The fourth-generation Corvette has steadily been gaining recognition among collectors, and few models command the same level of respect as the ZR-1. Offered here is an extraordinary example: a 1993 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 40th Anniversary Edition, showing just 2,600 original miles, listed here on eBay. Finished in the iconic Ruby Red over Ruby Red leather, this car has been stored in a climate-controlled garage since new and presents as an immaculate, show-ready specimen.
Chevrolet introduced the ZR-1 in 1990 as a technological halo car, powered by the Lotus-designed, Mercury Marine–built LT5 engine, a 5.7-liter DOHC V8 producing 405 horsepower by 1993. With its six-speed manual transmission and unique wide-body styling, the ZR-1 quickly earned the nickname “King of the Hill.” For the Corvette’s 40th anniversary in 1993, Chevrolet offered a special package exclusively in Ruby Red with matching interior and commemorative badging.
According to the seller, this ZR-1 has been preserved in as-new condition. The Ruby Red paint retains its factory luster, with body panels, glass, emblems, seals, and even the sawblade alloy wheels all described as pristine. The car wears its original tires, which show approximately 90% tread, though a fresh set is also included for practical use while storing the originals.
The interior continues the theme, with the Ruby Red leather showing virtually no wear. The carpets, dash, center console, and digital displays appear showroom fresh, while every accessory—from the sport seat lumbar adjustments and cruise control to the Delco-Bose sound system and automatic climate control—is fully functional. The seller emphasizes that the car has always been a non-smoker vehicle.
Mechanically, the ZR-1 remains up to date with service, including fresh fluids, new O2 sensor, belts, and hoses. Brass headlamp gears have been fitted, a common preventative upgrade. The LT5 fires smoothly, the six-speed manual shifts “butter soft,” and the car drives straight and true at any speed. With a documented history that includes the original window sticker, build sheet, books, keyless entry fobs, and car cover, this is about as complete and authentic as a ZR-1 can get.
Only 448 ZR-1s were produced for 1993, and the 40th Anniversary editions make up a small subset of those. With just 2,600 miles, this example is an exceptionally rare survivor, the kind that could compete for first place at Corvette shows or be tucked away as a blue-chip investment.
Would you preserve this Corvette as a museum-grade time capsule, or would the temptation to unleash all 405 horsepower on the open road be too strong?
I would be the heathen to buy it and drive it. I’m not sure this car will ever achieve the legendary status cars from the 60’s and 70’s have.
Oh yeah, it’s gotta be driven. First order of business is to get those 32 year old tires off of it.
I guess that depends on how onw defines “legendary” ? I would prefer driving this car to a 60’s or 70’s car with poor handling, braking, and seating compared to the C4 Corvette. I am also pleading guilty to being heavilly biased towards the 92-96 Corvette.So sue me :)
Half of ZR1s had the anniversary package. If you did your due diligence, you would have noted that statistic and not said “ Only 448 ZR-1s were produced for 1993, and the 40th Anniversary editions make up a small subset of those.”
Very nice car. For me, the only drawback is that if one actually drives it, as they should, it just drops in value.
Despite its’ beauty and immaculate, low mileage condition, I’d rather have a less pristine Corvette to drive and enjoy and not worry that I’d be devaluing it by enjoying it as the miles go by.
Collector cars collect dust and time but little enjoyment.
Ive found that low mileage collector cas, be it corvettes,fleetwoods,etc, have their own issues in insurance rates. A low mileage car is expensive and you have to have the insurance coverage to cover your expenses. The vehicle is garaged most of the time to keep from adding mileage and at the same time paying bunches of folding money to protect it from damages. Liability insurance only is out of the question because of the few times a month you might drive the car. Not the way to go for poor people trying to have something nice.
I just watched a video on the early ZR1s, and on the stock front windshield, there is a small rectangular area for a radar detector to operate. I never knew that. I guess stock replacement windshields today are approx $4k???
If that area was right in front of the driver it probably was the head-up display.
