The Last C4 Corvette

Building The Last C4

June 20, 1996 was the day the last Corvette of the C4 generation rolled off the assembly line in Bowling Green, KY. As the last C4 made it's way down the line, the Corvette was followed by workers who literally dismantled the line behind it to make way for the all new C5. Since it's introduction in 1984 - 358,180 C4's were produced at the Bowling Green facility.

1st & Last C4

The 1st C4 and Last C4 Together at the NCM

The Last C4

The Last C4: VIN 1G1YY22P1T5120536

The last C4 marks the end of the most popular run of Corvettes ever...

Article From Corvette Fever -
Text by Greg Pernula,
Photography by Tom Glatch
(Used with Permission)

Throughout the Corvette's storied history, there have been cars that will be forever hailed as milestone achievements. The '57 fuelie is one such legendary Corvette, as is the '63 split-window coupe, the factory racer L88s of the late Sixties and, of course, the late-model ZR-1. On June 21, 1996, history was made when the last of the fourth generation Corvettes was delivered to Mid America Design's President Mike Yager at a special event at the National Corvette Museum.

In a society that celebrates firsts, it is this last that holds special significance in the Corvette world. The delivery of the final C4 marked the end of a hugely popular series that started in 1984 and ended in '96 with more than 330,000 fourth-generation Corvettes created and has left a legacy of technological advancement and overall improvement in its wake.

Video - Building the Last C4
Interview with Mike Yager included:

As the years pass, the fourth generation Corvettes will take their rightful place in Corvette Valhalla, and 1996 LT1 VIN 1G1YY22P1T5120536 represents the last of a proud breed of Corvettes.

The historical significance of the last fourth generation Corvette is not lost on Yager, who began his quest for the sports car last October and worked closely with Chevrolet during the ensuing months leading up to its creation.

"You know, it's like a lot of the first cars. People have them, but the last cars have all disappeared," Yager said. "A lot of time these cars go into collections and no one ever sees them. And you know with Mid-America that everybody is going to see the car. I think it's something neat."

The last C4 is a straight production-line Arctic White LT1 coupe with a few special touches that were applied as the car went down the line. The special commemorative badging and seatback stitching was designed by Mid America and approved by Chevrolet, and Grand Sport hash marks, wheels and rear fender flares were also added to set the car apart.

"Everybody likes to look at the Corvette and see that there is something different about it," Mike said, "All of us like to have a hero and I think that kind of makes this car a hero."

One thing that truly sets this LT1 off from its small-block brethren is evident upon inspection when you start seeing the signatures. While the car was traveling down the line, Yager had each plant worker autograph it. "I just signed the title," Mike said. "I signed on the dotted line."

While the Corvette made its final run down the assembly line, Yager was on hand for two days to watch its birth, and even took wrench in hand to assist putting parts on, such as the right front shock absorber, control arm, wheels and the rear right shock.

An interesting side note to the last C4's build is that while the Corvette assembly was completed on a specific component, a crew following the car disassembled the line equipment literally feet behind the Corvette, leaving no doubt this was the final C4 to make its assembly line run. It's also significant that the engine is truly the last LT1 to come from the Flint, Michigan, engine lant. From now on, LS1 engines will come from GM's Romulus, Michigan, plant. A tag on the engine pallet containing the last LT1 says it all. "After 41 years - The End."

Yager's plans for the last C4 are simple. He's going to display it in as-delivered condition, which includes leaving the plastic seat covers on and keeping the paperwork in the car. And there will never be questions about the pedigree of this Corvette. Yager has reams of paperwork, photography and videotape chronicling the car's history.

Eventually, the Corvette will be permanently housed in Yager's Corvette collection at Mid America's Effingham, Illinois, headquarters. But for a while, the Corvette will make its rounds.

"We are going to loan it out," Mike said. "We've gotten lots of requests from people who want to borrow the car and use it in their museums or for displays, and that's what we intend to do with it."

From: "Corvette Fever Magazine" (Used with Permission)

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