When Lotus and General Motors brought together their engineering teams in the late 1980s, the monster muscle machines were 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧.
The pick of the day is a low-mileage 1991 Cheʋrolet Corʋette ZR-1 for sale on ClassicCars.com by Precious Metal Classic Cars in Elkhart, Indiana. (Click the link to see the list)
“Fully documented collector-grade Surʋiʋor ZR-1, logged with only 8,979 miles,” the listing states.
When launched in 1984, the C4 Corʋette was the first to receive technical innovations such as a “uniframe” chassis, molded plastic chassis, glass hatch and liquid crystal instrument cluster. The big news soon came in 1986 when General Motors acquired Group Lotus and began building an improved version of the Corʋette. Lotus is a recurring name in the sports car scene, famous for its lightweight, high-performance sports cars.
Tasked with developing the ultimate performance-tuned C4, Lotus created the 5.7-liter “LT5” engine using an aluminum shorthead, four camshafts, 32 revs and a management system. unique air management. This 375-horsepower V8 is the key ingredient to the ZR-1 Corʋette’s magic, but the package doesn’t stop there: Additional treatment includes a standard Bosch anti-lock braking system, a Bilstein “FX3” suspension and wider tires than the standard Corʋette. Torque is transmitted rearward through a ZF six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip rear end.
This ultra-low-mileage ZR-1 looks showroom fresh inside and out. The engine has been tuned and has new injectors, so the seller says it’s ready to hit the road. “This excellent example of the 1991 ZR-1 is completely restored. With its all-original appearance and original helm, you’ll be ready to hit the field in Bloomington to receive awards from the National Corʋette Restorers Association.”
Included in the listing’s photo gallery are 80 detail shots such as a shot of the center console showing the engine’s power and torque. The window decal had an MSRP of $65,338 and was delivered to DuTeau Cheʋrolet of Lincoln, Nebraska. About half that price ($31,583) is for the ZR-1 package alone. It’s hard to get close to buying two Corʋettes base for the price of one ZR-1.
Incidentally, General Motors sold off its shares in the Lotus Group in 1993 so this car was part of a short-term partnership. Surely there can’t be many unmodified ZR-1s left in existence, let alone one with less than 10,000 miles on the odometer.
“If you are in the market for one of the finest examples of the Corʋette C4 you desire in stunning colors, then your car has arrived,” the seller says. The asking price is $46,500 for this ZR-1, which includes collectibles such as VHS tapes, tire gauges, hooks and other equipment.
To see this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
