729 units sold.

Showroom Stock racing brought the new fuelie Corvette some much- needed racing interest. The Vettes ran so fast that Porsche bought two and took them apart to see why they were so quick! Considering where the Corvette was in the late '70s, this was sweet revenge for Chevrolet. - K. Scott Teeters