• One new body style and an engineering develop­ment were the highlights of 1986.
• The Corvette line added a convertible during the model year, the first since 1975.
• A computerized anti-lock braking system (ABS) was made standard.
• It was based on a Bosch ABS II design.
• During hard braking, the system detected any wheel that was about to lock up, then altered braking pressure, in a pulsating action, to pre­vent lock up from happening.
• Drivers could feel the pulses in the pedal.
• This safety innovation helped the driver to maintain traction and keep the car under directional control without skidding, even on slick and slippery surfaces.
• Corvette's engine was the same 350-cid (5.7-liter) 230-hp tuned-port-injected V-8 as 1985, but with centrally-positioned copper-core spark plugs.
• New aluminum cylinder heads had sintered metal valve seats and increased intake port flow, plus a higher (9.5:1) compression ratio.
• The engine had an aluminum intake manifold with tuned runners, magnesium rocker covers and an outside-air induc­tion system.
• Both four-plus-three manual and four-speed overdrive automatic transmissions were avail­able, now with an upshift indicator light on the instru­ment cluster.
• Three monolith catalytic converters in a new dual-exhaust system kept emissions down dur­ing warm up.
• Cast alloy wheels gained a new raised hub emblem and a brushed-aluminum look.
• The instrument cluster was tilted to cut glare.
• The sport seat from 1985 was made standard, with leather optional.
• Electronic air conditioning, announced ear­lier, arrived as a late option.
• Otherwise, standard equipment was similar to 1985.
• A new electronic Vehicle Anti-Theft System (VATS) was also made standard.
• A small electrically-coded pellet was embedded in the ignition key, while a decoder was hidden in the car.
• When the key was placed in the ignition, its resistance code was "read."
• Unless that code was compatible, the starter relay wouldn't close and the Electronic Control Module wouldn't activate the fuel injectors.
• Corvette's back end held four round recessed lenses, with "CORVETTE" block letters in the center.
• The license plate sat in a recessed housing.
• Cloth seats had lateral support and back-angle adjustments.
• The new convertible (a.k.a. "roadster") had a manual top with a velour inner liner.
• The yellow console button that ordinarily controlled Corvette's hatch release instead opened a fiberglass panel behind the seats to reveal the storage area for the top.
• Size 16 x 8-1/2 inch cast-alloy aluminum wheels held uni­directional P255/SOVR-16 Goodyear Eagle GT SBR tires.
• Corvette exterior colors were
  • Silver Metallic
  • Medium Gray Metallic
  • Medium Blue Metallic
  • Yellow
  • White
  • Black
  • Gold Metallic
  • Silver Beige Metallic
  • Copper Metallic
  • Medium Brown Metallic
  • Dark Red Metallic
  • Bright Red.
• Two-tone combinations were
  • Silver and Gray
  • Gray and Black
  • White and Silver
  • Silver Beige and Medium Brown
  • Silver Beige and Black.
• Interior trims came in Blue; Black; Bronze; Graphite; Medium Gray; Red; Saddle; and White

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 Coupe Serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY07*9G5100001 to 1G1YY07*9G5127794
• The Convertible Serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY67*9G5900001 to 1G1YY67*9G5907315

  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
  	67	Body style number: two-door convertible
  8	8	5.7-liter Tuned-Port-Injection Chevrolet or GM of Canada 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	G	The model year where 1986
  11	5	Bowling Green, KY
  12-17	100001 and up	production sequence for coupes
  	900001 and up	production sequence for convertibles

• 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
  DKF	L98 350-cid	230-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic	tuned port injection	cast iron cylinder heads & engine oil cooler
  DKC	L98 350-cid	230-hp V-8	9.5:1	manual	tuned port injection	cast iron cylinder heads
  DKH	L98 350-cid	230-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic	tuned port injection	cast iron cylinder heads & engine oil cooler
  DKB	L98 350-cid	230-hp V-8	9.5:1	manual	tuned port injection	cast iron cylinder heads & engine oil cooler
  ZJS	L98 350-cid	235-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic	tuned port injection	aluminum cylinder heads & engine oil cooler
  ZJH	L98 350-cid	235-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic	tuned port injection	aluminum cylinder heads
  ZKD	L98 350-cid	235-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic	tuned port injection	aluminum cylinder heads
  ZJW	L98 350-cid	235-hp V-8	9.5:1	manual	tuned port injection	aluminum cylinder heads & engine oil cooler
  ZKA	L98 350-cid	235-hp V-8	9.5:1	manual	tuned port injection	aluminum cylinder heads

