financialplan

1990 red/tan ZR-1. Traded in at a local Ford dealer. I talked with the sales guy and he said it was showroom new. They were asking 35K for it. I thought I would just go take a look since it was not to far away,I already have two ZR-1's!

They had it sitting on the showroom floor. Well it looks like $h!T!! It only had 2,500 miles alright but it looked like it spent the last 15 in a barn somewhere! Many wires and weather strips chewed through by mice, front spoiler and mounts torn off and I don't know what they cleaned the interior with, but they were trying to hide some horrible smell! Original tires as hard as cement.Under the car looked like it took a mud bath.Many other exposure problems as well.With all these problems they still acted like they had gods gift to the automotive world and would hardly budge on the price!!

Moral of the story-low milage is not everthing! If you are thinking of a 90 Z at Santos Ford in Los Banos, forget about it.

81c3

Did it even run with the wire damage? Thats a shame really. Well, they got one thing right....a ZR-1 IS Gods gift to the automotive world...just not the one they got hosed on!

capevettes

Typical of a non-Corvette dealer to be unfamiliar with the market for the car given it's poor condition. I love it when their "expert" starts to tell you all about the car's special features Too bad the car's condition doesn't match it's mileage.

zr1fred

Smell was probably the rat feces. I think that car's been on Ebay. You'd think they would spend a little getting it in top shape, since it's a trade in, they probably don't have much over $20k in it (if that much).

LowFlight

One of the lessons I have learned about these cars is year,miles,color don't mean a DAMN thing...condition...condition...conditio n is EVERYTHING

Goldcylon

Well said!! Even Dave McLellan said drive the damn car and you folks wont have 90% of the problems associated with just sitting around. I sure winter storage just sucks for my Northern brothers

Goldcylon

Ive seen on the Bay too Fred. What a waste

financialplan

Yes, it was very sad to see. They had built up the car to be pristine like you would think a 2,500 mile Z would be, I even entertained the thought of a third ZR-1 to my collection!! What a let down when I saw it. All they did was buff the paint, and they did a sub par job that to.

It's weird, I feel like I should rescue the poor machine, but not at 35K!

financialplan

It did run!! You could see they changed the spark plug wires and had been messing around the engine compartment.
Man was that engine stained, I have seen 100k mile cars much cleaner.

LT5corsa

A stained plenum is typical even for a 2500 mile car... I believe NCRS does accept that and delaminated windshields as "normal" in ZR1's.

But I agree with everyone else that condition of the car is EVERTHING. Doubtful that they have more than $20 to 23k in the car in that condition.

Maybe they should put it back in the bar?

VETTEROOKIE75

Here is the site.....

http://www.santosfordonline.com/cart...stock=L5801103

WydGlydJim

"Fire Engine Red"

That's the way to sell a sports car.

guinnessdood

They got it ALL goin on...Fire Engine Red and Camel!

Funny I thought it was Bright Red and Saddle...

Seems like they should take a visit over to www.zr1netregistry.com

ZO6R1

Sounds like the black/black 90 I looked at a few weeks ago. Someone will byuy it or it will end up at auction. So you now convinced your wife to let you get a third ZR1? You need to tell us step by step how you do it. You the man....

95ZR1#418

Sounds sad.I doubt anyone in the know would buy it

HammerZR1

I couldn't help it, I just sent this to them through their contact feature.

Let me correct some of the things you have listed about this car. First off it worth about $14k-$15k MAX, probably less due to the work it will take to make this car nice. Color is Bright Red, not Fire Engine Red. Interior color is Saddle, not Camel. From what I hear, it shows more like a car that has 100k miles on it rather that 2500 miles. The engine is stained, the weatherstripping is torn and the undercarriage looks like it was run through a mud bath, and I am sure there is more. Typical dealer BS, Our cars as trade-ins are crap, yours are like gold no matter what shape they are in. LOL. Good Luck.

ZR-71

Should have told them you're not surprised they don't offer any pics.

HammerZR1

Good point. below is their reply, and my return.

-----Original Message-----
From: John Shaver [mailto:johnatsantosford@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 5:50 AM
To: hdtc88s@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: [Auto Web Engine Message] 1990 Chevrolet Corvette

So, does this mean you're not interested in buying?

You are one smart cookie fella.
No wonder you don’t offer any pictures of this car. Or do you have some?

falconfling

Of my post yesterday about the phases of a classic....to me this sounds like a collector bought it, put it away....and probably died....the z sat in a garage or warehouse or barn for years until someone eventually liquidated the estate or his widow traded it in for a Lincoln. Just the way the world works and one reason why there will be relatively few of these cars left in another 10 years. Its going on a 20 years since the first z's were built and how many under 30's, even Corvette fans, have even heard of them ?

Graybeard ZR1

35K?....35K?...That's what I paid for mine... 16 YEARS AGO!

Similar mileage, but in perfect condition.