1989 Corvette Specs

Total 1989 Corvettes Built- 26,412
9,749 Convertibles
16,663 Coupes

Corvette Coupe: Sports car engineering has now been unequivocally elevated to a fine art. Corvette Coupe, the grand touring edition of America’s exotic car, offers a stunning combination of advanced design, luxurious comfort and stellar performance.

Think of it as an object of art with a 5.4 second 0 to 60 MPH. The editors of leading automotive magazines agree: Corvette Coupe is one of the world’s great cars. By way of example, Car and Driver magazines has included Corvette in its “Ten Best” list for four years running. For those who prefer a closed sports car (and the majority of the world’s “supercars” take this configuration), this Corvette offers a unique advantage: a one-piece removable roof panel that combines Convertible flair with the security of a coupe.

The Coupe is also the most aerodynamic Corvette, an important reason why this is the body style selected by professional racing teams. In fact, the current-generation Corvette Coupe, specially modified for racing, has won more SCCA-sanctioned competition events than any other car in its class. Yet the street version of Corvette is one of the world’s most refined grand touring automobiles, as composed on the interstate (or autobahn) as it is aggressive in wheel-to-wheel competition.

Exterior Design: The 1989 Coupe is unmistakably Corvette, from the dramatic sweep of the hood to the wraparound rear glass.

Highlights of the exterior design include: Lustrous base-coat/clear-coat paint, newly standard 17” x 9 ½” cast-aluminum wheels and P275/40ZR-17 unidirectional Eagle tires, retractable halogen headlamps, halogen fog lamps, and front and rear cornering lamps, frameless glass rear hatch with three remote releases, and of course, corrosion-proof fiberglass body panels.

The Corvette Interior: Corvette offers superbly luxurious and ergonomically correct seating for two. This exciting sports car environment includes: Standard sport cloth bucket seats are new styled. New leather seats and a new leather sport seats with power adjustments are optional. Complete electronic instrumentation with analog and digital displays. Standard air-conditioning, AM/FM stereo with cassette player, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, Tilt-Telescopic steering wheel and intermittent wipers.

Corvette Convertible: Simply put, its styling is like a breath of fresh air. Corvette Convertible provides a perfect balance of top-down exhilaration and performance technology unique to Corvette. And many drivers will have their Corvette no other way. The emotional appeal of the Convertible Corvette is undeniable – and enduring. Decades from now, this car will be remembered as a milestone achievement in automotive artistry. Convertible engineering: Significantly, this Corvette has been designed as a Convertible. To ensure the highest quality standards, the Convertible is custom-crafted on a special final assembly line within the Bowling Green, Kentucky Corvette Plant.

Convertible specifics include: A manually operated, aerodynamically designed Convertible top with headliner and acrylic rear window. Choose from three top colors, depending on exterior color selected: Black, White, or Saddle, A covered well into which the top completely disappears, there is no unsightly boot to mar the top-down appearance, fully independent suspension tuned specifically for the Convertible. Naturally the Convertible is equipped with a full roster of luxury features, including air conditioning, Delco AM/FM stereo with cassette tape player, power windows and door locks, and Tilt-Telescopic steering wheel. Optional equipment includes the acclaimed Delco/Bose stereo sound system, electronic control air conditioning and leather interior trim in a choice of five colors.

Performance: The king of the production sports car is obviously intent on retaining its crown. Corvette is a creature of raw power, sophisticated performance features and state-of-the-art sports car comfort. It continues to be truly phenomenal machine – one designed to have its way with any road. An automobile’s track record says a lot about stamina under pressure. And after winning the Sports Car Club of America’s Escort Endurance Championship three years running. Corvette has established that there is no real competition for America’s own production sports car. So, 1988 ushered in the SCCA Corvette Challenge 50 world-class drivers with identical Corvettes in a 10-race series. The series features identical stock Corvettes equipped with the Z51 Performance Handling Package and safety modifications necessary for racing. The reward for people who pilot Corvettes to racing victories is, in a great part, glory. The 1989 Corvette owner’s reward is an automobile improved in dozens of different ways as a direct result of racing experience.

5.7 Liter V8 With Tuned-Port Fuel Injection: At the heart of Corvette performance is the 5.7 Liter V8 with TPI. In addition to one of the world’s most advanced fuel management systems, this V8 features aluminum cylinder heads, high-left camshaft and a low-restriction dual exhaust system. The result is exotic-class power with dramatic low-end punch.

