I’m no stranger to the C4 experience having owned a ‘96 CE LT4 for almost 16 years. I recently sold it and bought a new ‘19 C7. The C7 is great and I bought it for longer cruises and to have the last example of a front engine and manual transmission. I have to admit that I do miss the C4 and have recently found a low mileage ‘91 ZR-1 for sale only about 40 minutes from where I live. Having never even sat in a Z let alone driven one, is the experience that much different/better or am I better off finding another C4 to “scratch the itch”? Specialty engine maintenance is really my biggest concern, there weren’t very many Z’s sold in Canada and therefore the number of shops that service them are near non-existent 30 years later. I’ve been in contact with the seller, so the next step is to arrange to go see the car. I know what to look for in and around the common C4 components but what should throw up any flags engine wise?

 

Please move to ZR-1 section.

 

Yes, the ZR1 is THAT much different. Anyone who has ever driven or been a rider in a ZR1 is hooked for life. Remember that the ZR1 was designed not to be a super car, but to be THE supercar. The power, the sound the feel is intoxicating.

Don't worry about maintenance or parts. There is a lot of the ZR1 that is "regular" C4 so parts are readily available. The main difference is the engine of course and there is a lot of support out there. You will find many member of CF or ZR1NetRegistry that are more than willing to help. ZR1 ownership has often been described as a "brotherhood' and I believe there is much to that, Members will help each other with sourcing parts and repairs. I have done quite a bit of maintenance to my ZR1 following the FSM, YouTube and the other ZR1 owners.

As you are considering the ZR1, just drive it. You will know if it is for you.

 

Thanks for the reply. Here is a link to the car.

https://leemunrosgarage.com/inventor...vette/3588248/

He has already dropped the price to $29,999 CAD (~$22.5k USD) which I feel is still too high by at least 5k CAD, although I have nothing to base this on except for values in the US. (There aren’t any other similar examples in Canada to compare). He does have the original wheels with the original tires, original exhaust and air box along with the second top. The mileage converts to about 29k miles. Car has the factory original windshield which is of course showing delamination. Paint is original and shows no issues on the carfax.

 

I think that's a pretty fair price for a very clean, low mile zr1. I wouldn't expect them to go much lower than that.

The c4 zr1 is probably the most unique vette of all. High revving dohc b8 in a balanced chassis with analog feedback. If I was in the market for a zr1... It'd be hard to say no to that one.

 

I agree with FAUEE. This is a real clean example. Plus, you are getting back most of the original pieces to "reverse" the mods if you want.

Drive it and you will want it.

 

Please pictures , would love to see her if you make the purchase . good luck

 

If the motor is your main concern then that’s the easy part,the LT5 is pretty much indescribable unless you do something stupid to kill it,parts for rebuilds are easily found. The only minor issue is the fuel injectors are garbage for years 90-92 and they will need to be replaced.

 

There's pics in the link I attached.

I asked about the injectors and the sales guy didn't know if they have been replaced. He has a file with all of the service records and was going to look through them and let me know. With the salty roads up here for the next few months test driving is not possible. I won't buy a car without a test drive so I will either have to put a deposit on it if I'm serious or wait until nicer weather and hope it doesn't sell in the meantime. I don't think it's going anywhere, the demand for these cars is very low up here, there's only a handful of people that even recognize a C4, let alone can distinguish a Z from the rest. I will go see the car and if it is as advertised I will proceed with the next steps and report back. Thanks for all the replies!

 

Good luck, If you go down the ZR-1 road you won't be disappointed .

 

Owned a 91 ZR1 drove it several thousands of miles before selling it off. My lasting impression the heavier weight amplified the terrible chassis flex the C4s have. The engine was ok but the dual intake was kind of a mess. If you don't plan on driving and have a place to store might be ok.

 

Thanks for the opinion. I am aware of the chassis flex however I never really noticed it with my '96 CE unless the targa was out, I only ever took it out a couple times.I like A/C and didn't care for the wind buffeting. The car isn't likely to see many miles, this just checks the box of always wanting one. I'll put it in my collection and will sell it when I'm done with it. If values appreciate in that time then even better, but I'm not buying it as an investment or to preserve it in a bubble for the next person.

 

Think back about that time 91 ZR1. My brother bought a 92 Nissan 300ZX turbo. I could not believe the difference in the cars. A very quick education first time I drove the Nissan. My ZR1 felt like a clap trap, followed every groove in the road, heavy thumpy just not good. I know King Of The Hill bla bla. My opinion would not mess with buying one.

 

This will be heavily disputed, I imagine, but I had the same question and seriously considered a ZR-1 for a while. I ended up test driving 3 different ZR-1's and although I LOVE the car, I LOVE that GM executed it, and I feel that it is a "special" car....the driving experience left me wanting.

The first ZR-1 that I drove, drove very well, but no better or differently than my LT1. Normal driving, it was good/fine. When I got on it, I quickly realized that the secondaries weren't working so it fell flat.

The second ZR-1 that I drove was owned by forum sponsor, "Corvette Recycling" -here in Utah. it was properly functioning, and I was excited to "get into the secondaries". When I did....not a lot happened. It kept revving higher....and higher...and higher, but there was no magical experience like you often read about. It never did much...it just didn't nose over, either.

