We have seen eight generations of the Chevrolet Corvette since its unveiling as a "dream automobile" at the General Motors Motorama in New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January 1953.

The Corvette has equaled European sports cars in terms of appearance and performance, but it hasn't always been the ideal option for enthusiasts seeking exceptional performance. Why is this? The answer always boils down to style, and the C4 Chevrolet Corvette may not be the best when it comes to design and aesthetic. We have seen cars that we just can't get over – classy, gracious, beautiful, irresistible, but a great car is more than just looks. Is it comfortable, is it drivable and is it reliable?

Chevrolet produced the fourth generation of the Corvette, the C4 Corvette, from 1984 to 1996, as a replacement for the C3 Corvette. Today, the C4 is criminally underrated, but we believe there is more to the car than people realize.

Related: A Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Tries Its Luck Against An MG Wagon With A Ford Mustang Engine

The Features Of The C4 Chevrolet Corvette

C4 Chevrolet Corvette front
Via Mecum

This generation of the Corvette witnessed a return to the big, high-performance engines — exemplified by the 375-horsepower LTS that came with the ZR-1. The latter models of the C3 had engines that were just a bit over 200 horsepower.

The Corvette received criticism prior to the C4 for its lack of structural stiffness, which caused considerable drag and made the driving experience exhausting. To address this issue, the company developed an all aluminum suspension system for the fourth-generation Corvette that employed strong shock absorbers and spring rates that were quite high. The final setup had rack-and-pinion steering and effective anti-roll bars, vented discs all around, and unidirectional tires.

Every model of the C4 Corvette produced from 1984 to 1996 is RWD and sports a 5.7-liter V8 engine, despite the modest differences in the powertrains between the various models. The engine lineup included the "Cross-fire injection" V8 with 205 horsepower in the 1984 model, the L98 V8 with 250 horsepower, the LT1 with 300 horsepower, the LT4 with 330 horsepower and the trump card, the 405 horsepower V8 in the ZR-1 sport. The transmission options include a four-speed automatic, four-speed and six-speed manual transmission.

The 350 cubic-inch engine of the 1984 C4 propelled the vehicle to 60 mph in a solid 7.3 seconds. It ran the quarter-mile in 14.62 seconds at a speed of 87.2 mph, and reached a top speed of 150 mph. The ZR-1 with the base 375 horsepower V8 clocked 0-60 mph in just 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 179 mph – an impressive number even today.

The Iconic C4 ZR-1

C4 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Mecum Auctions

The C4 ZR-1 is probably the superstar of the C4 Chevrolet Corvette. It was the result of the partnership between General Motors and Lotus, a performance automobile manufacturer and engineering consultant based in the UK.

The ZR-1 was a street-legal homologation race car tagged "Corvette from Hell" by Chevrolet. The company, in an attempt to keep up with hot competition from European automakers in the C4 Corvette segment in the areas of power, performance, and speed, made the ZR-1, and it was a hit.

The ZR-1 came out with a Lotus-designed LT5 V8 engine with 375 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. In the 1993 ZR-1 C4, Lotus upgraded it to 405 horsepower with a motorsport-style six-speed manual transmission, unique suspension and capable brakes. The downside to the incredible car was in the design and interior area. Chevrolet failed to give it an upgrade that would make it as appealing as its competitors from other brands, especially those from luxury-centric European automakers.

Related: A Closer Look At The Ferrari SP51 V12 One-Off Topless Exotic Supercar

Here's How Much The Chevrolet Corvette C4 Cost Today

C4 Chevrolet Corvette rear
Via Mecum

It is sad to say that with all the numbers and achievements of the C4 Corvette, its reputation today is below expectations. If you're on the lookout for a sports car without breaking the bank, the C4 could be the car for you. It offers power, high performance and a design that looks good even years later. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of a 1994 C4 is around $12,000, but this will obviously depend on the condition and mileage of the car. It's a great consideration for such a cool looking sports car.

If you're looking for that little extra, however, the 405-hp ZR1 version, however, can command a lot more in the used car market, in the region of $70,000.

Sources: Kelley Blue Book