When Lotus and General Motors put their engineering teams together in the late 1980s, monster muscle machines were born.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1991 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by Precious Metal Classic Cars in Elkhart, Indiana. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Fully documented, collector-grade ZR-1 survivor that’s logged just 8,979 miles,” the listing states.
When it launched in 1984, the C4 Corvette was the first to receive engineering advancements like a “uniframe” chassis, molded plastic bumpers, a glass hatchback, and a liquid crystal instrument cluster. Big news soon arrived in 1986 when General Motors acquired Group Lotus and got to work building a hopped-up version of the Corvette. Lotus was a revered name in motorsports known for its lightweight, high-performance sports cars.
Tasked with building the ultimate performance-tuned C4, Lotus cooked up the “LT5” 5.7-liter engine using an aluminum black, quad camshafts, 32 valves, and a unique air management system. This 375-horsepower V8 was the key ingredient in the ZR-1 Corvette’s magic, but the package didn’t stop there: Additional treatment included a standard Bosch anti-lock braking system, a Bilstein “FX3” suspension, and wider tires compared to the standard Corvette. Torque was fed rearward through a ZF six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip rear end.
This exceptionally low-mileage black ZR-1 looks showroom fresh both inside and out. The engine received a tune-up and new injectors, so the seller states that it is ready for the road. “This great example of the 1991 ZR-1 comes completely serviced. With its all-original appearance and even wearing its original rubber, you’ll be ready for the field at Bloomington earning a reward with the National Corvette Restorers Society.”
Included in the listing’s photo gallery are over 80 detailed photos such as a shot of the center console placard that denotes the engine’s horsepower and torque ratings. The window sticker shows an original retail price of $65,338 and delivery to DuTeau Chevrolet in Lincoln, Nebraska. Roughly half of that price ($31,583) was for the ZR-1 package alone. Hard to believe you could nearly buy two base Corvettes for the price of one ZR-1.
Incidentally, General Motors sold off its stake in Group Lotus in 1993 so this car was part of a short-lived partnership. There certainly can’t be very many unmodified ZR-1s left in existence, let alone with fewer than 10,000 miles on the odometer.
“If you’re in the market for one of the finest examples of a very desirable C4 Corvette in a stunning color, your car has arrived,” the seller states. The asking price is $46,500 for this ZR-1, which includes collector-grade swag like a VHS tape, a tire gauge, books, and other memorabilia.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
