1990 Corvette ZR-1 Offered Exotic Performance in a Daily Driver

The low-mileage 1990 Corvette ZR-1 currently for sale on eBay is an immaculate example of Chevrolet’s then-cutting-edge technology at a very realistic Buy-It-Now price.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Lofty Goal

Chevrolet set a lofty goal when developing the 1990 ZR-1: produce a domestic sports car with performance and sophistication rivaling European exotics. The transformation began under the hood. The engine wizards at Lotus Cars thoroughly worked over the Corvette’s 5.7-liter V-8.

The result was a technologically advanced, double-overhead-cam, 32-valve monster pumping out an impressive 375 horsepower without the aid of turbocharging or supercharging. Each of the aluminum engines was hand-built by MerCruiser, a company known for extracting maximum performance and reliability from aluminum engines in tough marine environments.

The six-speed manual transmission behind the LT5 V-8 featured a computer-aided gear selector that made the 1990 ZR-1 easier to shift while also improving fuel economy. Huge 315/35ZR17 Goodyear Eagle rear tires on 11-inch-wide wheels put the power to the ground. In front were only slightly more modest 275/40ZR17 Eagles mounted on 9.5-inch wheels. The ZR-1 also got GM’s first active suspension in a production vehicle.

Impressive Performance

Period road tests found ZR-1 performance impressive, to say the least. Acceleration from zero to 60 took just 4.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 175 mph. Even more impressive was the fact that engineers extracted that kind of performance while keeping the ZR-1 civilized and reliable. It was an exotic that could be driven daily with no issues.

The 1990 ZR-1’s exterior was largely free of emblems indicating the performance contained within. There was just one subtle ZR-1 badge at the rear. But the wide rear bodywork to accommodate the massive tires and the (then) ZR-1-exclusive square tail lights tipped off those in the know.

1990’s Tech

The black leather interior brims with 1990s tech. The orange-on-black instruments include a digital speedometer, sweeping tachometer, and ancillary gauges mounted directly ahead of the driver. A console—angled toward the driver—has buttons for the climate controls and audio functions.

The original stereo system includes an AM/FM radio, cassette deck, and CD player. The leather seats feature numerous power adjustments for a customized fit. They are highly bolstered to keep driver and passenger secure in the twisties.

Virtually New

This immaculate 1990 ZR-1 shows just 58,000 miles on the odometer. It looks virtually new inside and out. It is clearly a well-cared-for car. The seller says it runs and drives perfectly. Service records indicate that a lot of work was performed in the last six months.

Despite its impressive credentials, the ZR-1 was never meant to be a high-volume production model. Just over 3,000 were made in 1990, selling at a lofty MSRP of almost $60,000.

While the ZR-1’s price represented a substantial upcharge over the base Corvette model, it was less than half of some competing exotic cars. This 1990 ZR-1’s Buy-It-Now price of under $20,000 makes it still a performance bargain today.