• The 1986 Corvette exterior colors were:
  • 13 = Silver Metallic
  • 18 = Medium Gray Metallic
  • 20 = Medium Blue Metallic
  • 35 = Yellow
  • 40 = White
  • 41 = Black
  • 53 = Gold Metallic
  • 59 = Silver Beige Metallic
  • 66 = Copper Metallic
  • 69 = Medium Brown Metallic
  • 74 = Dark Red Metallic
  • 81 = Bright Red
  • 13/18 = Silver and Gray
  • 18/41 = Gray and Black
  • 40/13 = White and Silver
  • 59/69 = Silver Beige and Medium Brown
  • special = Silver Beige and Black (used on 50 "Commemorative Edition" Corvettes made for Malcolm Konner Chevrolet of New Jersey)
• Upholstery Codes

  Color	Cloth & Leather Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
  Green	12C
  Medium Gray	15C	152
  Blue	21C	212
  Saddle	62C	622
  Bronze	65C	652
  Graphite		122
  Red		732

Model	Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
Coupe	1Y	Y07	2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger	$27,072	3086	27,794
Convertible	1Y	Y67	2-dr. Convertible - 2 passenger	$32,032	N/A	7,315

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: 2.59:1 or 3.07:1
• 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)

• RPO AG9 Power driver seat ($225).
• RPO AQ9 Leather sports seats ($1025).
• RPO AR9 Base leather seats ($400).
• RPO AU3 Power door locks ($175).
• RPO B4P Radiator boost fan ($75).
• RPO B4Z Custom feature package ($195).
• RPO C2L Dual removable roof panels for coupe ($895).
• RPO 24S Removable roof panels with blue tint for coupe ($595).
• RPO 64S Removable roof panels with bronze tint for coupe ($595).
• RPO C68 Electronic air condi­tioning control ($150).
• RPO D84 Two-tone paint ($428).
• RPO FG3 Delco-Bilstein shock absorbers ($189).
• RPO G92 Performance axle ratio 3.07:1 ($22).
• RPO KC4 Engine oil cooler ($110).
• RPO K34 Cruise control ($185).
• RPO MM4 Four-speed manu al transmission (no-cost option).
• RPO NN5 California emissions requirements ($99).
• RPO UL5 Radio delete ($256 credit).
• RPO UM6 AM-FM stereo radio with cassette ($122).
• RPO UU8 Delco-Bose stereo system ($895).
• RPO VOl Heavy-duty radiator ($40).
• RPO Z51 Performance handling package for coupe ($470).
• RPO Z6A Rear window and side mirror defoggers for coupe ($165).
• RPO 4OO1ZA Malcolm Konner Chevrolet Special Edition paint option for coupe ($500).

• Introduced: October 3, 1985.
• Model-year production: 35,109.
• Calendar-year production (U.S.): 28,410.
• Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 35,969.
• Styled like the Corvette roadster that would serve as the 1986 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, the new convertible went on sale late in the model year.
• The actual Indianapolis 500 Pace Car was Yellow, differing from showroom models only in its special track lights.
• Chevrolet considered its "Indy Pace Car" to be synonymous with "open top," so all convertibles were considered Indy Pace Car models.
• Special decals were packed in the car, but not installed.
• The Corvette was the only street-legal vehi­cle to pace the 500-mile race since the 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Car.
• Instead of a conversion by an outside company, as had become the practice for most 1980s ragtops, Corvette's roadster was built by Chevrolet right alongside the coupe.
• Problems with cracking of the new aluminum cylinder heads meant the first 1986 models had old cast-iron heads. The difficulties were soon remedied.
• It was estimated that the new anti-theft system would require half an hour's work to overcome, which would dissuade thieves who are typically in a hurry.
• A total of 6,242 Corvettes had removable roof panels installed and 12,821 came with the ZS1 performance handling package.
• Only 6,835 Corvettes carried the MM4 four-speed manual transmission.

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