Car Model History

Fourth generation · C4 · 1984–1996

1989Chevrolet Corvette

A ground-up modern redesign launched as a 1984 model (no public 1983 cars). Home of the Lotus-engineered ZR-1 'King of the Hill' (1990–1995) and the 1996 Grand Sport finale.

Fourth generation · C4

1989 Chevrolet Corvette, C4 fourth generation — black convertible, front three-quarter view

Photo: Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1989 Chevrolet Corvette model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1989 Corvette

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

4factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

4versions shown
Coupe with removable roof panel

Corvette Coupe with removable roof panel — 4-speed automatic

Body
Coupe with removable roof panel
Engine
5.7L L98 Tuned Port Injection V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Coupe with removable roof panel

Corvette Coupe with removable roof panel — 6-speed manual

Body
Coupe with removable roof panel
Engine
5.7L L98 Tuned Port Injection V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Convertible

Corvette Convertible — 4-speed automatic

Body
Convertible
Engine
5.7L L98 Tuned Port Injection V8
Gearbox
4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Convertible

Corvette Convertible — 6-speed manual

Body
Convertible
Engine
5.7L L98 Tuned Port Injection V8
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1989 model year

Overview

The 1989 Chevrolet Corvette was the C4 model-year specification for the U.S. market. Its documented factory range comprised 5.7L L98 Tuned Port Injection V8 with 4-speed automatic or 6-speed manual.

Specifications

Engines
  • 5.7L L98 Tuned Port Injection V8
Transmissions
4-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
Body styles
Coupe with removable roof panel, Convertible

Year over year

What changed

  • A ZF six-speed manual replaced the 4+3 gearbox.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • This page records the U.S. 1989 factory powertrain and body-style range rather than borrowing a nearby model year's specification.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • For a 1989 Corvette, verify the VIN, installed powertrain and service history against the exact-year GM document; age, modifications and deferred maintenance are more useful evidence than generation-wide reputation.
  • Check the NHTSA VIN lookup for unrepaired safety recalls before purchase or road use.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1989 Corvette on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1989 Chevrolet Corvette. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
10
Factory intervals
9
Fitment-scoped
10
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. General Motors Heritage Archive — 1989 Chevrolet Corvette Vehicle Information Kit
  2. NHTSA — VIN recall lookup

Other Fourth generation years

Explore the C4 generation →All Fourth generation · C4 years →

Browse by tag

← All Chevrolet Corvette years