4K Mile: 1994 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 RHD

Right-hand drive vehicles are an increasingly frequent occurrence in automotive hobbyist circles with the influx of eligible Japanese market models available for importation. And while these cars and trucks represent the bulk of the vehicles that show up on local roads with the steering wheel on the opposite side, outliers do exist. I actually owned a British-market BMW for a spell that came here in the 1980s and retained its RHD setup – this is the next logical reason as to why you’d see a car set up this way. This 1994 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is well outside either of these scenarios, as it was converted in the U.S. to sell to the Australian market, but the post-conversion sale never transpired. Find this unusual ZR-1 here on craigslist with just under 4,000 original miles for $48,000.

So, let’s unpack this one: first of all, it’s a near-new ZR-1. Under 4,000 miles is incredibly low, and given how the price of this C4-based supercar has been on the upswing, I can guarantee you a collector is looking at this example and wondering how much money it will take to return it back to LHD. The seller claims the original conversion cost over $30,000, at which point I would have either found a different car or just bought a second home in the United States if I had that kind of money to burn. The ZR-1 appears to be in mint condition, and I could see its conversion back to LHD by a local buyer as likely as a muscle car enthusiast in a RHD country paying to import this one. It’s an interesting paradox of possibilities, with the least likely scenario being a domestic buyer shelling out that kind of cash to leave it as-is.

I need to know more about the scenario that unfolded with the Corvette not going to its intended home country. Did someone order this and get in over their heads? Did a U.S. company think there was an opportunity in becoming proficient with steering wheel conversions, using the Corvette as their poster carr?  Was there a resident of Australia living in the states who returned home and thought he could manage the steering wheel conversion from afar? Who knows, and it doesn’t really matter – but this thing is so random, it’s hard not to wonder. And where has it been sitting all the time with next to no miles and its minty leather interior still in great shape (although there’s some bagginess on the front “driver’s” seat.)

The engine bay is spectacular, with zero signs of use and/or messy oil changes. This is a showpiece, and it shows – the paint looks glossy in photos, the valve covers are cleaner than my dining room table, and the familiar yellow housings of the adjustable Bilstein shocks still present as-new. The seller is correct that this is a unique opportunity, but unfortunately, it poses some issues for the next potential owner. No matter how you slice it, there’s more work involved to get this car either to a country where it’s useful or for a buyer who can’t live without LHD. The other challenge is from a collectibility standpoint, RHD is generally a turn-off and a value-killer in the states unless it’s part of the experience, like a Japanese Kei car. For a venerable muscle car like the ZR-1, it can be a hard sell – especially when asking top dollar. Would you convert it or leave it alone?