I know, I know… I know.

Jonny, great article. You still have the open invitation to experience less abused versions of Generations 4-6 down here in Houston.

FWIW, this is actually a 1960s design, introduced in 1968 and based on a concept penned earlier in the decade. The 70s mostly contributed the large glass rear window, in place of flying buttresses.

Will we get there without walking?
What still works on this old girl?
Wonder what this car was like when it was new?
And that wonderful feeling that comes from R12 freon flowing through an a/c that unexpectedly works on a hot day…

Those fleeting moments when an old car reaches that sweet speed where the motor is happy, you’re making good time, and where all the squeaks and rattles are silent for a few moments.

I had a ragged to death ‘66 Mustang that HOWLED the whole time I owned it. First car. Bearings for the pinion shaft in the rear axle were worn out and I couldn’t afford to fix it. Howled so bad that under the right conditions I think it made the hubcaps hum.

Anyhow, took it on a 100 mile trip to my grandparents’ house one summer morning and coming into town the howl disappeared for about 4 minutes straight. Maybe it was the right speed, maybe the shaft had shifted in the bearings a thousandth of an inch, or maybe the load on the gears was just so that the bearings were unloaded. Don’t know but for that short time I loved that car and was proud to call it my own.

And before I reached their house the howl was back as loud as before. For a moment though I got to ride in that car when it was 20 years newer.

Keep up the great articles guys!

I had just — literally, not two days ago — talked myself out of buying a 1974 Stringray.

“It’s not a driver’s car,” I told myself. “The handling’s non-existent. The seats are wrong. The steering wheel is bigger than a wagon-wheel. It’s a bad investment. You’ll only drive it on the weekends. Gas is expensive.”

…and so on.

Let me be clear: I’ve wanted a ‘vette since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. This was a chance at buying one. I talked myself out of it.

This review — brilliantly written, hilarious, yes — was the last DANG thing I needed.

A C3 from 68~72 would smoke this particular one. The roadster is near the top of my list of dream cars I might have a chance to one one day, although even I have to admit that a C6 roadster will beat all but the very fastest C3s that had the Rat motor.

C4’s were a drastic quantum improvement over the C3. 1G on the skidpad (the best handling car in the world in 1984, its introductory year). Easily and commonly tweaked for tire-shredding smoky-burnout 12 and 13 second quarter mile runs and 5 second 0-60’s. And best of all, Toyota Prius/SmartCar-level gas mileage. It’s just hilarious to chauffeur rabid import snobs and watch their jaws drop in astonishment at fuel mileage readouts consistently in the 45-50 mpg range on the freeway, then gently nudge it up to an effortless and serene 130 mph.

You can buy spare parts and performance upgrades at most any farm implement store, in the isle right between the lawn fertilizer and the plow and bailer section. Monotonously reliable – C4s routinely achieve 200,000 miles without major rebuilds.

But I do concede that C3’s were prettier.

Me thinks this editorially foreshadows the imminent and inevitable anihilation of the European supercar industry when the Vette ZR1 is soon released.

That gigantic sucking noise that you hear is the Porsche and Ferrari public relations experts helplessly running for cover.

Johnnys writing skills almost had me pine for a Suzuki SX4…………..now thats talent!

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/category/reviews/suzuki/

And you are right that rock and roll will never die. Disco tried to kill it, but only made it stronger.

This is why I read this site. Love it!

The only “fun” road I’ve found is Highway 160 between between south Sacramento and Antioch.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Sacramento,+CA,+USA&daddr=38.417014,-121.526642+to:antioch&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&sll=38.298559,-121.639252&sspn=0.649876,1.109619&ie=UTF8&ll=38.320111,-121.545868&spn=0.649683,1.109619&z=10

Few cops, and the scenery is great this time of year along the River. I drive it in a Mark II MR2 though, not a 240 (no disrespect intended to that fine vehicle).

Great two-parter, Jonny. It makes me want to ditch my current illogical project in waiting and get another illogical project in waiting.

Thanks for complimenting the styling. Every 80s/90s kid loves a C3 Corvette. But as I grew older I began to wonder if I was alone.

Skip the stupid metaphors, puns, and alliteration; don’t waste time talking about the obvious.

I resemble that remark!

If anyone knows of a clean 78-82 anywhere in Austin/Dallas/Houston, by all means post a link please!

*shudder*