Found a basket case 91' ZR-1 today...

[Ccmano]

and it's for sale!

I want to start off by saying I am not affiliated in any way with this car, I simply ran across it today and am passing this information along.

So here's the story. As I moved out here to SoCal a couple weeks ago, Dominic (XfireZ51) sends me an email that a guy here in LA contacted him and needs help getting a Z running. So I contacted the guy and arranged to meet and look at the car. That happened today.

Turns out the guy is a part time wholesaler who bought the car at auction 5 years ago, thought he'd fix it up and sell it. It had a stater issue so he had a local (gas station) mechanic install a starter and that was the last time it ran.

I get there today and here is what I find. The car is a at a body shop getting a full paint job. That part is almost done with only reassembly and a buff out needed to finish. The seats and door panels are out getting redone, I saw the seat covers they're done and look OK. Otherwise the interior is real dusty from 5 years of sitting and body shop activity.

The engine has the plenum off and a parts are everywhere. The engine compartment is a mess with a thick layer of dust. The mechanic doesn't have a clue nor does the owner. I simply told them I can't diagnose anything until the engine is back together. I showed the mechanic how to put it back but that it would need new coils (2 were cracked) and a new set of PCV hoses and valves (the old setup was missing). The secondary vacuum hoses were off and plugged, I'm guessing a previous owner tried to fix a vacuum leak. I told him I would email a schematic of the secondary vacuum line routing and of the ignition wires. Gave him Kurt White's info to get coils and PCV hoses.

The plenum and intake housings look to have been ported as both primary and secondary bores are the same size. This car will need allot of work to get running. I told him to get it back together and we could work on getting it running.

The owner then told me he just wants to get rid of it at this point running or not. He plans to have the paint job finished but will sell it as is otherwise if he can move it quickly. He thinks he can get $10-11K for it if it's running. Obviously less if it is not. I got the impression he wouldn't go much lower than $6-7K as is.

I took some pictures including of the serial number. It's a 1991 with 127K miles on it Serial#1810 Green with Saddle interior. Again, it's dirty and needs work, I have no clue if there are other issues because it didn't run. It's been sitting for at least 5 years. Could even be a parts car for the right price, who knows. If I weren't unemployed I'd buy it and play with it.

So... If any one is interested here's the contact info

Owner Bill Little
Location N. Hollywood CA.
Cell 213-448-4300
Home 323-467-5606
Email 2974wl@sbcglobal.net

Here's the pictures....
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2775.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2776.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2777.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2778.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2779.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2780.jpg

[Ccmano]

More pix....

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2781.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2782.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/hans_meyer/Corvette/IMGP2783.jpg

[LGAFF]

Hmmmmmmmm

[Ccmano]

Hmmmmmmmm

Add a second lift Lee and she'll fit. :thumbsup:

H
:cheers:

[LGAFF]

Just mentioned it the wife, she mumble something about the amount of room in your garage Hans, and me moving to CA and taking my cars with me.

[phrogs]

wow are you a glotton for punishment!

That car wasn't painted correctly that would be problem for me but it looks like the usually scuff and spray I just wouldn't add any value to it I would have to see how it looks after cut and buff.

Then the engine shape and the interior I can't believe cars I have seen like this get shot with paint and then they just sit and all that dust gets everywhere.

It can be brought back to life but for how its sits right now I wouldnt give him over 4K for it.

[Jeffvette]

It can be brought back to life but for how its sits right now I wouldnt give him over 4K for it.


So let's see, 100+ mile ZR-1, average sale price 10-12k.
Not running -2k
Needs paint - 3k (For a good job)
MISC interior work needs to be done?
Chemical bath to deep clean?

Then you can start trying to track down anything else that may be wrong, wheel bearings, bushing, trans, diff.

:hello:

[ZZZZZR1]

I agree.

There is a 90 Green Z with 32k miles, no issues besides the driver seat has minor cracks..... (car was painted on the pass side, but said to be unnoticable)

New F1's and corsa for a starting bid of 12k and 14k BIN.


Cheers


David

[Ccmano]

wow are you a glotton for punishment!

That car wasn't painted correctly that would be problem for me but it looks like the usually scuff and spray I just wouldn't add any value to it I would have to see how it looks after cut and buff.

Then the engine shape and the interior I can't believe cars I have seen like this get shot with paint and then they just sit and all that dust gets everywhere.

It can be brought back to life but for how its sits right now I wouldnt give him over 4K for it.

I don't disagree, however the paint work is already done. What you see is the color sanded surface that needs to be buffed, although I'm sure it's not a top notch job.

As for the condition of everything else it's a craps shoot in terms of what you'll find and have to deal with as you get it running.

What amazes me is that people let cars like these get to this point.

Didn't someone pay $6-7K recently for a white basket case with a blown chain?
H
:cheers:

[xlr8nflorida]

I hate to say it but its a good candidate for the boneyard.

Just paint alone is $5,000-$8,000.

Nevermind, thousands to get the motor running right and looking good.

Then the interior probably needs a few grand or at least $1,000 anyway.

