‘90 ZR-1: Great Buy or Money Pit?
This higher-mileage repainted Utah car brought only $13,000 in a No Reserve online auction
At first glance, this ‘90 ZR-1 with 68,000 miles on the odometer seems like a screaming bargain after being bought for only $13,000. It had had the starter motor, fuel filter, fuel pump, spark plugs, ignition coil packs, and fuel injectors replaced. The car had also been repainted Competition Yellow from the original Black exterior. It’s clear to me that the higher mileage coupled with a color change were huge factors in the low sales price. But for somebody looking to get into a C4 ZR-1 for not much money, this car could have been an attractive consideration.
This car represented the first year of the C4 ZR-1 and, although visually not very different from the standard C4s, it featured a wide-body configuration. This allowed for larger rear wheels and tires that enhanced handling and performance. The ad description noted the removable roof panel had stress marks and the headlight bushings required replacement.
The ZR-1 was equipped with the three-mode Selective Ride and Handling Package, which was designed in consultation with Lotus and featured Bilstein shock absorbers. The ZR-1 also featured larger anti-lock disc brakes at all four corners.
The power-adjustable sport bucket seats were upholstered in black leather along with matching carpets and door panels. The driver’s seat showed some significant wear and tears that I think are consistent with the age and mileage.
The seller revealed that the air conditioning and Delco audio system were inoperative and that the driver-side window weatherstripping required replacement.
The all-aluminum 5.7-liter LT5 DOHC V8 was co-designed by Chevrolet and Lotus and manufactured through a contract with Mercury Marine. It produced 375 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque when new. All ZR-1s were produced with the ZF six-speed manual transmission.
So back to the original question: Was this a good buy or not? It certainly wasn’t one of the pristine low-mileage examples that are frequently available, but those cars sell in the forty thousand dollar range. Could the deficiencies (stereo system, air conditioning, seat reupholstery, weatherstripping, headlight bushings, etc.) be remediated satisfactorily to make this car a nice driver-quality C4? It seems to me that for somebody with the skills required and a little money to put into this car, it could have been a good purchase. What are your thoughts?
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-chevrolet-corvette-zr-1-143/