The third ZR-1 that I drove was another forum member, here. His was the nicest car, by far...and he was totally awesome. I really enjoyed meeting him and talking cars. This third experience was the most telling for me, since it was back to back w/my stock LT1. He was in Vegas, so a much lower elevation there where I live (7300') (and what I'm "used to" for power from my LT1). I drove my LT1 down there (dropping over 5000' in the process), we met, talked cars, then he let me drive the car. At one point we were on a basically deserted road and he tells me to stop, start out and floor it, and keep it floored to 7k. "O.K.", I thought. "Sounds pretty good to me!". I did...let the clutch out, matted it, and when the tach hit about 3500, the rear tires broke loose and it slid around some, then hooked around 5000 RPM or so....but then it was rather "flat" on up. I shifted at ~6300, b/c "why rev it higher?" when it didn't really feel like it wanted it. I mean, it was still pulling but not like it "wanted it". (A respected Forum member) told me to stop and do it again but hold it to 7k. I did...same thing w/the tire spin at 35 - 5k or so, and I held it to about 6900 and shifted...feeling bad for the engine by that point. It wasn't any "high end pull" like we read about on the forums...that was for sure. Yeah, it definitely felt stronger than my LT1 in the mid...for SURE....and if my LT1 didn't have a limiter, I'm sure it would fade way worse than the ZR-1 did up top. But was the mid range punch worth the money and bother of selling/buying, changing cars? IDK.

Leaving (A respected Forum member's) house in my own, stock LT1, I drove through the development to the main road. I hadn't yet "gotten on it" w/my own car, since I'd been down at 'Vegas' elevation. When I pulled onto the main road, I thought..."I'm going to punch it to see how badly the my LT1 is lacking to the LT5...maybe that will clarify what I'm missing". I turned onto the main road, straightened the wheel and punched my car. It took off good...hard and around 3k, it ripped the tires loose and got all squirrely. "Holy ****...it's never done this before!", I thought. Why? Elevation. Around 5k, the rear tires hooked, and I let it pull and shifted at 5800 right before the limiter. It felt good. Damn good...and the midrange (at 2000' elevation) was every bit as present as it was in the ZR-1. So what was my LT1 missing? ~1000 RPM that in my experience, the ZR-1 engine doesn't really "want" to rev through anyway. Was that worth it? Not to me.



I love ZR-1's that GM made the ZR-1 and that it was what it was -a world beater in it's time. But for ME, the driving experience isn't much different than that of an LT1 so for ME, the ZR-1 is a car that I love that other people have, and I can see on occasion at shows/C&C etc. Here is the biggest advantage: knowing that you own one. The history, the back story, the pedigree. To the people who that matters to....it's a lot.

 

Great write up Tom. I will say a modded LT5 (500hp) is were the power will come in play. I do agree that a big part of owning a ZR-1 is the history that comes with it and owning a part of that history is not for everyone.

 

If you are going to buy a ZR1 you want to buy one that has been fully ported and or ported and stroked. You get maximum fun for the dollar. The previous owner spent all the money. Why buy one stock unless you just want a super low mile car capable of competing in NCRS. I've never owned a totally stock ZR1. They have either had headers , no cats, with tuning and 4.10 gears which wakes up the 90-92 LT5. Or my current car that has stock gears and full engine porting to making 528 H.P. . A ZR1 That should do over 200 mph. My LT1 flat out was around 156- 157 mph. The 6 speed LT1 should get you into the mid 160's . With the porting you honestly can shift up higher getting full benefit of 7000 + rpm. Best time I ever got out of my LT1 was 13.70's @ 102 mph. My first ZR1 with just the headers, no cats, a chip , and 4.10 gears I was doing 12.42 @ 117 mph . With no engine porting.

They benefit from having the plenum, injector housings, and head porting. Then it's messing with the cam timing and also larger pistons and finally stroking. GM made improvements in the exhaust manifolds and the exhaust itself on the 93-95 cars. This is one reason the 90-92 cars respond so well to headers and exhaust. Improvements that trickled down to the 95-96 LT1 LT4 cars. The early C4 exhaust systems including the 90-92 ZR1 get choked by the center muffler inlets. Anyway buy a car that has been modified correctly at someone else's expense. You know or should know that most of the time when you spend lots of money on a car you are not going to get it back when you sell. If you are a good mechanic and smart then buy a higher mile car that is stock , and well maintained then do the mods yourself.

 

I totally agree (Even though I've not driven one). I'd bet that a little porting, headers/exhaust and...it would be a "top end monster", and a rocket ship thrill ride.

 

The original tires are worthless, unless you are going to put it in a museum, or sell them to someone who wants to put their car in a museum. The price sounds pretty fair to me, depending on the condition of course.

 

I agree the original tires are indeed worthless, except to the person that’s into the NCRS or museum status. They are basically a bonus to pass on with the car. I haven’t had time to go see the car in person yet. I do understand that the car is almost 30 years old and it will not compare to my ‘19 Z51 in any way when you compare stock for stock cars. I am a person that appreciates cars for what they are, and do not compare old vs new technology. I enjoy driving different vehicles from different eras simply for the fun of it and enjoying what was cutting edge and innovative for the time. I won’t deny that my reason for wanting one is just to simply stare at it in my garage!

 

I've owned C4's with the L-98, LT-1 and LT-5. 6 C4's in total. I can tell you with certainty the LT-5 is head and shoulders above the LT-1 and for sure the L-98. Both of which seem to easily run out of breath in my opinion. The 92 ZR-1 I had was a header only car. My present 90 has some top end porting, headers and full 3" exhaust. Its kind of a package deal with the ZR-1. The exhaust sound, the secondaries opening and the engine pulling to 7200 rpm is an experience that is singular to this car and engine combination. The car is most at home and the most fun in higher rpm ranges, of course thats to be expected with the DOHC configuration.... the LT-5 never seems to run out of breath. Make sure you get the car you test drive out on the highway. Cruise in 3rd gear around 4000 rpm, then smash the gas pedal to the floor, shift into 4th at 7000 rpm and repeat... I'm betting you'll be grinning ear to ear.....and maybe writing a check soon after!