GM Improves the 1987 Corvette inside and out but cannot Win Back Buyers
The 1987 Corvette gave way to several changes for the year all in an effort to gain back a waning buying population. From added speed to added comfort, the engineering department at GM pulled out many stops but in the end it simply wasn’t enough.
For 1987, Chevy revamped the Corvette engine in an attempt to improve the fuel economy and improve performance by lessening the friction. The result saw rollers being added to the Vette engine’s lifters for an end result pick up of ten horsepower. This brought the total horsepower up to 240 and also increased the torque by 15 foot pounds up to 345.
The 1987 Corvette’s engine improvements saw it go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.3 seconds. The car would also do a standing quarter mile run in 15.11 seconds at a peak speed of almost 94 miles per hour. As far as fast went, the 1987 Corvette did not disappoint.
Inside the 1987 Corvette were all the comforts of the years past models and then some. While buyers knew that they were indeed obtaining a performance car, when sitting indie it was hard not to feel as though a luxury car was being driven. One of the more notable changes to the interior of the 1987 Corvette was the edition of the optional six way power seat for the passenger side if desired.
The biggest news though came by way of suspension options. A buyer of the 1987 Corvette had the choice of opting for either a Z51 suspension upgrade or a Z52 Upgrade and they broke down as follows:
- Z51: This option was the top of the line race inspired suspension that featured stiffer springs and upgraded bushings. Also included was a solid rear stabilizer that added even more grip when cornering.
- Z52: This option was basically a lighter and softer version of the Z51. While springs and bushings were carried over from the base model chassis, the wider wheels and enhanced anti-roll bar made for a much nicer handling ride from the base line model. This package was only available on manual transmission for the 1987 year.
While not a factory option, if a buyer was serious about speed and didn’t mind dropping an extra 20 grand then they could opt for the installation of a Calloway Twin Turbo Engine package. The special engine that was installed at the Calloway plant in Connecticut saw the 1987 Corvette put out 345 horsepower and would have the car burn a top speed of just under 178 miles per hour. However, with the base price of the Corvette now at $27,999 there were few takers on the special package with only 184 paying the price for perfection.
Once again the 1987 Corvette did not disappoint in any department except for one; sales. Continuing a downward trend the 1987 Corvette moved 30,632 units which was lower than the year before. On a bright note, the convertible sales did better than 1986 but overall it was another lackluster showing for the super car.
Tags: 1987 Corvette, Corvette, Z51
