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And only 1,000 of them produced.
They were all 6-speed manual with the LT4 engine.
One of the reasons they command a higher than normal price is Chevy was smart in giving them a unique VIN.
Easy to "clone" the paint scheme, but not the VIN.
ZR-1s also have unique VIN numbers that are sequential. And as long as we are comparing the 95 ZR-1 with the GS, the 95 is more rare given that only 448 were produced - why does everyone lump the prior ZR-1s into the comparison when looking at totals? The 95s do have the unique (for ZR-1s) side panels which do make them visually distinctive.
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Originally Posted by bb62
ZR-1s also have unique VIN numbers that are sequential. And as long as we are comparing the 95 ZR-1 with the GS, the 95 is more rare given that only 448 were produced - why does everyone lump the prior ZR-1s into the comparison when looking at totals? The 95s do have the unique (for ZR-1s) side panels which do make them visually distinctive.
Yes, I was aware of the VIN on the ZR-1
I took for granted, since that really was a different car compared to the normal C4.
I was only making a point about the difference between a GS and all other '96 6-speed C4's.
It was easy to clone the paint scheme, add the 11" rear wheels and stick on fender flares.
Once you did that, the only difference was the unique VIN.
And I agree that the '95 ZR-1 is really the pinnacle of the C4 model.
I would take one of those over a GS any time.
Last edited by RollaMo-LT4; 05-18-2018 at 11:05 AM.
Tough call, both cars are great, but over time I think the single year, 1000 production builds, paint scheme, a year newer, and LT4 putting it on performance par with the 95 ZR1 will have the GS being worth more.
All 1996 Corvettes got the J55 13" brakes, with the same calipers.
The only difference in the GS calipers were the Black paint and "Corvette" name on them.
Heinricy says they're different...stiffer and providing better feel/grip than the ZR-1 calipers. Of course, they also have less to deal with...the GS being so much lighter and all. The "Corvette" name on the GS calipers isn't a decal or paint, it's cast into the caliper...so, from that viewpoint at least, a different casting. As for the rest of the '96s with J55, I have no idea. Do they also have the GS's "Corvette" casting?
The question was asked about red gut optioned GS which had a production number of about 300. so if someones intention to direct the narrative a red gut GS is rarer than a 95 ZR1. My car has 22k miles, Z51 and is close to perfect. i think it would sell for about 30k. a 95 ZR1 with similar miles is probably selling for a few grand less. both are awesome cars and deserve equal billing.
ive a seen super low mile in the wrapper red gut vert sell for $140k (insane) and a 500 mile red gut coupe sell for $70k. im not sure any ZR1 has sold for more than $50k except when they were new.
If the condition was equal I personally would pay more for the ZR-1. Dan
Me too. The C4 ZR-1 is the only Corvette with DOHC engine... ever. So the Grand Sport (and LT4) may be one year only, but I think the LT5 is the deciding factor here.
The question was asked about red gut optioned GS which had a production number of about 300. so if someones intention to direct the narrative a red gut GS is rarer than a 95 ZR1. My car has 22k miles, Z51 and is close to perfect. i think it would sell for about 30k. a 95 ZR1 with similar miles is probably selling for a few grand less. both are awesome cars and deserve equal billing.
ive a seen super low mile in the wrapper red gut vert sell for $140k (insane) and a 500 mile red gut coupe sell for $70k. im not sure any ZR1 has sold for more than $50k except when they were new.
Paint and tape specials always lose value in the long run. As for performance, the dual DUNN head 95 ZR_1s put out a factory 415(estimated) HP - and are rarer than the red gut Grand Sports. This is the same story as the C3s when there was a time that the 78 Pace Cars actually were more valuable than the C3 L88s.
Paint and tape specials always lose value in the long run. As for performance, the dual DUNN head 95 ZR_1s put out a factory 415(estimated) HP - and are rarer than the red gut Grand Sports. This is the same story as the C3s when there was a time that the 78 Pace Cars actually were more valuable than the C3 L88s.
my car is 22 years old... exactly when will the long run begin? Like it or not my GS is worth about 65-70% of its original MSRP, What percent is the ZR1 worth with similar miles??? 40-45%?? who knows what the future holds but as of today its not even close. im not sure it should matter though as high tide raises all ships. im rooting for both to be respected for what they are... One being (imo) the best looking C4 produced and the other a beast far ahead of its time.
the collector car market was essentially nonexistent in '78... nice try though... even so i doubt that a intact and original L88 could be had for the msrp of a pace car in 78.
Last edited by OH THREE Z; 05-22-2018 at 01:27 AM.
And only 1,000 of them produced.
They were all 6-speed manual with the LT4 engine.
One of the reasons they command a higher than normal price is Chevy was smart in giving them a unique VIN.
Easy to "clone" the paint scheme, but not the VIN.
Originally Posted by OH THREE Z
my car is 22 years old... exactly when will the long run begin? Like it or not my GS is worth about 65-70% of its original MSRP, What percent is the ZR1 worth with similar miles??? 40-45%?? who knows what the future holds but as of today its not even close. im not sure it should matter though as high tide raises all ships. im rooting for both to be respected for what they are... One being (imo) the best looking C4 produced and the other a beast far ahead of its time.
the collector car market was essentially nonexistent in '78... nice try though... even so i doubt that a intact and original L88 could be had for the msrp of a pace car in 78.
