1994 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1

It's not very often that a ZR-1 makes its way across the salvage auction blocks.  When this beautiful 1994 example became available for bidding, we knew we had to have it! At first glance it looked like it would have been an easy fix for someone to save, but unfortunately had extensive damage to the underside in the left rear.
Corvette C4 ZR-1
Thankfully the LT5 engine still ran fantastic and has since been sold as a replacement for a customer's ZR-1.  

The Corvette C4 ZR-1, also known as the "King of the Hill," is an iconic high-performance version of Chevrolet's flagship sports car. The ZR-1 made its debut in 1990 and was produced through 1995. It was developed as a result of a collaboration between General Motors and Lotus Engineering, with the goal of creating the fastest production car in the world.

Corvette C4 ZR-1 Interior

The ZR-1 was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1989 and generated significant excitement. When production started in 1990, the ZR-1 commanded a significant price premium over the standard Corvette due to its higher performance and exclusive features.

Corvette C4 ZR-1

The heart of the ZR-1 was its LT5 engine, a 5.7-liter V8 designed by Lotus. This was a departure from other Corvettes of the time, which used engines designed by Chevrolet. The LT5 was unique in having four overhead camshafts and 32 valves, which was a first for a production Corvette. Initially, the LT5 engine produced 375 horsepower, but it was upgraded in 1993 to output 405 horsepower.

Corvette C4 ZR-1 LT5 Engine

Performance-wise, the ZR-1 was a force to be reckoned with. It was capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just over 4 seconds, and it had a top speed of around 180 mph. At the time, these figures were extremely impressive and put the ZR-1 in the same league as many exotic European sports cars.

Visually, the ZR-1 was distinguished from regular Corvettes by its wider rear bodywork, designed to accommodate its larger rear tires. It also had a unique "ZR-1" badging on the rear.

Corvette C4 Zr-1

Despite its impressive performance, the ZR-1 was not a commercial success due to its high price and the economic recession of the early 1990s. As a result, Chevrolet ended production of the ZR-1 in 1995. A total of 6,939 units were built during its production run.

Nevertheless, the Corvette C4 ZR-1 has achieved something of a cult status among car enthusiasts. It represents an ambitious attempt by an American automaker to challenge European supercars on their own terms, and its legacy lives on in today's high-performance Corvette variants.