C4 ZR1 - How's it Rated?
Discussion
I'll admit to being a 'vette ignoramus - but the C4 ZR1 as the only OHC 'vette & the involvement of Lotus in developing the 32 valve motor has always intrigued me as one of the more sophisticated models & one of the early attempts to push the 'vette to European levels of efficiency.
My question is this:
How is the C4 ZR1 viewed in the pantheon of 'vette models - will it ever be seen as a seminal model & a true classic - one of the great 'vettes?
Or rather will it be viewed as a technologically interesting off-shoot which ultimately proved to be a blind alley?
My question is this:
How is the C4 ZR1 viewed in the pantheon of 'vette models - will it ever be seen as a seminal model & a true classic - one of the great 'vettes?
Or rather will it be viewed as a technologically interesting off-shoot which ultimately proved to be a blind alley?
Having been a corvette owner for 20 years I personally would say they will be a future classic that will increase in value considerably, the engine is awesome and knowing a few owners they are an awesome driving car with plenty of power and sound lovely, every now and then they crop up and in recent times at a very good price sub £15k I wouldn't want a repair bill if I broke an engine but having said that im confidant they are pretty bullet proof and have not known of anyone with any engine problems, in my view the C4 is becoming more desirable and the ZR1 being the ONE to have means they are going to be a good investment as I believe their at there low at the moment.
Had mine 14 years and will never sell it. I get out of the ZR1 with a big grin every time I drive it. When in France and Germany, people know what it is, I've heard people say ZR1 even when looking from the front. In the UK, people are clueless. That makes it a bit of a sleeper but doesn't do much for its desirability.
There's only 4 people in the world that I would trust to work on the engine and they're all in the U.S., more worryingly they're all getting on a bit now too. The car itself is just a wide bodied C4. Wider doors, rear quarters and bumper. None of which are available as spare parts.
The engine looks hard to work on but isn't so bad once you get the plenum off. Wet aluminium liners, 2 injectors per cylinder (known to fail) and 4 coil packs. ZF gearbox is fantastic although quite a long throw and is pretty much the same unit used on the AM, Lotus Carlton, etc. No parts are available from GM. A few people make stuff for them, otherwise you pay big bucks for anything ZR1 related. Unique sound and an engine that wants to rev to the limiter. Have one breathed on and opened up to a 368 or bigger and you get what Lotus intended. Mines far from stock but will drop my Z06 up to a ton. Whenever I drive mountain roads in the Z06, I miss my ZR1, it's definately more of a drivers car. There are drawbacks, it's a 25 year old car, even with Brembos, it doesn't stop like the Z06, the chassis flex is awful with the roof out, expect some creaks and rattles etc. Early engines did not have valve stem seals so expect some smoke on start up, they all burn a bit of oil if you're driving them right.
I've had most of mine apart and Cliff has had most of his apart. Between us, there's not a lot we haven't pulled apart on a ZR1. Starting to get sought after in the U.S. now but if it's a C4 as an investment right now your money would be better in a Grand Sport.
There's only 4 people in the world that I would trust to work on the engine and they're all in the U.S., more worryingly they're all getting on a bit now too. The car itself is just a wide bodied C4. Wider doors, rear quarters and bumper. None of which are available as spare parts.
The engine looks hard to work on but isn't so bad once you get the plenum off. Wet aluminium liners, 2 injectors per cylinder (known to fail) and 4 coil packs. ZF gearbox is fantastic although quite a long throw and is pretty much the same unit used on the AM, Lotus Carlton, etc. No parts are available from GM. A few people make stuff for them, otherwise you pay big bucks for anything ZR1 related. Unique sound and an engine that wants to rev to the limiter. Have one breathed on and opened up to a 368 or bigger and you get what Lotus intended. Mines far from stock but will drop my Z06 up to a ton. Whenever I drive mountain roads in the Z06, I miss my ZR1, it's definately more of a drivers car. There are drawbacks, it's a 25 year old car, even with Brembos, it doesn't stop like the Z06, the chassis flex is awful with the roof out, expect some creaks and rattles etc. Early engines did not have valve stem seals so expect some smoke on start up, they all burn a bit of oil if you're driving them right.
I've had most of mine apart and Cliff has had most of his apart. Between us, there's not a lot we haven't pulled apart on a ZR1. Starting to get sought after in the U.S. now but if it's a C4 as an investment right now your money would be better in a Grand Sport.
I think its complexity counts against it.
When GM upped the standard C4 from 250 to the 300hp LT1, it catered for the wants of most people and the Gran sport pushed it to 335hp.
While they don't offer the breadth of the ZR1 performance, the ZR1 package cost as much as a second Corvette and the build quality on a C4 never really justified the cost.
