FastMatt2

People that have never owned a ZR1 just cant understand that the "joy" of driving a car cant just be shown in raw performance numbers. This car is simply a pleasure to drive, from the smoothness of the LT5, to the bark of it threw the B&B's. Simply everything about this car is a pleasure and true driving enjoyment.

All last week every morning when I walked out to the garage I had a choice to drive my son to school and me to work in my 604 AWHP Stealth, My 612 RWHP viper or the sub 400 whp ZR1 and I chose the ZR1 each and every day. Sure it's not as fast, but there is just something about these cars.

And its funny how many people my age (mid 30's) that still know what this car is. It seemed like every day I would have at least one guy come up to me some were and tell me what a grate looking car it was and how thy never thought thy would see a real ZR1 but use to read about them all the time when thy were kids.

JetJock

I know the feeling exactly! Every now and then, when I am filling up the Z, some one, usually a guy, will see the ZR-1 on the bumper and ask if that is a "real" ZR-1. I pop the hood and ask him, what do you think? At that point, I get a "Omigod" out of him and then the questions start. What year is it, how fast will it go, does it really have 32 valves? The guy is somewheres around 25 to 30, so he looks at it like it's a museum piece.

Since the advent of the "new ZR1", people have been doing some research. I think, and I could be wrong about this, this is what Corvette looked like when you were growing up. When I was around 12 or so, I saw the C-2's all of the time because some people that I knew owned one. Then as I got older, started seeing C-3's. To me, a Corvette is a C-3. However, I'm glad that I have my ZR-1 because that is the only C-4 that stands out from the crowd except for the Grand Sport.

I'm with you! I go down to the garage and just stare at it. I've got 2 Vettes in the garage and they are both black and C-4. You gotta love it!

FastMatt2

Ya your right about a C4 being a "corvette" to me, when I was growing up the C4 was a corvette and some how the C5's were just a imitation that had no sole. To me, the C4's are better looking then even the new C6's. But the C6 ZR1 is growing on me to

I think the next car I buy is going to be a 96 Grand Sport to park next to it.

EvanZR1

Have had a 92 LT1, and an 01 Z06, and now have a deposit on a 91 ZR-1. Out of all the Vettes, the 91+ C4s are my favorite, with the ZR-1 being the Vette I've always dreamed of.

pantera1683

with everything but the C6 growing on me. Every time I think I like it, I see a picture of it head on and get turned off again. The front still looks weird to me. I grew up in the C4 era and am still stoked that I own a Zr-1. I've owned a C5 ZO6 and almost owned a C3 as a teenager (I'm still mad at my mom for not letting me buy it). I do love all Corvettes but I don't think I will ever own another one unless something disastrous happens to my Z. I would look for another Z or a C2 or pre-74 C3. C2s, to me, are sex on wheels!

Rkreigh

Matt,

glad to see you back in a Z

the look and feel of the ZR-1 makes it the "exotic" of the corvettes

kinda like an ol ferrari, not the fastest or best looking, but it invokes some sensations that other cars just can't match

my turbo Z will run and hide from the ZR-1, but it doesn't have the delicious sound, isn't as comfortable or as "raw" as the ZR-1

and I agree, the B&B is great. 508 rwhp is "enough" for street tires, and even though the ol ZR-1 is a heavy beast, it's still got a bark that the other cars in the stable don't match

the beast can roar and all the other animals pay attention when it does

93Polo

Evan, do you still have the LT4 Firehawk? Post pics up of the Zr1 when you get it.

EvanZR1

Yes, still have the LT4 Firehawk for now. Ebay buyer was supposed to pick it up today, but it looks like he's a deadbeat bidder. GRRR!

93Polo

Sucks it is a deadbeat, maybe it is a sign you should keep it.

The rarest LT4 car and a LT5 in the same garage would be awesome

Mikey Morris

I hope to have a Z soon. Really can't believe guys my age who grew up with that car new don't know what it is. Very sad

jcruz

I just acquired my Z this year (91 #987). Most enjoyable car I've ever had! I also have a 92 Z07 I've owned for about 15 years -- I've thought many times of selling it, but then I take it for a spin and I'm like "why am I selling this?"

C4's are the bomb -- handling, styling, power -- they have it all!

John

Polo-1

Runs smooth don't it Get's it on with a little hit of NOS

DDSLT5

Boom!

Polo-1

how many of those patients go boom when you have them on the juice

Just dont let the little float ball hit 10

H P Bushrod

Still looking forward to driving a ZR-1. I've always been impressed with the car and the engineering that went into it.

Paul Workman

I've taken mine to a few "Cruise Nights" here in IL and just parked it w/ the hood up - no placards or other ID; just listening to the comments by a few passers by.

Most - maybe 80-90% of the GP have no idea what they're looking at and walk by: another L98...see those runners? But, I've found that most of those that do notice are "youngsters" - in their 30s or mostly younger!

I'm guessing the reason might be that the younger car crowd is well read on DOHCs as they apply to "ricer" cars, and in so doing, run across articles on the LT5?? Anyway, I'll see people walking by and glance at the motor and then snap back for a double take. Sometimes eyes fly wide open and the person will hail (sp?) friends - "Hey! Check this out!" - or the like.



Note: The LT5 in the pic was fully P&P'ed, with headers and 3" exhaust and received a final tuning by Marc Haibeck - made 432 RWHP on the dyno. Not too shabby for a stock bottom, stock cammed 350. Gotta love these puppies and their potential!

P.

BigBlock 72

Was that a 375hp, or a 405hp LT5 to start with? Or would that even matter?

JetJock

The original cars were 375hp. In 1993, they upped to to 405hp because the Viper came out with a 400hp engine. Having had both, I always that that the 405hp were pretty dang gum fast. After fixing the secondary vacuum pump, we took it to the street and punched it. We were doing 138mph before we knew it. I was very impressed.

DMark

Its the "Gran Turismo" video game affect.

All of the gamers know about the KOTH. One of the desired cars to run the high speed courses is a C4 ZR-1.

FastMatt2

My first corvette was a 94 Polo Z07 auto. I had allot of fun with that car, it handled grate. the 3.07 gears in the auto on the Z07's really made it stand out VS the normal auto cars (that I think were something like 2.54's). I got that car with bolt-on's to run 12.9@109 when I lived at sea level in FL. And run a top speed of 169mph.