The C4 Corvette convertible returned for the 1986 model year. Chevrolet had discontinued the convertible after 1975, so the 1986 car restored an open-body style to the fourth-generation lineup.
The return was showcased through the Indianapolis 500: a yellow 1986 Corvette convertible served as the race’s pace car. Chevrolet also produced 7,315 1986 convertibles, and every one carried an Indy 500 console identification plaque, regardless of exterior color. That detail is why many 1986 convertibles are associated with the pace-car story.
The convertible’s return came alongside several notable C4 updates. The 1986 Corvette gained anti-lock brakes, a center high-mounted brake light, electronic climate control, and the Pass Key I theft-deterrent system. Its renewed availability also demonstrated that the C4’s chassis could support an open body after launching primarily as a hatchback coupe.
The common mistake is choosing 1984, the C4’s first regular model year. The generation began with a coupe; the convertible arrived two model years later.