BF Auction: 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

• Seller: Iconic Motors (Contact)
• Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Mileage: 38,000 Shown
• Chassis #: 1G1YZ23J7L5800111
• Title Status: Clean
• Engine: 5.7-Liter DOHC 32V V8
• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual

With the recent introduction of the 1250-horsepower 2026 Corvette ZR1X, it’s a good time to pay homage to the car that arguably started the Corvette on its current “supercar-at-half-the-price” trajectory: the 1990 ZR1. Released to rave reviews, the four-cam, 375-horsepower Corvette, like its current namesake, looked a lot like the standard model you’d find in your neighbor’s garage, and that was part of the charm. You had one of the fastest cars on the road without letting everyone know. Since only 3,049 ZR1s were produced in 1990, and production fell off after that, you can today have an uncommon sports car that is as fun as it ever was. This example is being offered as a Barn Finds Auction located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The true heart of the C4 ZR1 was its engine, the LT5 5.7-liter, four-cam, 32-valve V8 that produced a then-earth-shattering 375 horsepower. While it still maintained the same 5.7-liter displacement as its L98-powered brethren, everything else was fundamentally different, even the bore-and-stroke measurements. Whereas the classic “350” has a 4-inch bore and 3.48-inch stroke, the LT5 has a 3.9-inch bore and 3.66-inch stroke. While the L98 was a relatively low-revving, torquey engine, the LT5 revved freely to its 7,000-rpm redline, but it still felt good down low because of the intake manifold’s “multiple-throttle induction system.” Car and Driver’s April 1990 road test said that the ZR1 was “the quickest U.S.-legal production car on the market. Not even the Testarossa (could) stay with it through the gears.” What did that mean in terms of acceleration and top speed? A zero-to-sixty time of 4.6 seconds, a quarter-mile run of 12.9 at 111 miles per hour, and a top speed of 176. Even today, that’s nothing to laugh about.

An interesting fact: According to the sales materials, the LT5 takes 12 quarts of oil, so keep that in mind at oil change time.

This black example (one of 905 built in 1990) has a reported 38,000 miles on the odometer and features dual power leather sport seats, power windows and locks, cruise control, and electronic selective ride control. The leather seats appear to be in great shape; it’s tough to tell that 1990 was 36 years ago (yikes!). All ZR1s had a six-speed manual transmission with overdrive on both fifth and sixth gears (.75:1 and .50:1, respectively), combined with a 3.45:1 rear axle ratio.

The hatch area looks great, too. Corvettes have always been the “everyman’s sports car,” and owners often pride themselves on their favorite car’s practicality. While the mid-engined C8 may have lost a little bit of its front-engined forebear’s rear trunk space, it still has the same DNA.

With just 38,000 miles, this ZR-1 shows restraint and care throughout. It carries a clean title, is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and represents one of only 3,049 ZR-1s produced for the 1990 model year, making it a genuinely rare piece of Corvette history. This isn’t a modified or reimagined example — it’s a well-preserved ZR-1 that delivers exactly what made the model legendary: performance, presence, and engineering that was years ahead of its time. It has newer tires, so it should be ready for a new owner who wants a classic Corvette with many of the amenities of a newer model. If you had a poster of the ZR1 on your wall as a kid, bid now!

*Note – Oklahoma Document Fee of $495

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