No HUD on the ZR-1s. The opening in the center of the ZR-1 specific windshield was touted as an area in the specially designed windshield to allow the use of garage door openers. It seems that there may have been more radar detectors than garage door openers mounted on ZR-1 dashboards.
The ZR-1s had unique windshields that were designed to help the smaller air-conditioning components used assist in cooling the interiors. The standard AC equipment used on the base Corvettes was too large to fit in the engine compartment after the LT5 was stuffed in. They had issues with the special coating delaminating to the point some cars could not be driven in bright sunlight. Many were replaced with standard windshields. Lack of the center “opening’ is the first clue the windshield has been replaced. There were rumors of replacements being built again a few years ago but none have been marketed yet. If you happen to find a ZR-1 windshield at a garage sale- Buy it and run like hell!
Being a writer and researcher is a detail laden job that requires work, talent and attention.
Hats off to this writer /editor / columnist and all the others. I really enjoy the variety you cover on this column.
I agree. It’s impossible to know everything about every single vehicle, so I appreciate the efforts that these writers make, and also the corrections that are made by readers here, when done subtlety/politely.
These writers aren’t paid like they work for a multi national publication, so tireless research to post a simple article should never be expected. Let’s be helpful, not spiteful.
I agree with your comments completely. Our combined knowledge on this site always amazes me. BUT, I do find it frustrating when the basics are not covered. Engine size,transmission type, price requested and location being sold in. I understand not listing the price on an auction vehicle, because it can change a lot. But to rely on the original posting and then when we go to check it out it is gone. Is very frustrating. Also, I get a little annoyed at the lack of automotive experience by some of the writers. But I DO appreciate the research that they do. And many times are new info to me. I completely enjoy our discussions and getting to know regular contributors. And I know that sometimes we get off the subject. (me particularly) But that happens with friends. Some day maybe they will have a “get to know everyone” special. Where we can tell our “automotive related life’s story” We kind of do that to some degree. Like why do you pray for snow? Are you a,skier or plow driver? We know that Howard lives in CO and used to live in WI. And drove truck for a living. Anyway, I’m getting off the automotive track again. Cheers everyone!
Wayne, right there with you too. BarnFinds is my favorite virtual neighborhood.
Over the years it’s been great to get to know some of the other commenters and writers and ,whether or not we agree on everything, we all generally get along really well.
Oh, and the reason for PRA4SNW: . In 2002, I bought an A4 Avant (1.8 T, manual, chipped ECU, it was a LOT of fun) so that I could toss my skis in it and head to the mountains.
I always have a vanity plate on all of my cars, so I thought that PRA4SNW was a crafty way to add A4 into the plate. It was around the time that I got active on Forums, so started using it as my handle, and it stuck.
Living in Georgia now and with a knee replacement, I’ve dumped all of my ski gear, but still hold onto one pair, just in case.
I have had some other vanity plates that were related to the cars they were on, see if you can guess the cars:
7TSHRK
SHOME
698DAYS
I had a 2002 A6 2.7 twin turbo 6 speed with the euro chip. Great fun! I had it up to 160 mph on 2 separate occasions. (We get to do stuff like that out here in wilds of Nevada.) Coming south out of Reno there is this 2 lane almost 360 degree exit ramp. I always hustle around the outside as it works best for me on the other end. One day (with the family in the car) as I was getting close to the turn off/exit. A newer Camaro all lowered down with fat tires and wheels (looked like a track day car) came roaring by under power to my inside and charged into the inner lane. We’ll, I just couldn’t let that go since he already had 3-4 car lengths on me. So I grabbed a couple of gears and stood on it. By the end of the exit I had passed him on the outside. And when I went by his mouth was slack jawed. My wife was not too pleased, but my kids thought it was hilarious! I used to ski every weekend there was snow. From my driveway to the back side of Heavenly Ski resort (Lake Tahoe) it was a quick 20 minute dash up the mountain. After my work related back injury in Which I was on my back for 12 months . My skiing days were over. I went once more and my skis were faster than I was and crash spectacularly. With blood all over the snow. So no more skiing for me.