The L88 values didn't really explode until about 5 years ago for the C3s. They were 40 year old cars at the time. Sure they were expensive before, but it is the super performance plus the history behind them that drove the recent value increase. My unrestored 67 435 coupe has also exploded in value just in the last 10 years or so and it is now a 50+ year old car. It was nowhere near its current value when I purchased it 23 years ago when it was a 28 year old car. I was there in 78 watching the effect that the 78 had on the collector market (which surely existed). If there was no collector market, why do you think there are so many 78 Pace Cars with virtually zero miles on them. I also watched the value of the high performance C3s at the time and they did lag for many years. In 1978 Pace Cars were trading for more than $35K, dropped within about a year and then never recovered - but were still more expensive than any C3 427 435HP or even the 71 LS6 for many years.
I do agree with you about hoping all C4s become recognized for what they are and I do agree that the GS is a beautiful car.
The L88 values didn't really explode until about 5 years ago for the C3s. They were 40 year old cars at the time. Sure they were expensive before, but it is the super performance plus the history behind them that drove the recent value increase. My unrestored 67 435 coupe has also exploded in value just in the last 10 years or so and it is now a 50+ year old car. It was nowhere near its current value when I purchased it 23 years ago when it was a 28 year old car. I was there in 78 watching the effect that the 78 had on the collector market (which surely existed). If there was no collector market, why do you think there are so many 78 Pace Cars with virtually zero miles on them. I also watched the value of the high performance C3s at the time and they did lag for many years. In 1978 Pace Cars were trading for more than $35K, dropped within about a year and then never recovered - but were still more expensive than any C3 427 435HP or even the 71 LS6 for many years.
I do agree with you about hoping all C4s become recognized for what they are and I do agree that the GS is a beautiful car.
ill agree and perhaps i overstated that the collector car market was nonexistent but i think we can both agree that the late 70s is when the speculative buyer was born.
i have a Dupont registry from the early 90s that had an orange 69 L88 listing at $123,456.78. i had no idea what an L88 was back then (born in 73) but it peaked my interest in the older vettes.
if i had unlimited funds and space id definitely have a 95 ZR1 but as it is i have garage space for 2 toys and one being a C7Z makes having the GS and its less powerful powerplant okay.
96 CE had black calipers. CE LT4 cars also had the black cast Corvette scrip calipers.
All 96 GS had the black with cast in Corvette scrip and I believe why most refer to them as GS calipers. They will fit any J55 brake set-up.
But I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn last nite so I could be wrong!
Well, those 'GS' calipers, as well as the LT-4 engine, for that matter, only exist because of Heinricy's push for them in the GS project. GM acquiesced on the LT-4 only because they could also use it (spread the cost) over the rest of the 6sp '96s. With that in mind, I don't know why they wouldn't have done the same thing with the GS calipers...that is, spread them around to recoup development cost.
Originally Posted by bb62
Paint and tape specials always lose value in the long run. As for performance, the dual DUNN head 95 ZR_1s put out a factory 415(estimated) HP - and are rarer than the red gut Grand Sports...
Mercury Marine built all '93-'95 LT-5s (1449 of them) in 1993, and they were all mechanically identical...rated by the factory at 405hp.
If I had the garage space right now, I'd be looking for a '93 ZR-1. I'd choose the '93 over the '95 because 1) the '93 & '94 LT-5s were never packed in preservative like the '95s were, and 2) '93 was the only year to use those gorgeous turbine-style wheels along with the final 405hp production iteration of the LT-5. JMO, but those wheels are way cooler than the later ZR-1 and GS wheels, which I always thought looked kind of low-rent/aftermarket. The turbine wheels really make that car, and I wish they had used them on the GS as well. Gawd, I HATE my black wheels. I realize I'm nearly the Lone Ranger on this point, so again, JMO...
Well funny this question should come up. I always wanted a 96 GS as a young adult, but of course could not afford one. When the day came around that I could afford one that dream became a reality. As someone mentioned it’s flashy, totally outrageous for a 1996 car and you simply just do see them very often. I see 90-95 ZR1s quit regularly here in Houston. I’m biased of course lol, but my being a one year only car and already on the top ten most valuable Corvettes list I see these cars continually climbing in value. Here’s a picture of my GS the day it arrived some 2.5yrs ago
I feel the ZR1 will become the c4 to collect. Whichever ZR1 year is the most badass. I don't know which year that would be, I have an LT4 that I bought to beat on.
Last edited by CaptainMerricka; 05-28-2018 at 02:58 PM.
Reason: Trolls
I feel the ZR1 will become the c4 to collect. Whichever ZR1 year is the most badass. I don't know which year that would be, I have an LT4 that I bought to beat on.
The 'asses' of the '93 and '94 ZR-1s were every bit as 'bad' as those of the '95s. See below...
Some tout the '95 ZR-1 as being more rare than the GS because there were only 448 of them, but the '93 and '94 ZR-1s were (except for the '93's different wheels) virtually identical to the '95s, so the real number would be between 1400 and 1500 cars. Other than the '93's wheels, are there any other differences between a '93 and a '95?
93 has a slightly different interior and seats, on the out side different side gills.
I'll have to check out the interior differences in the '93. I wasn't kidding about those turbine wheels 'making' the car. It's like the knock-offs on a C2...the cars just look better with those wheels and, unlike any other car that I can recall, each corner of the car got its own unique wheel with the correct-direction twist to the spokes.
05-18-2018, 09:51 AM
