In the September/October issue, VETTE gained two new staffers: Jim Koscs as Associate Editor, and Tony DeFeo replaced Sal Zaino as Technical Editor. Sal never once had a byline. There was also the first-ever Old versus New Shootout, with a '67 427 Tri-power matched against an '86 C4. October/November's Inside bragged that subscribers would now receive their magazines in a protective plastic wrap. Content included an '87 Corvette preview, and introduced RPO B2K, the factory-approved Callaway Twin-Turbo option which provided 345 horses for an extra $20G over base. This was the first major power option from GM since the '71 LS6.
1987VETTE started the year with a massive power-adders issue. Vol. 10, No. 6 (December 1986 / January 1987) featured a blown and squeezed '82 with 700-plus horsepower, and a blown, 850hp custom '63 done up GS-style. Other articles included installing a 150hp nitrous kit in an '85 coupe and a look at proper documentation of classic Corvettes. In the Why Bother category was a feature of a Bigfoot-type 4x4 C4.
The VETTE staff changed again in February/March (Vol. 11, No. 1), as Tony DeFeo moved into a second associate editor position and Bill Erdman became tech editor. The magazine included an excellent piece by Roger Huntington on why the '66 L-72 427 was done in by hood design, as well as a report that Bakeracing's Showroom Stock Corvettes were 1986 SCCA/Escort Endurance champs.
John Greenwood wrote his final Racing column, about a wild night in his '64 Vette on Woodward Avenue, in April/May. Highlights included a thorough ID guide to high-performance small-block aluminum heads, and a five-page look at "the best Corvette yet"-Dick Guldstrand's creation, the Grand Sport 80. Coverage of the 1986 Corvette Nationals at Indianapolis posed the question, "Is it the next Bloomington Gold?" Apparently not, but a photo captured Zora Arkus-Duntov slicing a giant Chevrolet 75th Anniversary cake.
June/July was the "Z" issue. It looked at "Zora's Racers": the '70-72 LT1-powered ZR1s and the '71 ZR2 with its LS6 454, plus the '63 Z06, and an introduction to the new "Z" speed-rated tires. Greenwood's column was replaced with Handling by Dick Guldstrand; Cliff Gromer got a first look at Corvette Group's new Active Suspension Project car; and American Sunroof's concept Vette C4, with a nose that's strikingly like the to-be C5, was featured.
August/September had a first-a "Silver Salute" that showcased the last solid-axle car, the '62. Over the rest of the year, Jim Koscs move up to managing editor, and VETTE did a long-term evaluation of an '87 convertible that was very positive. The editorial emphasis on extreme custom Vettes with weird bodies, blowers, turbos, and/or nitrous gradually receded to a 50:50 split with NCRS-type cars.
1988A year of transition for VETTE. As of Vol. 11, No. 6, Vette would be published eight times annually. Columns were in flux, as Guldstrand's Handling went away, Readers' Rides returned, and Heasley's Pricing became Collecting. The collector car market, including Corvettes, saw prices escalate out of reach for mere mortals. VETTE gave readers a sneak preview of the 200-plus mph LT5 Super Vette that GM was really working on, plus coverage of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca, where Mr. Duntov piloted a '56 vintage racer-probably his last-ever laps behind the wheel on a track.