1986 Chevrolet Corvette: trims, real prices & how to pick yours

5 builds left the factory as a 1986 Corvette, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 2 main configurations sell for $6,500–$25,000 today.

  • 2 main configurations
  • 1,005 vehicles built
  • 41 for sale right now
  • $6,500–$25,000 typical price range

Which Corvette is yours?

Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.

Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.

Pick your Corvette

What actually differs

Base configuration 1G1YY078-G Base configuration 1G1YY678-G
Body Coupe Convertible
Typical price today $11,950 $15,380
For sale right now 20 21
Vehicles built 720 282
Same on every 1986 Corvette
  • Engine 5.7L 8-cyl
  • Fuel Gasoline
  • Doors 2-door

What people actually pay

41 price observations · updated Sep 6, 2026
Base configuration
$11,950
$6,305 $11,166 $16,028 $20,889 $25,750
Price trend

Median down $1,222 over the last 11 months.

1986 Corvette price history →
Cost to run

15/22 mpg city/highway. Roughly $2,580/yr on fuel at 15,000 miles.

EPA estimate for the 1986 Corvette

Safety, in plain English

What 1G1YY078-G means

1G1 YY078 · G
1G1
the World Manufacturer Identifier Chevrolet registered — assembled in the United States
YY078
together encode the Corvette line — Coupe, 5.7L 8cyl — as Chevrolet filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
G
in position 10 — model year 1986
9, 11–17
differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
Real VINs from this run 1G1YY078 3G5113499
3 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.

Already looking at a specific Corvette?

Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.

1986 Chevrolet Corvette prices →