Sometimes, there is a tell-tale sign that a car is simply not going to over-perform in the coming years as it relates to value. The C4 chassis Chevrolet Corvette has long been a bargain, but sadly, far too many were made for it to ever be considered particularly rare or hard to come by. The ZR-1 has stayed above this fray owing to its blistering performance and greater perceived scarcity, but we’ve said for a while it seems to struggle to break out of the low $30,000 range in terms of asking price. This 1990 model listed here on eBay goes even further to cement its perception as a discount super car with an asking price of just $15,500.
Ultimately, that’s a good thing for anyone looking to break into the hobby with a very legitimate collector vehicle; it’s not good news for anyone who paid over $40,000 in some of the recent “frothy” years of the collector vehicle marketplace. The seller’s car doesn’t have any glaring faults, either, aside from some cosmetic flaws and annoying electronic glitches. Overall, it’s a solid driver, and one that would still be an absolute hoot to rip around in. Mileage isn’t bad, clocking in at just over 81,000. The seller would do himself a big favor by sourcing the original wheels, in my opinion.
The interior looks good, not great, and it’s hard to keep GM interiors of this era presenting as absolutely pristine owing to the low-rent materials they were using at the time. While the miles aren’t incredibly high, it’s also not enough of a time capsule to avoid the inevitable signs of wear and tear. As I’ve learned over the years, when you’re selling a car that some collectors associate with being a bit of an item, they usually want to find a car devoid of scratches and stress marks on the leather. I’ve never subscribed to this notion, as I’m buying the car for the experience. I’m confident at this price, the seller will find a buyer with the same philosophy.
The listing notes a few faults. The seller notes that the “INFL Rest” light comes on over 5 miles per hour, which is likely a faulty sensor that needs replacement. The front tires are shot but the rear tires are new; perhaps the seller was trying to keep his costs of ownership as low as possible, but that strikes me as slightly cheap (just throw four new tires on, man!) The good news is the glorious LT5 engine is in good tune, and the asking price in no ways affects your ability to dip into all 375 horsepower and 370 lb.-ft. of torque on a daily basis. Is this ZR-1 the bargain of the summer?
If I had the money right now I’d snap it right up.