There are rare Corvettes, and there are rare Corvettes. While we tend to think that only the earliest cars are the most collectible, there are some outliers from the later years that will always command a fair price. In many ways, I feel I have regrettably missed the boat on the ZR1, as increased attention by automotive journalists has started to drive interest – and prices – higher. The ZR1 shown here is rarer still, as it’s one of less than 300 examples equipped with the 40th Anniversary Package. As you may recall, this was purely cosmetic in nature, but its limited production has made it a favorite among new-age Corvette enthusiasts. This example has under 14,000 original miles and is here on craigslist in Wichita.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find. I’ve always like this model of the C4 generation Corvette, as the ruby red paint really is quite striking. It’s matched up with an interior of the same color code, and really the only area they didn’t slather in this special shade was the wheels. The bodywork on this time-warp specimen is excellent, with no obvious flaws or evidence of carelessness. The ZR1 package is quite formidable even by today’s standards, which is likely a major driver behind why values continue to trend upwards for this limited-production high-performance model. Back in the day, you’d have a hard time choosing between this, an NSX, a Lotus Esprit, or a Porsche 911.
Well, that depends of course on where your personal preferences lie. The C4 ‘Vette is often lamented as still being quite cheap inside and not exactly screwed together all that well. That could be said about a lot of cars and trucks from this era, but I suspect the complaint always had more to do with the fact that this was a premium vehicle with a decidedly un-premium feel inside. Still, Corvette at least lavished its cars with deeply-bolstered leather buckets inside, and given the low miles this car shows, the cabin is obviously in excellent condition. And, unlike most of the 40th Anniversary models in non-ZR1 form, this one comes with the preferred three pedals.
The engine bay presents as well as the rest of the car, which is to say – excellent. This ZR1 would be a collector’s dream just with the near-new mileage, but throw in the 40th Anniversary packaging and it’s practically game over. The asking price may seem high for a C4-chassis model, but I actually think it’s a fair ask given the prices we’re seeing lately for clean ZR1s. These were over-engineered hot rods, with influence from the likes of Lotus, Bilstein, and Mercury Marine. The noise this 5.7L V8 makes under load is nothing short of intoxicating, and while this example will always see limited use, we’re sure those will be fun miles for the next owner.
Although I wouldn’t buy this one for it’s value as a performance car, the nostalgia factor is through the roof. I’ve always liked the clean, conservative lines of the C4. You can get an LT1 version for far less, and still have most of the performance and all of the looks. GLWTS
C7 money.
And correctly priced.
I love that color. My mom would approve (her favorite color for a car)
As an ardent C4 apologist I won’t continue my defensive rants here. And I agree with Jwzg that the styling is conservative – to a point. The rear 3/4 view is one of the best and the more I stared at my C4 (and I stared at it a LOT) the more the subtleties of the design came out. If you look for more than a minute you see the latent aggressiveness seething beneath the lithe fender peak lines. That said, this looks like all the money for this car, but then the car is all that, too.
Just never cared for the ’84-’96 styling & then on top of that, that dash w/ Nintendo gauge cluster! If I’m in that driver seat & have to look at that all the time, why I passed on many of those performance model year Vettes. I settled for my ’01 Z06 for eye relief w/cluster from the ’97 gen on up being they went back to analog is the smartest thing they had done. Just surprised it had taken them 12 years of probable complaints to change.
I can’t argue about the price because maybe these are priced this high right now, but seems high to me.
What I can comment on is that the content of the ad contains hardly any useful information and the few pictures included are terrible. I’ve seen $2,000 cars with much better ads – put forth some effort for crying out loud!
I drove a ZR years ago with 3500 miles. The guy traded it in on a new GMC diesel pickup truck. I took the car out onto the highway and turned around and was back in 15 minutes. This car was geared for the German autobahn. Disappointed in the performance at the low RPMs.
I owned five Corvettes over the years. Two of the most disappointing Corvettes I drove and near purchased. 1984 – an absolute buckboard video game car. The first 1G Skidpad Corvette and this ZR1.
GM had some real ringers in the ’70s with no power, hot transmission tunnel,foot box areas, and noisy plastic interiors. C1’s, C2’s and early C3’s were hits. The rest not so much!
Too bad no one explained the point of the LT5 engine in the ZR-1 to you before your short test drive. It was designed for making power at high rpm’s and it could also hit 180 mph. It WAS designed for Autobahn use as it was built to compete with all of the high-end Euro and Japanese supercars.
Car parts pictures. I’ll bet it’s a great looking car if you could see it.
A co-worker owns one. They are great looking cars.
The writer mentioned that an NSX and a Porsche could have been purchased and put away at the same time all better cars and investments.
Is it only me or do the seats and steering wheel look terrible? I see white spots on passenger and drivers seat, the same on the bottom of the wheel. It also looks like vinyl peeling arond the seat bolster controls, but the seat should be leather. I’m surprised no one has commented….hence is it only me?
Thanks!
I have a 90 ZR1, purchased a few years ago. Under $20K with less than 28k miles. Lot of fun for the $ ? It might be one of my few cars I can get most of my money back at sale time? Great performance and handling!
You bought at the right time. My guess is you will be rewarded at sale time, but why would you sell it?