Project Car Diaries /// Finding Joy in the Unexpected

Can you have a premium enthusiast experience in a cheap car that everyone rolls their eyes at? We’re going to find out!

I’m in a strange phase of my car life. You know those people who never get jaded? That’s not me. I’ve seen too much, done too much, and I’m both more cynical and more in love with cars than I’ve ever been. So here I am, soul-searching in a car culture dead zone. What tribe do I even belong to now? What kind of car makes my brain light up instead of melt down?

Turns out, the answer might be something everyone loves to hate.

How I Got Here

Once upon a time I bought a 1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. I thought it was going to be a quick flip to help fund a Datsun 280Z project I had — cheap purchase, make it road worthy, turn a profit. Instead, I fell in love. (I know. Classic me.)

This 1990 family truckster had 172,000 miles on it. It was slow, gas-guzzling, hated going over 55mph, and handled like a pig on roller skates. Yet, somehow, blasting the cold AC in a Vegas summer, rolling down the street in that wood paneled wonder felt… special. I had no deep nostalgic ties to the Grand Wagoneer. No childhood memories of one. Don’t remember them ever standing out to me as a kid. It was just pure… vibes. It made me feel something I can’t fully explain.

Then I ruined it by trying to “modernize” it. Like most car enthusiasts, I started thinking about what I could turn it into. I wanted to make it a vintage overlanding build. And the first phase was a 4″ lift, wheels, and 33″ tires. It looked bad ass on paper, and in real life. But it lost the magic. The vibe died. The new suspension actually made it drive better than before, but I was having less fun driving it for some reason. Then I realized the mistake: I was treating it like a project, not a companion. I was trying to make it perfect, but it already was to begin with.

That Wagoneer taught me a lesson: a car doesn’t have to be actually perfect — fast, rare, collectible — it just has to be magical in some way. And sometimes vibe is enough.

The 1990 Grand Wagoneer that somehow led me down the path to owning a C4 Corvette.

Enter the C4 Corvette (Yes, I’m Serious)

So here’s my next gambit. Let’s see if my theory holds up. Introducing the first-ever Build to Enjoy project car: a 1990 C4 Corvette. The white New Balance, jorts loving, Boomer dad-mobile everyone loves to joke about.

Some notes on this platform, so you aren’t surprised:

The C4 has a reputation: “worst Corvette ever made,” economy-of-the-era, compliance, blah blah. But in its day, it was no slouch. Vibe-wise it represents that weird late-’80s/early-’90s zone I’m obsessed with…because I grew up in it.

My particular unicorn came with a $2,000 entry price. Yes, you read that right. It still may not be a great deal though…or it might be the best deal ever. Time will tell.

Engine: L98 V8 (250 hp, 350 lb-ft). Not the more sought after LT1 or LT5, but did I mention I paid $2,000 for it?

Transmission: 4-speed automatic. Yes, the manual would’ve been nicer. Much nicer. But again, for $2,000 you take what you can get.

Color: Turquoise Metallic (yes, I see your eyes rolling) — tell me there’s a better color at portraying those 1990 vibes and I’ll show you a liar. This and a 1990s Taco Bell? Please.

Mileage: 102,000. Not pristine, not embarrassing.

Flaws (because there are always flaws):

Paint haze, and accident damage (kinda) — The C4 fiberglass body helps, but imperfection lurks.

Worn suspension bushings, oil drips, many quirks.

Brakes feel like they’re daring me to stop. Likely vacuum/booster issue (hope so).

AC doesn’t blow cold. Who cares until May of next year right?

The Plans

Step 1: Deep clean + inspection. A little sweat equity into making it look good while simultaneously compiling a list of everything wrong with it.

Step 2: Fix the functional stuff. Brakes, leaks, bushings, etc. Make it road trip worthy.

Step 3: Use it. Drive it, take it to car meets, take the wife to dinner…if she’ll be seen in it. Enjoy the car in stock form to see if pure vibes are enough, and for how long.

This is Chapter One of the C4 Corvette Project Diaries so if you’re interested in what sort of car culture experience $2000 can buy you, make sure you come back for more!

A little disclaimer: All photos in this post are of the C4 Corvette exactly as I picked it up for $2000. I did not wash it or anything, in case you were wondering.