1984-1996 C4 Corvette history and memories. The secret's out!

When the “C4” Corvette debuted in 1984, I was certain that it was, without a doubt, the most amazing car I had ever seen in my life. At the time, it was state-of-the-art in every way. The suspension was like a work of art. The liquid crystal gauges were at the height of high-tech. Everything, from the unidirectional tires and wheels, to the shape of the optional lumbar adjustable leather seats, to the design of the air filter cover was just perfect. My dad brought a few of them home as company cars when they were new, and I thought riding in them was absolute heaven. I’m not the only one who has great memories of these cars, though. The fourth-generation Corvette, which was produced between 1984 and 1996, is becoming more popular all the time. Right now it’s one of the biggest bargains out there, but get it while you can. The secret's out, and they’ll never be worth any less than right now.

The National Corvette Museum. More than just a sinkhole

I’ve told you repeatedly how much I love Corvettes.  I find them at car shows and auctions all the time.  I’ve been to Corvette-only events.  I’ve written test drive reports about them.   But I’ve never been to the mecca of Corvettes.  Until now.  The National Corvette Museum is only about an hour north of Nashville in Bowling Green, Ky.  Once I figured that out, it didn’t take me long to get there.  You probably know that this museum has been in the news quite a bit lately because of the sinkhole that swallowed up a few of the Corvettes on display.  But I can tell you that there’s a lot more to this museum than that.

Exclusive first test-drive of the new 1961 Corvette

There was plenty of excitement on the streets of Kansas City this week when we were given the key to one of the first 1961 Corvettes in town.  No, this isn’t a complete overhaul of America’s only true sports car, but people certainly noticed the changes.  Never have we had a car that drew such a crowd everywhere it went.  The Corvette continues to be an object of desire for many, and after our time behind the wheel, we can easily see why.

2014 Corvette Stingray paces the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500. Our annual look at Chevrolet Indy pace car history

When you tune into the 97th-Annual Indianapolis 500 this weekend, there will be one car out there that nobody can pass. I’m talking, of course, about the pace car. And for the 12th year in a row, and the 12th time in history, a Chevrolet Corvette is getting that distinctive honor.

This time, it’s the 2014 Corvette Stingray. This is an all-new Corvette from the ground-up, and this will be the first time most people have ever seen one on the move. It will be painted in Laguna Blue Tintcoat, with all the requisite graphics and safety lights. Mechanically, it won’t differ from the production model, which is scheduled to arrive in showrooms this fall. The 6.2-liter, 450-hp LT1 V8 should have no trouble staying ahead of the field.

First look: 2014 Corvette Stingray from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit

Not long ago, we posted a quick Corvette history with an example of every year of production Corvette from 1953 to 2013.  Well, this is the long-anticipated continuation of that story, because I was in Detroit this week to see the unveiling of the radical new 2014 Corvette Stingray.

60 years of Corvette! 1953-2013

Did you know that 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette?  Since the Corvette is admittedly my favorite car, I couldn't let this momentous occasion pass by without a little recognition.

What other car elicits such widespread admiration as the Corvette? And I'm talking about every single year, from the first production car in 1953, right up until the latest Corvettes that are rolling off the line in Bowling Green, Ken. To prove that point, I'm including a slideshow at the end of this article with pictures of every single year the Corvette was produced. I took every one of these pictures myself, mostly at car shows around Kansas City.