It might be different had the C5 Z06 not equalled the output in far simpler form.
I think all C4s are under-rated though and I loved my 85 TPi.
When GM upped the standard C4 from 250 to the 300hp LT1, it catered for the wants of most people and the Gran sport pushed it to 335hp.
While they don't offer the breadth of the ZR1 performance, the ZR1 package cost as much as a second Corvette and the build quality on a C4 never really justified the cost.
It might be different had the C5 Z06 not equalled the output in far simpler form.
I think all C4s are under-rated though and I loved my 85 TPi.
LuS1fer said:
I think its complexity counts against it.
When GM upped the standard C4 from 250 to the 300hp LT1, it catered for the wants of most people and the Gran sport pushed it to 335hp.
While they don't offer the breadth of the ZR1 performance, the ZR1 package cost as much as a second Corvette and the build quality on a C4 never really justified the cost.
It might be different had the C5 Z06 not equalled the output in far simpler form.
I think all C4s are under-rated though and I loved my 85 TPi.
GM always seems to have the habit of selling a niche version Corvette (like ZR1) at a premium of between 50% and 100% over an above the 'cooking' model, enticing buyers to buy what is at that point an 'exclusive' limited production vehicle - then 'pulling the rugs from under the owners feet' and releasing after a couple of years another Corvette with similar performance but in a more or less stock package. Even the ZR1 kind of 'stole' Callaways 'thunder' at the time. We have just seen it happen again with the recent C6 ZR1 now overshadowed by the C7 Z06. These cars will make great 'collector' vehicles - just as long as you are not the first buyer! When GM upped the standard C4 from 250 to the 300hp LT1, it catered for the wants of most people and the Gran sport pushed it to 335hp.
While they don't offer the breadth of the ZR1 performance, the ZR1 package cost as much as a second Corvette and the build quality on a C4 never really justified the cost.
It might be different had the C5 Z06 not equalled the output in far simpler form.
I think all C4s are under-rated though and I loved my 85 TPi.
I am the proud owner of a 1991 ZR-1 Corvette. To start, I should have bought one years ago.
The ZR-1 was not just another Corvette, not just another American spongemobile. At the time of introduction it was reported as the fastest production car on the planet.
One has to remember this is now a 27 year old car, but at the time it showcased General Motors finest engineering efforts - and a lot of that effort was from Lotus. The LT5 engine was perhaps Lotus finest hour. Read the history, the books, the blogs. The determination of Lotus engineers and those of GM Powertrain made a benchmark engine and car. The LS series owes design cues from this as does the Cadillac Northstar/Aurora engines. Porsche and Ferrari adopted the intake system of the LT5 design. The engine (and car) were not just for the masses, it was a design from the heart of hundreds of engineers who believed in what they were doing, and in some cases the detriment of family, fame and fortune.
Is it a good car? Its a great car. I own others to make suitable comparisons but nothing puts a smile on your face like the ZR-1.
The engine is not difficult to work on. These days it could be considered fairly basic in comparison to modern engines. In fact the whole car is easy to work on. A set of service manuals and logical thinking and you can do anything. Sure, its fit and finish is that of a 27 year old design but its intention is not.
If I had to have just one car, it would be a tossup between my Lotus Esprit Turbo SE or the ZR-1. Lets put it this way, if another one came up for sale, Id be buying it!
The ZR-1 was not just another Corvette, not just another American spongemobile. At the time of introduction it was reported as the fastest production car on the planet.
One has to remember this is now a 27 year old car, but at the time it showcased General Motors finest engineering efforts - and a lot of that effort was from Lotus. The LT5 engine was perhaps Lotus finest hour. Read the history, the books, the blogs. The determination of Lotus engineers and those of GM Powertrain made a benchmark engine and car. The LS series owes design cues from this as does the Cadillac Northstar/Aurora engines. Porsche and Ferrari adopted the intake system of the LT5 design. The engine (and car) were not just for the masses, it was a design from the heart of hundreds of engineers who believed in what they were doing, and in some cases the detriment of family, fame and fortune.
Is it a good car? Its a great car. I own others to make suitable comparisons but nothing puts a smile on your face like the ZR-1.
The engine is not difficult to work on. These days it could be considered fairly basic in comparison to modern engines. In fact the whole car is easy to work on. A set of service manuals and logical thinking and you can do anything. Sure, its fit and finish is that of a 27 year old design but its intention is not.
If I had to have just one car, it would be a tossup between my Lotus Esprit Turbo SE or the ZR-1. Lets put it this way, if another one came up for sale, Id be buying it!
I was interested to see this example sell for strong money recently
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chevrolet-Corvette-ZR1-M...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chevrolet-Corvette-ZR1-M...
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