- C4 Corvette ZR1 Is a Proper Bargain These Days
- Proper Bargain
- David and Goliath
- Star of the Show
- Total Package
- Stunning Performance
- Little Wear
- Bang for the Buck
C4 Corvette ZR1 Is a Proper Bargain These Days
Today’s unforgiving market still has a few good deals to offer.
Proper Bargain
In today’s world, it’s difficult to find a good deal on any automobile, whether it be new or used. A slanted supply and demand curve is the culprit we can blame for that, but there are still a few good deals to be found out there. One of them is the C4 Corvette ZR1, an amazingly advanced performance vehicle for its era that can be had for pennies on the dollar today. Case in point – this very nice 1990 model, which was recently up for grabs on Craigslist with an asking price of just $17,900.
Photos: Craigslist
David and Goliath
Designed by Lotus, built by Mercury Marine, and sold by GM, the C4 Corvette ZR1 is a technical powerhouse that’s still impressive by today’s standards. Appropriately dubbed “King of the Hill” when it debuted, the C4 ZR1 was a true David in the battle against high-priced, exotic Goliath sports cars, routinely beating them in various performance metrics at a much lower cost.
Photos: Craigslist
Star of the Show
The star of the proverbial show, of course, is the car’s very special LT5 5.7-liter, 32-valve, DOHC V8, which was a first for the Corvette in general. That all-aluminum powerplant was developed and built in conjunction with Lotus and Mercury Marine with the idea of making the C4 ZR1 the fastest production car in the world, a lofty goal indeed.
Photos: Craigslist
Total Package
The C4 ZR1 is far more than just an engine, of course, and it also featured some pretty advanced tech for its time such as an active ride suspension to go along with the typical brake and steering upgrades. All of that worked together to deliver a stunning performance.
Photos: Craigslist
Stunning Performance
With 375 horsepower on tap, the C4 ZR1 was capable of reaching 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. Those were incredible numbers 30+ years ago, and still respectable today. It’s also a great-looking car that has stood the test of time, and this 107k-mile example certainly fits the bill.
Photos: Craigslist
Little Wear
Inside and out, this C4 ZR1 appears to be in pretty excellent condition, which isn’t terribly common. The most surprising thing is the interior, which remains in solid shape despite cheaper materials that tend to show wear over time.
Photos: Craigslist
Bang for the Buck
This particular Corvette has obviously been well-cared for over the years and given its lower production numbers, historic significance, and performance, it seems like a real bargain by today’s standards. It may never be some pricey collectible, but this ZR1 is certainly a fun ride that offers lots of bang for the buck.
Photos: Craigslist
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