One of the Corvettes judged at an NCRS Mid-Atlantic Regional I attended in 2019 was a 35th Anniversary Edition Corvette coupe. This made it time to write a blog entry about one of the most striking of eighties Corvettes.
“… the influential sports car of the modern era.”
For 1988, the big news for Chevrolet’s Corvette was the 35th Anniversary Edition coupe, which was introduced late in the model year at the New York Auto Show. It was only the second anniversary edition Corvette, following 1978’s Silver Anniversary version. Chevrolet had missed the 30th anniversary (there were no 1983 Corvettes), and one senses that General Motors’ marketing team didn’t want to let another one go by without acknowledgment.
Other improvements for 1988 included carpeted door sills, solution-dyed carpet, and improved “flow-through” ventilation for coupes. A less restrictive muffler system which provided five extra horsepower was standard on coupes with the optional 3.07:1 rear axle ratio (this new muffler system was considered too loud for the standard axle coupes and any convertible). The standard brake rotors were thickened, and Chevrolet made suspension geometry changes to improve control during heavy braking. The Z51 and Z52 packages were upgraded to include P275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle tires on 17 x 9.5 inch wheels. Only available in coupes, the Z51 package also included larger front brake rotors and calipers than in 1987.
The Corvette’s standard powertrain continued to be the L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection paired with a four-speed automatic with overdrive. Depending on the rear axle ratio, horsepower for the coupe was either 240 bhp or 245 bhp. Top speed for the 1988 Corvette was about 155 mph, and Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds. Estimated fuel economy was 16 city/25 highway by the day’s standards (15/23 by today’s measures). With a 20-gallon fuel tank, a Corvette owner could expect a range of 340 to 370 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
Standard exterior and mechanical equipment in the $29,489 base Corvette coupe (about $81,600 in today’s dollars) included power steering, power anti-lock disc brakes, and P255/60ZR16 tires (a size still available thanks to BF Goodrich) on 16-inch x 8.5-inch wheels. Inside, air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, and an ETR AM/FM stereo radio with a clock were all included.
Additional equipment on the $34,284 35th Anniversary Edition coupe (about $94,900 in 2025 dollars or about what a loaded 2025 Stingray coupe goes for) included white leather seats without the otherwise standard perforations, a white steering wheel, and a black roof bow. In a preview of early 1990s Corvettes, the rub strips were body color instead of the usual black.
Options, Packages, & Production Numbers
Optional exterior and mechanical equipment included an electric rear window defogger ($129), the Doug Nash 4+3 manual transmission (no cost), and a performance axle ratio ($22). Optional interior equipment included power driver’s and power passenger’s seats ($240 each), electronic air conditioning ($150), and a Delco/Bose AM/FM stereo radio with a cassette player ($773).
Two handling packages were available: the Z51 performance handling package ($1,295 for a radiator boost fan, Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers, an engine oil cooler, a heavy-duty radiator, 17 x 9.5 inch wheels, P275/40ZR-17 tires, and a fast steering ratio), and the Z52 sport handling package ($970 for Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers, 17 x 9.5 inch wheels, and P275/40ZR-17 tires).
To me, the 35th Anniversary Edition is one of the most differentiated of eighties C4 Corvettes, with only the Callaway Turbos being more distinctive. Chevrolet built 2,050 35th Anniversary Edition coupes, making availability restricted—but not that restricted. This number was out of a total of 15,382 coupes, with an additional 7,407 convertibles sold.
The View From 2025
There is strong club support for the 1988 Corvette, as there is for all Corvettes. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1988 35th Anniversary Edition coupe in #1/Concours condition is $47,700, with a more typical number #3/Good condition car going for $11,400. 1988 Corvettes often show up in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer—as I update this blog entry in April 2025, there’s a 35th Anniversary Edition coupe with 8,100 miles for sale on Hemmings, asking $30,000.
Other eighties Corvettes I have covered include the 1980 coupe, the 1981 coupe, the 1982 coupe, the 1984 hatchback coupe, and the 1986 convertible.
Last updated April 2025.
Eighties Cars 