New 6-Speed Manual Transmission: Corvette ups the performance ante with a 6-speed manual transmission. A unique feature of this fully synchronized transmission is computer-aided gear selection, helping to ensure proper gear selection during certain driving modes. The 6-speed is a no-cost option; a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission is standard equipment.

Bosch ABS II Anti-Lock Braking System: This advanced braking system helps the driver to retain maneuverability under full braking. When called upon to do some the computer-controlled anti-lock system can adjust brake pressure as many as 15 times per second, a rate even the most skillful driver cannot attain. Bosh ABS II is combined with a four-wheel disc system for state-of-the-art stopping power. 4-Wheel Independent Suspension: The precisely engineered Corvette suspension includes fiberglass-composite, front and rear transverse springs with computer-selected spring rates, a rear independent design with 5-link connections and forged-aluminum components. The specifications also include power rack-and-pinion steering, an aircraft-inspired “uniframe” and unidirectional Goodyear Eagle ZR40-series 17” tires.

For 1989, Corvette performance is enhanced with standard Delco/Bilstein gas-charged shocks and fast-ration steering (13:1).

Optional Z51 Package: The Z51 Performance Handling Package adds competition-born precision to Corvette ride and handling. The Package includes heavy-duty front and rear springs and stabilizer bars, heavy-duty brakes, heavy-duty radiator, radiator boost, cooling fan, 3.54:1 rear axle ratio, 8 ½ inch ring gear and power steering cooler. The Z51 Performance Handling Package is available on Corvette Coupe with 6-speed manual transmission only. Recommended for specialized uses.

Selective Ride Control: Bilstein Selective Ride Control (RPO Fx3) is an innovative new suspension option available exclusively on the 1989 Corvette Coupe with the Z51 Performance Handling Package and 6-Speed manual transmission. Fx3 allows the driver to select one of the three system settings (touring, sport, or perf) by rotating a switch on the console panel. Each switch position provides six different shock absorbers damping levels – depending on vehicle speed. As speed increases, damping levels automatically increase. FX3 is an electro-mechanical system that uses electric motors to vary the proportioning valve orifice in each shock absorber to change the shock’s damping characteristics. With the help of a computer-control module, superior ride quality as well as a stunning handling can be achieved simply by flipping a switch.

Standard Features: You may not care to add a thing to the 1989 Corvette.

Sport Cloth Seats: These new deeply contoured sport cloth bucket seats feature adjustable backrests and padded side bolster (available in black and saddle).

Anti-theft features: PASS-key (Personal Automotive Security System) is a special ignition system utilizing a module with a resister decoder and an ignition key with a pellet of specified resistance. In addition to PASS-key, an anti-theft horn alarm circuit and starter interrupt are standard on every 1989 Corvette.

AM/FM Stereo Radio with Cassette Tape Player: This electronically tuned Delco AM/FM stereo music system features Seek and Scan, cassette tape player, digital clock and power antenna.

Electronic Speed Control: Electronic speed control included a convenient resume-speed feature and a speed adjustment that allows you to change your speed in precise 1-MPH increments.

Air conditioning: Standard on every Corvette, Climate Control system also included heater, defroster, and side window defoggers. An electric rear window defogger is standard on Corvette Coupe.

Unidirectional ZR40 Tires: For 1989, the largest standard tire/wheel combination ever offered: P275/40Zr-17 Goodyear Eagle Unidirectional tires on 17” x 9 ½” aluminum alloy wheels.

