For a few years now, I have been telling myself I need to buy a C4-generation Corvette ZR-1. The reasoning is simple: this is a legitimate 1990s supercar that you can still get for (relative) pocket change when compared to any one of the models it competed against when new. There may be some rough edges compared to the likes of an Acura NSX or Porsche 911, but there’s no denying the ZR-1 was a contender all the same from the era’s senior class of world-beating sports cars. Find this so-called “barn find” ZR-1 here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $19,000 and the option to submit a best offer.
The seller sounds like the kind of person you’d want to buy a sports car that’s been parked from, as he acknowledges the variety of flaws that you can see here with the naked eye. Nothing is all that alarming; I just like the fact that he gets in front of the things I notice right away, like the fact that the wheels aren’t correct for this year of the ZR-1. Not a big deal as this is easily corrected and the later wheels are a common upgrade. This particular car apparently sat in storage for the last 12 years and has just under 82,000 miles on the clock.
The interior shows signs of being used but certainly not abused. You can see that it’s hardly new but it still looks like it’s been cared for just given the aging process seems quite natural. The brown leather is a nice change of pace from the usual black we see paired with the red exterior, and this appears to even be a shade darker than what you’d call tan, perhaps bordering on “cocoa” more than anything else. The seller reports the “INFL Rest” light comes on at startup, which is apparently tied to the seat belt system and isn’t that big of a deal, certainly nothing that impacts the operation of the car.
The seller also acknowledges that the idler pulley is bad and will need to be replaced; again, not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. The tires are old and should be swapped out before it is driven any great distance, which is to be expected. Given the seller wouldn’t rule out driving it home with some fresh rubber, this speaks volumes about how easy it will be to revive this rare ZR-1 to be a daily driver-friendly supercar. They won’t get any cheaper and this one will seem like an absolute bargain in short order.
King if the Hill hasn’t gotten the respect it deserves for quite a while. Have seen quite a few of these selling quite a bit below some other C4’s have gone for example the 96 ZR1. The Corvette guys threw it all out there with with these. Unloved cars that were really quite good.
I assume you mean 96 Grand Sport. There was no ZR1 in 1996.
My bad yes meant Grand Sport, had ZR1 on the brain
Just a comment on the missing wheels. They are not regular 1990 vette wheels, all the ZR1’s had wider factory wheels in the rear, about 1 inch wider than the front and the body work is also wider from the doors back so to find the correct zr1 wheels will take some searching.
so this is the famous engine that GM partnered with Lotus to build!
We saw this one before.
https://barnfinds.com/375-hp-6-speed-1990-chevrolet-corvette-zr1/
Price drop from $24,000 at that time. If I were a better mechanic I would offer maybe $16,000 and put a 100,000 miles on it.
Looks like bad repaint. Belt line should be unpainted (black).
Always liked this generation ZR-1. Heard that getting parts can be a problem such as water pumps.
M&S- Lots of different opinions on parts out there. Some may actually be correct. ZR-1 Registry is probably the best bet for good information on parts. And you will need two fuel pumps for the ZR-1.
Relisted now at 17.5k.