Two details marked the 1985 Corvette as being different from its newly-restyled 1984 predecessor.
The first detail was a new Tuned Port Injection nameplate on fender molding and the second was the straight tailpipes at the rear.
That nameplate identified a new 350-cid (5.7-liter) V-8 under the hood.
It had a tuned-port-fuel-injection (TPI) system and 230 hp.
City fuel economy ratings went up.
Otherwise, the only evident change was a slight strengthening in the intensity of the Red and Silver body colors.
The Corvette's smoothly-sloped nose, adorned by nothing other than a circular emblem, held retracting halogen headlamps.
Wide parking and signal lamps nearly filled the space between license plate and outer body edge.
Wide horizontal side marker lenses were just ahead of the front wheels.
The large air cleaner of 1982 was replaced by an elongated plenum chamber with eight curved aluminum runners.
Mounted ahead of the radiator, it ducted incoming air into the plenum through a Bosch hot-wire mass-airflow sensor.
Those tuned runners were meant to boost power at low to medium rpms, following a principle similar to that used for the tall intake stacks in racing engines.
Electronic Spark Control (ESC) sensed knocking and adjusted timing to fit fuel octane.
Under the chassis, the 1985 Corvette carried a reworked suspension (both standard and optional Z51) to soften the ride without losing control.
The Z5l handling package now included 9.5-inch wheels all around, along with Delco-Bilstein gas-charged shock absorbers and a heavy-duty cooling system.
The stabilizer bars in the Z51 package were thicker.
Spring rates on both suspensions were reduced.
Cast aluminum wheels held P255/SOVR-16 Eagle GT tires.
Brake master cylinders used a new large-capacity plastic booster.
Manual gearboxes drove rear axles with 8.5-inch ring gears.
The Corvette's instrument-cluster graphics had a bolder look and its root panels added more solar screening.
An optional leather-trimmed sport seat arrived at midyear.
Corvette standard equipment included
an electronic information center
air conditioning
limited-slip differential
power four-wheel disc brakes
power steering
cornering lamps
a seek-and-scan AM/FM stereo radio with four speakers
automatic power antenna.
cigarette lighter
digital clock
tachometer
intermittent windshield wipers
halogen fog lamps
side window defoggers.
Corvettes had
contour high-back cloth bucket seats
power windows
a trip odometer
a theft-deterrent system with starter interrupt
a compact spare tire
dual electric remote-control sport mirrors
tinted glass.
Black belt, windshield, and body side moldings, plus color-keyed rocker panel moldings protected the bodies.
A four-speed overdrive automatic transmission was standard, with a four-speed manual (with overdrive in three gears) available at no extra cost.
Body colors were
Silver Metallic
Medium Gray Metallic
Light Blue Metallic
Medium Blue Metallic
White
Black
Gold Metallic
Light Bronze Metallic
Dark Bronze Metallic
Bright Red
Two-tone options were
Silver and Gray
Light Blue and Medium Blue
Light Bronze and Dark Bronze
Interiors came in Carmine; Bronze; Graphite; Medium Blue; Medium Gray; and Saddle.
I.D. NUMBERS
The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
The Serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY07*7F5100001 to 1G1YY07*7F5139729
Position
Character
Description
1
1
US built
2
G
General Motors product
3
1
Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
4
Y
Type of restraint system
5
Y
Corvette car line series
6 & 7
07
Body style number: two-door hatchback coupe
8
8
5.7-liter Tuned-Port-Injection (TPI) Chevrolet V8
9
?
