Since 1981, MotorWeek has been entertaining enthusiasts across the globe, and it could be said that the legendary host, John Davis, has aged better than some of these classic old Corvettes. Over the last 43 seasons and 1,929 episodes, John Davis and his team have brought us some awesome Corvette reviews. But it is the Retro Reviews that can really entertain, especially if you’re in the mood for some retro fun and a reminder of just how far the Corvette brand has progressed. [Author’s Note: This article is FREE and not behind a paywall. If/when any pop-ups occur, please click to make them disappear and continue enjoying the article. One may require two steps–first, the arrow on the left, then the x on the top right.]
For today’s CorvSport Compiles Retro Reviews, we are staying in the 1980s and 90s, so dig out your jorts, New Balance shoes, and favorite cassette tapes because we’re taking a trip back in time! Watching these classic retro reviews never gets old, and I hope you enjoy the seven we rank for you.
What’s Included With Each Featured Video:
- Rank by views
- Video summary
- Top/most insightful video comments
- Track test results
- Full Retro Review
#7
1999 Corvette Hardtop (Fixed Roof Coupe)
52,128 Views
Video Summary From MotorWeek:
“Is there anything more beautiful than a Nassau Blue C5 Hardtop? nah…”
Top Comments (145+ Total):
- “This originally aired on PBS on my 13th birthday! I think this hardtop is my FAV C5 Vette.” @patrickmichael3384
- “Man, this John Davis has seen it all. The man has been around for decades and was part of so many great cars ‘coming out’ on TV.” @24theMoney
Track Test Results:
Retro Review: 1999 Corvette Hardtop
#6
1992 Corvette Coupe LT1
81,359 Views
Video Summary From MotorWeek:
“Ahh, the LT1. Not as pretty as the L98, but ohhh man that Optispark can be a hoot!”
Top Comments (295+ Total):
- “Truly one of GM’s best efforts and one of the best cars of its time. Good old pushrod power, Those were the days.” @dohc1067
- “Back in 92 running 5.4 to 60 and the quarter-mile under 14 at 104 mph is super strong performance ..keep in mind back then if a car did 0-60 under 8 seconds it was considered fast..5.4 for the time was booking..shit…still is…” @naturalgainzzz7005
Track Test Results:
Retro Review: 1992 Corvette Coupe LT1
#5
1996 Corvette Grand Sport
94,430 Views
Video Summary From MotorWeek:
“Hard to believe the C4 Grand Sport was only a thousand units. I can remember seeing a few of them in one place several times back then.”
Top Comments (284+ Total):
- “I can’t believe how flat that thing is around the corners. And impressive ground clearance for a great handling daily car. It’s beautiful.” @Mac10Daddy
- “Something about the paint scheme and overall visual design makes this my favorite ‘Vette of all time.” @vinnylovesretro
Track Test Results:
Retro Review: 1996 Corvette Grand Sport
#4
1989 Corvette Coupe L98
186,129 Views
Video Summary From MotorWeek:
“The ’89 Corvette retains the classic digital dash but gains the age defying salad shooter rims and glorious new 6-speed.”
Top Comments (514+ Total):
- “Always loved the L98 a true torque monster.” @user-ie1hg5ov1m
- “I was 13yrs old back in 89 and I thought this thing was so bad ass, and in 1990 I thought the C4 ZR1 was incredibly bad ass. I thank God I was fortunate enough to be a kid in the 80’s.” @hmackprotection1
Track Test Results:
Retro Review: 1989 Corvette L98
#3
1990 Corvette ZR-1 Coupe
230,505 Views
Video Summary From MotorWeek:
“Overhead cams in a Corvette!?! Madness! Thanks for watching MotorWeek Retro Review and keep an eye out for our new segment currently in the works, Retro ReNew, premiere episode will feature a ’67 Pontiac GTO and its rise from the ashes as told by its owner of almost 30 years.”
Top Comments (461+ Total):
- “Much more beautiful than todays Corvette. Absolutely. Simple clean lines and no obnoxious wings or appendages.” @mohamedalkaboom
- “I was a top Corvette salesperson at the time and got to spend a week in Alabama driving and learning about the vehicle. They set a 24 hour average speed record of 179 something per hour and I still have a commemorative jacket that says, ZR-1 Life begins at 180 mph. I always wore it to traffic court.” @mountainmandale1587
Track Test Results:
Retro Review: 1990 Corvette ZR-1
#2
1982 Corvette Coupe
417,425 Views
Video Summary From AI:
“This episode of MotorWeek features a review of the 1982 Chevrolet Corvette, the last model year before a major redesign. The video explores the car’s performance, handling, and styling, comparing it to the 1978 model. The review also touches on the car’s practicality and value, considering its price and resale value.”
Top Comments (1,234+ Total):
- “Seriously John Davis is a legend! No other face has been around since the beginning of video and cars. Any kind of hall of fame we can get this guy in.” @ClaytonYatescarenthusiast
- “This was mandatory viewing for my brother and myself on PBS in the 1980’s.” @mitchellpak1666
Track Test Results:
Retro Review: 1982 Corvette Coupe
#1
1984 Corvette Special Episode
662,109 Views
Video Summary From MotorWeek:
“Watch an ’84 Corvette be built, from sketches to assembly line to road-tested finished product. The best 28 minutes of your Monday are just a click away.”
Top Comments (980+ Total):
- “People hate me for saying this, but the C4 is and always has been my favorite Corvette. People love to tell me that they arent as good looking as the older vettes and aren’t as fast or perform as well as the newer ones, I’ve always loved them. Great review.” @weegeemike
- “I remember going to a chevy dealer in 1983 to see this car. The thing I remember the most is the clamshell hood opened up and exposing the front suspension. This car was a really big deal back in the day!” @smacdiesel
Track Test Results:
Retro Review: 1984 Corvette
Do you have a favorite Retro Review from today? Are you CORVETTE OBSESSED like we are? The team of renowned authors and contributors at CorvSport hopes you sense our passion for the iconic Corvette, and our vast database of articles and guides should prove it–5000+ features since Scott Kolecki founded CorvSport over 15 years ago! Join the fastest-growing Corvette community on our Facebook page, with over 171,000 followers (52,000 since January 2023!). Meet other hardcore enthusiasts and say hello. This is Douglas B. signing off–click here if you would like to see more of my features.
