If ever the world needed evidence that the American automotive industry had progressed beyond The Malaise Era, they only needed to look at the 1993 Corvette ZR-1 for concrete proof. Suddenly, Chevrolet had produced a car that could not only hold its head high at a drag strip, but one that was capable of holding its own on a German Autobahn. This particular ZR-1 is a tidy survivor that would seem to need nothing. It is ready to be driven and enjoyed by a lucky new owner, and with a mere 68,000 miles on the clock, it should serve them reliably for many years to come. Located in Astoria, New York, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $21,099, which has taken it beyond the reserve. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting the ZR-1 for us.

The ZR-1 is finished in Polo Green Metallic, and the owner describes the paint as a 6.5/10. When I examine the supplied photos, I wonder whether he could be marking the car a bit harshly. The paint shines beautifully, and there is no evidence of significant chips or marks. A closer inspection might reveal issues that don’t show on camera, which is a possibility that is worth considering. The panels are flawless, and the trim and badges are in excellent condition. The Corvette rolls on its original 17″ alloy wheels, and these are in as-new condition. There is no evidence of any dings or marks and no signs of staining that can develop due to accumulated brake dust. The owner has had the headlight motors rebuilt, and these operate perfectly. The glass is in excellent condition, and the overall impression that the car makes is very positive.

Lifting the hood of the vehicle reveals what made the ZR-1 a legend. The 350ci LT5 V8 is no ordinary engine. With an aluminum engine block, fuel injection, quad-cams, and 32 valves, this brute pumped out 405 raging horsepower. Getting all of that power to the road requires a 6-speed manual transmission, while the ZR-1 also features power steering and enormous 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Performance was all you might expect from a package of this type, with the Corvette scorching through the ¼ mile in 12.9 seconds. If a driver were brave enough to keep their foot flat to the floor, the ZR-1 would eventually run out of breath at an astounding 182mph. This is a car that is now 28-years-old, and its performance figures look just as impressive now as they did when it was new. The owner has performed some recent upgrades to the car, which means that the power figures could be slightly higher. These include having the heads ported and fitting a Borla cat-back exhaust. The injectors have been pulled and cleaned, while the car has also received new plugs, wires, and coil packs. The owner doesn’t indicate how well the vehicle runs or drives, but you would expect the news to be positive with a mere 68,000 miles under its belt.

Just because a car offers its owner mega performance, it doesn’t mean that the driving experience needs to be unpleasant or uncomfortable. The Corvette’s interior is in excellent condition for its age, and it offers plenty of features to accentuate the driving experience. These include leather upholstery, ice-cold air conditioning, power windows, power locks with keyless entry, power seats, a tilt wheel, cruise control, a trip computer, and a premium stereo. The owner says that everything works as it should, with no issues or electrical gremlins. The leather on the seats has a few wrinkles, but there is none of the edge wear that you would expect on deeply contoured seats. The plastic is in excellent order, as is the carpet. There’s nothing for the new owner to do except sit back and enjoy the ride.

The 1993 Corvette ZR-1 is a legendary car that offers mind-blowing performance. If you were searching for an American car at that time, this was about as good as it got. However, all of that performance potential came at a very high price. A standard Corvette would have cost its owner $34,595 in 1993. By ticking the box next to ZR-1 on the order form, that figure increased by a whopping $31,683! It is little wonder that Chevrolet only managed to sell 448 examples of the ZR-1 in that model year. That makes this a rare beast that can still hold its head high in modern company. Values have remained pretty static in recent times, although they have begun to increase slightly over the past few months. I would expect the bidding on this car to reach $28,000, although it could nudge marginally higher. If it sells for less, someone could be getting themselves a bit of a bargain. This one could be worth watching carefully.