Brand-New C4 Corvette ZR1 with Just 357 Miles

ZR1 Revival

ZR1 remains one of the Corvette's most legendary models. And since that moniker graced the flanks of the very first ZR1 Corvette, it has stood for world-class performance, the king of the proverbial Corvette hill, if you will. Thus, when Chevrolet wanted to drag its most famous sports car from the pit of misery for the 1990 model year, it reached back into its bag of tricks and revived that legendary nameplate.

Time Capsule

And if you want to relive that glorious moment in Corvette history, look no further than this incredibly well-preserved 1990 ZR1. Sporting just 357 original miles, it's the kind of time capsule that has to be seen to be believed. We spotted the immaculate ride at a recent Mecum Auction, where it crossed the block but failed to meet the asking price.

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Fully Intact

Of course, this gem emerged from its careful storage with all the goodies it originally came with. That includes the window sticker, books, manual, build sheet, and sale brochure. And it's certainly the right color combo for interested collectors.

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Important Piece of History

Obviously, we can't understand the logic that drives people to store away fantastic cars like this and never drive them. But their efforts do at least conjure up some great memories and preserve important pieces of history. And in our opinion, the 1990 ZR1 certainly was.

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Overnight Change

Prior to 1990, the Corvette wasn't really getting much respect in comparison to its European counterparts. But when Chevrolet dropped the new ZR1 on the world, that all changed. Sporting world-class speed along with excellent handling and braking performance, it changed the way the world looked at the Corvette virtually overnight.

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Revolutionary Power

Much of the real story, of course, lies under the hood. The ZR1's glorious dual-overhead-cam, four-valve-per-cylinder V8 was truly a phenomenon. The revised 5.7-liter V8 was developed jointly with Lotus and built by Mercury Marine. It produces 380 hp, which might not seem earth-shattering today. But at the time, it most certainly was a revelation.

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Muscular Stance

The bodywork is a bit different from your average 1990 model. It widens leading to the rear, where the ZR1 is a full 3-inches broader out back. Which, of course, makes room for those P3 I5/35ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle Gatorback tires. It also gives the ZR1 a very muscular appearance.

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Shared Transmission

One drivetrain piece the ZR1 shares with its common Corvette counterpart is the transmission. The 6-speed box uses goodies like Computer Aided Gear Selection (CAGS) to short shift from first to fourth under light throttle. It's also capable of handling up to 425 lb-ft of torque, more than enough for the LT5's 370 lb-ft output.

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Ahead of Its Time

Of course, the ZR1 featured a number of suspension upgrades that separated it from the regular Corvette. The FX3 Selective Ride Con­trol was a bit ahead of its time, allowing for six levels of damping in three different driving modes.

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Underrated?

As historically significant as the 1990 Corvette ZR1 was, it isn't fully appreciated by collectors today. Thus, what might be the finest example in existence failed to sell at auction with a meager $27,000 high bid. But we're betting that one day, people will truly come to realize just how important this groundbreaking car truly was!

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