Supercharged Driver: 1989 Chevrolet Corvette

Over the years, if you spend enough time as a collector of older vehicles, you eventually have people start calling you to ask if you want something else dropped off in your driveway. This can sometimes result in a non-running vehicle ending up at your abode, which is not necessarily a bad thing if, a.) you want to restore said vehicle, or b.) said vehicle has some parts on it worthy of selling off to other enthusiasts. In the case of this supercharged 1989 Chevrolet Corvette, it’s not going for peanuts and the seller isn’t giving it away, but it’s still pretty darn cheap in light of the parts that are on it.

The seller is up front about the fact that this Corvette doesn’t run well. He notes he can hear “…lifter tap.” He also discloses that it runs rich. However, the ProCharger supercharger and intercooler setup is worth around $7,000, according to the listing, which makes the kit alone worth more than the current bid price. Interestingly, if you read up on this kit on the web forums, there’s lots of support for it, but most members of the C4 community attest to the fact that you can encounter running issues if you don’t overhaul, or otherwise beef up, other aspects of the drivetrain.

Some of the additional upgrades users mention having done as part of the supercharger install include an upgraded intake, heads,  camshaft, and exhaust. I’ve also seen references to upgrading the fuel pump, too. So, the question is this: has the seller already made these improvements, and the running issues are unrelated, or if these parts haven’t been installed, could the Corvette be a runner with some component swapping? The Corvette otherwise looks quite tidy, with a gorgeous red leather interior and sharp ZR-1 wheels.

Cosmetically, the Corvette has some minor issues. The seller notes that the targa top has “minor damage” and that the hood needs new latches. The paint is also faded on the rear taillight panel, but I wonder if that can be brought back to life with some heavy buffing. Looking at the back of the car, it appears the exhaust has been upgraded, so perhaps some of the work I mentioned above has already been done. One last thought: could the rough running issues be addressed with a new engine tune? That’s another potential area to make a tweak or two to see if it improves driveability. Would you take a chance on this supercharged Corvette? Check it out here on eBay.