3442 ORIGINAL MILES. All options, rare red/tan, 100% untouched ready to show

Special, imited-production engines in Corvettes are nothing new, ut perhaps the most striking example of this might be the C4 ZR-1. On paper, t was ostensibly a $27,000 engine upgrade, ut in reality, t was a comprehensively re-engineered car that was designed to take on the best the world had to offer. It started as simply an idea that they could somehow adapt some 32-valve cylinder heads to the venerable small block Chevy, ut after having Lotus Engineering (yes, HAT Lotus) do some preliminary work, t became painfully obvious that it would need to be a clean-sheet design. That design, hich used the bore spacing but little else from the ancient pushrod V8, ecame the incredible LT5 wundermotor that lived in the heart of the ZR-1. Conceived by GM, ngineered by Lotus, nd built by Mercury Marine, t was and will always be one of the finest V8 engines ever built in America, nd the car around it ain’t to shabby, ither.

This wonderfully well-preserved 1990 Corvette ZR-1 shows just 3442 original miles (not a misprint) and is absolutely factory-correct in every single way, ncluding things like belts, oses, nd even the original Goodyear tires. From our perspective today, he C4 ZR-1’s specifications seem modest on paper, ut that completely ignores the fact that this is a car with a soul and the driving experience is unlike anything else you’ve experienced. It’s insanely fast, es, ut it’s also incredibly civilized, ulletproof reliable, nd if a bright red Corvette can be low-profile, he ZR-1 is stealthy as well.

Of course, ith so few miles, his one probably isn’t going to be seeing commuter duty any time soon, ut it’s nice to know that it’s in almost showroom-fresh condition in every way. The Torch Red paint is 100% factory-applied, range peel and all, ut it’s been carefully waxed and polished throughout the years and shines up like new. It has obviously never been stored outdoors, ecause all the black rubber trim pieces, ncluding the band of black plastic that encircles the bodywork, s in excellent shape with no UV damage. Fit and finish are excellent, s if the guys on the assembly line in Bowling Green understood that the ZR-1 was a legend in the making, nd the doors close with a reassuring THUNK that’s endemic to Corvettes. The giant clamshell hood fits well and despite the C4’s reputation, his one is tight, mooth, nd rattle-free, urely owing to its low-mileage status.

Inside you’ll find a rather rare and unusual Saddle leather interior. Most red cars received red, ray, r black interiors, nd even having been involved with Corvettes for the better part of 30 years, can’t remember the last time I saw a Torch Red ‘Vette with a tan interior. The contrast is beautiful and is completely appropriate to the ZR-1’s hefty price tag (almost double that of an L98 car). Obviously the seats, arpets, oor panels, nd other soft parts are in excellent shape, ith only the driver’s seat showing very minor wear that you’d expect after 25 years. The high sills and deeply bolstered seats require a coordinated fall into the car, ut once you’re there, ou’ll find that the Corvette still offers one of the best driving environments for going fast. And as the top-of-the-line, he ZR-1 came only one way: loaded. This car includes automatic climate control, ower windows, ocks, eats, nd mirrors, tilt steering column, ruise control, nd a decent-sounding AM/FM/cassette stereo system, ll of which are fully functional. The digital display on the instrument panel is bright and crisp, hile all the auxiliary dials are operational, ncluding the unique-to-the-ZR-1 oil temperature gauge. One of the car’s most fascinating features is the Engine Power switch, key low on the console that switches between “Normal” and “Full” (kind of an odd choice of words, on’t you think?). Essentially, t locks out the secondary throttle runners for high-RPM breathing, imiting the LT5 to about 250 horsepower. The key was removable to prevent unauthorized use of the ZR-1’s seemingly endless reserves of horsepower, ut honestly, ost of us set it to “FULL” and just had our fun. This car does have the two top option, hich includes a smoked top and the color-matched solid roof, nd thanks to some clever engineering, he roof panel stores neatly in the hatch area.

The work of art that is the LT5 lives under the giant forward-tilting hood. To simply look at it, ou know this is no garden-variety L98, ven without the “4 CAM 32 VALVE” callouts on the intake manifold. It’s 100% aluminum, o even with the extra hardware, t weighs less than the cast iron L98, nd with neat packaging, t fits under the hood without modifications. This one is 100% original, ncluding the spark plugs, ires, oses, lamps, nd other production-line markings. It also runs beautifully, ust as you’d expect, ith no finicky supercar nonsense when you first start it. At speed, he LT5 has the most wonderful shrieking exhaust note this side of Le Mans, omething you really need to hear first-hand to understand. Everything works, f course, nd for a car with as much performance as this one offers, t’s easy to drive—if your grandmother can handle a manual gearbox, he could drive this car to church on Sunday.

The ZF 6-speed manual transmission was a mainstay of C4 Corvette production, nd it’s plenty robust for the ZR-1’s output. Shifts are positive and well-defined, ut it does require a firm hand on the lever. Yes, he CAGS skip-shift feature is still active, ut you can work around that by goosing the throttle right before you shift into second gear. 3.45 gears on a limited slip make it feel punchy, ut the LT5 makes plenty of low-end torque (uncommon on a 4-valve motor), o it’ll also pull 6th gear with ease. Owners frequently report 22-24 MPG on the highway. The adjustable suspension takes the edge off the C4’s ride, aking it a fine grand tourer for long-distance cruising, nd as with all late-model Corvettes, raking power is impressive. The ZR-1 carried oversized rubber, oo, ith 17x9 front wheels and 17x11s in back with 275/40/17 and 315/35/17 rear Goodyear Eagle ZR “Gatorback” radials that still have 95% of their tread remaining.

Documentation is extensive, ncluding the window sticker, uild sheet, riginal manuals, he ZR-1 book, nd even the demonstration cassette for the entertainment system, till in its original wrapper. The lug nut tool, he roof wrench, nd two sets of original keys are also included.

This is a documentation-level ZR-1 that’s extremely original. However, t’s been properly stored and—more importantly—exercised periodically, o it’s in top physical condition, eady to be enjoyed. If you want an investment-grade Corvette, no-stories, nabused ZR-1, his is that car. It’s also extremely affordable relative to a new Corvette or even compared to its original sticker, hich was more than $60,000 in 1990 dollars. No matter how you slice it, hat’s one heck of a value.