Additional Standard Features: Power Team/Chassis/Mechanical, Bosch ABS II anti-lock braking system, choice of 6-speed manual transmission or automatic transmission with overdrive fourth gear, Delco Freedom Plus II battery with sealed side terminals, electric engine cooling fan, electric in-tank fuel pump, exclusive transverse front and rear springs with monoleaf glass-epoxy construction, 5.7 Liter V8 engine with Tuned-Port Fuel Injection and aluminum cylinder heads, forged aluminum front and rear suspension arms, fully independent front and rear suspension, limited-slip differential, magnesium engine valve covers, single-belt engine accessory drive. Power rack-and-pinion steering, stainless steel exhaust pipes, catalytic converter exhaust manifolds and free-flow mufflers, uniframe body construction, 100 percent galvanized and dip-painted. Exterior: Concealed wipers with integral washers in wiper arms, corrosion-proof fiberglass body panels, designed-in body-side moldings, dual electric remote-controlled heated sport mirrors, dual halogen fog lamps, frameless rear hatch glass with three remote releases (Coupe), front and rear cornering lamps, full-tilting clamshell hood, retractable halogen headlamps, tinted and flush-mounted glass. Interior: Center console with shifter, coin tray cigarette lighter and ashtray, plus controls for power windows, radio, air conditioning and electric mirrors, day/night rearview mirror with integral map light, Delco AM/FM stereo radio with Seek and Scan, cassette tape player, four speakers and digital clock, Driver information system providing average MPG and cruising range in digital readouts, electronic liquid-crystal instrumentation with multi-colored analog and digital display. Readouts include: speedometer, 6,000-RPM tachometer, fuel level, oil pressure, oil temperature, voltmeter, Conventional readouts for odometer, turn signals and high-beam headlamps, headlamps-on reminder, high-intensity interior lamps, illuminated right hand visor mirror, intermittent windshield wipers, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power door locks, power windows, and Tilt-Telescopic steering column.

Colors: Black, Medium Blue Metallic, Dark Blue Metallic, Charcoal Metallic, Gray Metallic, White, Bright Red, Dark Red Metallic

Standard Cloth Seat: This Fully reclining bucket seat is deeply contoured and beautifully trimmed in rich sport cloth (available in Black and Saddle)
Optional Leather Seat: The luxury of genuine leather seating surfaces is optional at extra cost (available in Blue, Black, Gray, Red, and Saddle)
Optional Leather Sport Seat: A new, body-shaped leather sport seat with full lumbar power adjustment is optional on Corvette coupe with the Z51 Performance Handling Package (requires two additional options: power six-way driver and passenger seat adjustments)

Transmissions: Choice of standard 4-speed automatic with overdrive ad high-stall torque converter or no-cost-option 6-speed manual.

Optional Equipment: A wide choice of comfort, convenience, appearance and performance options makes Corvette an even more personal sports car. Some of the options for the 1989 include:

Delco/Bose AM/FM Stereo Music System: Corvette’s ultimate stereo option offers sound so real that it’s been rated by experts as one of the best stereo systems available in a production automobile. The Delco/Bose Music System is comprised of a receiver and four bass reflex amplifier/speaker enclosures engineered specifically for window placement, angle and density of glass, seating position and cockpit configuration. Each speaker has its own built-in equalizer network. Other features of the system include: AM/FM stereo reception with automatic adjustment, electronic tuning with Seek and Scan, Dynamic Noise Reduction (DNR) and Dolby Sound Noise Reduction to reduce high-frequency “hiss” on AM, FM and cassette tape. Also included: tape player with automatic reverse and music search feature; 100 watts of power, separate treble and bass controls.

Z51 Performance Handling Package: This is an optional suspension package featuring components proven in SCCA-sanctioned Showroom Stock Series racing. Equipment included heavy-duty springs and stabilizer bars, heavy-duty brakes, radiator boost cooling fan, 3.54:1 rear axle ratio, 8 ½-inch ring gear and power steering cooler. The Z51 Performance Handling Package is available on Corvette Coupe with 6-speed manual transmission only. Recommended for specialized uses.
Selective Ride Control: New for the 1989, Selective Ride Control is the ultimate Corvette suspension option. This computerized system allows the driver to select one of the three suspension settings (touring, Sport or Perf) via a console-mounted switch. Ride firmness automatically increases as speed increases. Selective Ride Control is available on Corvette Coupe with 6-speed manual transmission only. Requires optional Z51 Performance Handling Package.

Electronic Air Conditioning: This electronic control system features easy-to-use, color-coded push buttons and a digital temperature adjuster. The temperature automatically maintained. An optional display registers outside air temperature.

Leather Sport Seats: New, aggressively contoured leather-sport seats include a six-way power adjustment and full-power lumbar adjustment. Available on Corvette Coupe with the optional Z51 Performance Handling Package only.

Low Tire Pressure Warning System: New for 1989. A transmitter in each tire measures tire pressure and activated a warning message if pressure is under 28 psi.

Additional Optional Equipment: Axle (Performance Ratio), engine block heater, engine oil cooler, illuminated video mirror (driver’s side), radiator cooling boost fan, heavy-duty radiator, leather trimmed seats, power six-way adjustment seats, transparent roof panel (Coupe only).