I also run Vanity plates on my vehicles…I’m racking my brain but not coming up with anything on yours!
“71TSHRK” Has my Corvette antenna buzzing.
Wayne, that 2.7 TT was a great engine.
After a teenage idiot in a Civic ran a stop sign going way too fast and T-Boned the A4 on the passenger side, it was time to get a different car. That car saved my wife’s life – the impact knocked us across a lane of traffic and into a stone wall and my wife (passenger) had just a bruise from the seatbelt.
Because of that, I went for another Audi, but this time, I bought a bit older – 2000 S4 with that 2.7 TT engine. What a blast that one was! I resisted modding it, so when it came time to sell it, every kid wanted to buy it – they were amazed that it hadn’t been chipped or bigger turboed. A high school kid and his mom drove up from NJ to NH in a hurricane and bought it. I sold it when it hit 120K because I got nervous that things were going to start going bad.
Quiz answers:
7TSHRK – 1970 Corvette Convertible
SHOME – 1991 SHO
698DAYS – 2022 Bronco, the amount of days it took from submitting my $100 reservation to the vehicle ending up in my driveway.
Here’s another I just remembered:
LTSMOTR
Spending a few minutes to look at Corvette numbers will get my “hats off.” Otherwise, it’s just another online race to the bottom. Hopefully the writer notices this and tries better because writing about a variety requires a certain bag of tricks.
Nicely said, Greg and PRA4….
If I spent the kind of money this will get. I’d drive it. If I can afford to buy it. I’m not worried about the “devaluation” . Because I would buy it to drive.
$40,000 AND STILL 4 DAYS TO GO ON TE BIDDING.
I will guess it goes for $60,000 if everything checks out. I will also guess that investment will never be recovered. The ZR-1 sweet spot is 20-30,000 miles. At that point the price should be “reasonable” in ZR-1 terms, and you can drive the wheels off it and enjoy the heck out of it.
Drive it!! Just remember You can’t take it with you.
If something happens to the engine, who can fix it?
@Mike- Take a look at the ZR-1 Net Registry. There are many examples of LT5 engines with 100,000 miles or more listed. I don’t know how well that list is maintained, but the engine is pretty much bullet-proof. They were state-of-the-art at the time they were handbuilt. At one point GM would replace a defective LT5 rather than repair it
Another heathen here checking in. I have several really nice cars 30+ years old, and I drive them all. All have over 100K miles and can still win show awards. The only low mileage old car I ever had, with less than 15K miles, I shortly sold as I was just afraid of hurting it’s value.
PRA4SNW and Frank S. Here’s one that was on the back of a friend’s 510 Datsun
FYJIMO. 1 HINT, IT IS NOT A Japanese word.
The answer and the story to follow tomorrow. Going to bed now.
Wayne, this one has me stumped!
So are very dear late friend of mine was closer to a friend named Bob Horihan. (He ran a cannonball one year) was driving a Volvo and we ran into him at the Marathon pro-rally up in Marathon MI. He asked Bob, why did you take that Japanese name vanity plate off your Datsun and put it on the Volvo? “That’s not a Japanese word. It means FORGET YOU JACK I’M MOVING OUT.” The “forget” word can be replaced by
another “F” word if desired.
So that’s the story of the FYJIMO plate.
Take care!
So are very dear late friend of mine was closer to a friend named Bob Horihan. (He ran a cannonball one year) was driving a Volvo and we ran into him at the Marathon pro-rally up in Marathon MI. He asked Bob, why did you take that Japanese name vanity plate off your Datsun and put it on the Volvo? “That’s not a Japanese word. It means FORGET YOU JACK I’M MOVING OUT. The “forget” word can be replaced by
another “F” word if desired.
So that’s the story of the FYJIMO plate.
Take care!
$42,800. Reserve not met on 9/10/2025.