A check digit that calculates the characters in the serial number and gives it a single digit code and can be used to verify that the serial number is legitimate
10
F
The model year where 1985
11
5
Bowling Green, KY
12-17
100001 and up
production sequence
Engine serial number began 0001001
Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter engine code suffix
Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when the engine was built
The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
The one or two numbers shows the month
The last digit shows the year
Engine suffixes:
Code
Engine
Horsepower
Compression
Transmission
Fuel Supply
Extra features
ZDF
L98 350-cid
230-hp V-8
9.0:1
THM automatic
tuned port injection
ZJB
L98 350-cid
230-hp V-8
9.0:1
manual
tuned port injection
ZJC
L98 350-cid
230-hp V-8
9.0:1
THM automatic
tuned port injection
for export
ZJJ
L98 350-cid
230-hp V-8
9.0:1
THM automatic
tuned port injection
engine oil cooler
ZJK
L98 350-cid
230-hp V-8
9.0:1
manual
tuned port injection
engine oil cooler
The 1985 Corvette exterior colors were:
13 = Silver Metallic
18 = Medium Gray Metallic
20 = Light Blue Metallic
23 = Medium Blue Metallic
40 = White
41 = Black
53 = Gold Metallic
63 = Light Bronze Metallic
66 = Dark Bronze Metallic
81 = Bright Red
13/18 = Silver and Gray
20/23 = Light Blue and Medium Blue
63/66 = Light Bronze and Dark Bronze
Upholstery Codes
Color
Cloth & Leather Upholstery
Sport Cloth Upholstery
Leather Upholstery
Green
12C
12V
Medium Gray
15C
15V
152
Medium Blue
28C
28V
282
Saddle
62C
62V
622
Bronze
65C
65V
652
Graphite
122
Carmine
742
IDENTIFICATION
Model
Model No.
Body/Style No.
Body Type
Factory Price
Shipping Weight
Production Total
Corvette
1Y
Y07
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger
$21,800
3088
51,547
ENGINE
Feature
Standard Engine (RPO L98)
Type
V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
Block
Cast iron block
Displacement
350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke
4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio
9.0:1
Brake horsepower
230 @ 4000
Torque
330 lb-ft @ 3200
Main bearing
five
Valve lifters
hydraulic
Fuel supply
Tuned-port injection (TPI) system
TRANSMISSION
Automatic Transmission
Four-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic (TMH 700-R4)
floor-mounted gear shifter
gear ratios
1st = 3.06:1
2nd = 1.63:1
3rd = 1.00:1
4th = 0.70:1
Rev = 2.29:1
Final drive ratio: 2.73:1
Manual Transmission
Four-speed manual with overdrive
floor-mounted gear shifter
gear ratios
1st = 2.88:1
2nd = 1.91:1
3rd = 1.33:1
4th = 1.00:1
overdrive = 0.67:1
Rev = 2.78:1
Final drive ratio: 3.07:1 (optional 3.31:1)
Planetary overdrive ratios:
2nd = 1.28:1
3rd = 0.89:1
4th = 0.67:1
CHASSIS
Feature
Coupe
Wheelbase
96.2 inches (2.443 m)
Overall length
176.5 inches (4.483 m)
Overall width
71.0 inches (1.803 m)
Overall height
46.4 inches (1.179 m)
Front tread
59.6 inches (1.514 m)
Rear tread
60.4 inches (1.534 m)
Standard Wheel size
16 x 8.5 inches
Standard Tires
P255/50VR-16 SBR
Steering
rack and pinion (power assisted)
Front suspension
Single fiberglass composite monoleaf transverse spring with unequal-length aluminum control arms and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension
Fully independent five-link system with transverse fiberglass single-leaf springs, aluminum upper/lower trailing links and strut-rod tie-rod assembly
Brakes
Four-wheel power disc
Body construction
Unibody with partial front frame
Fuel tank
20 US Gal (16.7 Imp Gal) (76 liters)
OPTIONS
RPO AG9 Power driver seat ($215).
RPO AQ9 Sports leather seats ($1025).
RPO AR9 Base leather seats ($400).
RPO Sports seats, cloth ($625).
RPO AU3 Power door locks ($170). FIPO CC3 Removable transparent roof panel ($595).
RPO Z6A Rear window and side mirror defoggers ($160)
HISTORICAL NOTES
Chevrolet claimed a 17 percent reduction in 0-60 mph times with the TPI power plant.
To save weight, Corvettes used not only the fiberglass leaf springs front and rear, but over 400 pounds of aluminum parts (including steering, suspension components and frame members).
A total of 14,802 Corvettes had the Z51 performance handling package installed, 9,333 had Delco-Bilstein shocks were ordered separately and only 9,576 had a four-speed manual transmission.
Only 16 Corvettes are listed as having a CB radio, and only 82 were sold with an economy rear axle ratio.