Weatherstrip, tires plus the car has been sitting for 5 years. Nobody even knows what the true engine status is other then it has over $100k miles.

Transmission, clutch, wheel bearings, the list goes on.

The most I would give for that car the way it sits right now is $3,000-$4,000.

It's great if someone wants something to tinker with and put blood,sweat and tears into it to restore the king. However from a $ perspective, you would have a ton of $$$ into a high mileage zr-1. Your money would be better spent buying a better specimen.

[bdw18_123]

I don't disagree, however the paint work is already done. What you see is the color sanded surface that needs to be buffed, although I'm sure it's not a top notch job.

As for the condition of everything else it's a craps shoot in terms of what you'll find and have to deal with as you get it running.

What amazes me is that people let cars like these get to this point.

Didn't someone pay $6-7K recently for a white basket case with a blown chain?
H
:cheers:

LOL! That would be me. The "white basket case" is sitting in my garage right now! :mrgreen:

But buying a "fixer-upper" was the only way for me to be able to own one of these awesome cars. If no one let them get to this condition, I wouldn't have a ZR-1 right now. This way, I can take my time and spend money on it when I'm able to. I'm very mechanically/electrically oriented and am able to do pretty much all my own work. Also, I enjoy bringing back to life something that would otherwise probably be parted out or sit unused wasting away.

Yes, it probably would be easier to save up the $ and buy one that didn't need much if any work. But that would probably never happen (saving the $'s, lol), wouldn't be as fun and I wouldn't learn anything. As it is now, by the time I get this Z back up and running I will practically be an expert on '90 ZR-1s!

Obviously, this kind of project isn't for everyone, some people want to just buy one and go. For me, putting all this effort into the car, makes it feel more like its mine. Plus, the rewarding feeling of accomplishment I will feel every time I get into it and take that LT5 to 7K! :cool:




.

[GOLDCYLON]

I think it is time to part this one out :rolleyes:


I have to 100% agree on this.

[Z51JEFF]

This is the rattiest ZR-1 Ive ever seen,I think its safe to say that car is done.This is the type of car that would make an excellent convertible project.

[-=Jeff=-]

Man, you guys are rough

remember the 11K 1990 ZR-1 in Colorado in 2007 on the Registry for sale page? I think many of you might have said the same on that one..

the car, looks really bad because of 5 years off bodyshop dust, but we don't know if it runs. if I had the cash and the space, I would consider it as another project, my 90 with exception of paint is pretty much done to the point where I can enjoy it. I have all the parts needed to finish what I want on it, but mine was also seen as one that 'should have be parted out'

[HIZNHRZ]

This is the rattiest ZR-1 Ive ever seen,I think its safe to say that car is done.This is the type of car that would make an excellent convertible project.

:thumbsup:

[phrogs]

Man, you guys are rough

remember the 11K 1990 ZR-1 in Colorado in 2007 on the Registry for sale page? I think many of you might have said the same on that one..

the car, looks really bad because of 5 years off bodyshop dust, but we don't know if it runs. if I had the cash and the space, I would consider it as another project, my 90 with exception of paint is pretty much done to the point where I can enjoy it. I have all the parts needed to finish what I want on it, but mine was also seen as one that 'should have be parted out'


Ok I think I may be the Only person that has "restored" a ZR-1 if anyone else has please let me know...perhaps I should post a thread on it? if anyone want's one let me know I have pics and can do the write up.


I think that paint job on this car is huge steamy pile of crap and I add nothing money wise for it, A professional job you remove things like door handles, weathertripping, turn signals, tail lights, You don't paint one of these cars with the molding installed it is painted seperatly so that = a half assed paint job that will need to be redone.


The interior is something Im less woried about there are plenty of low mile cars that get wacked and parted that it would be pretty easy to find a good set of used leather and door panels. Or buy a set from one of the big venders that will set you back a few bucks.


Your taking a risk that the drivetrain has issues everything else you can see its just a crap shoot untill you can get it running but in that condition you make the offer and see what happens Id love to play with that car.

Don't get me wrong it is a fixable car but it will eat up some cash. And your left with a car that will be hard to flip, if you want to keep it yourself its not a bad deal but you probably wont make any money one for the cash you put into it and your time to do the work.


my paint work




http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/zr1salvage/chippys%20paint/Chippypics141.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/zr1salvage/chippys%20paint/Chippypics90.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/zr1salvage/chippys%20paint/chipysfacelift9.jpg

[-=Jeff=-]

Ok I think I may be the Only person that has "restored" a ZR-1 if anyone else has please let me know...perhaps I should post a thread on it? if anyone wants one let me know I have pics but some are not all that great..

I have not total rebuilt a car, but I did save one.. sort of, no where near what this one is though


Don't get me wrong it is a fixable car but it will eat up some cash. And your left with a car that will be hard to flip, if you want to keep it yourself its not a bad deal but you probably wont make any money one for the cash you put into it and your time to do the work.

Of course it will eat Cash, like any other car would as a project. I also agree as a keeper it would be fine, but to flip.. not worth it

[Z51JEFF]

This isnt just body shop dust thats all over this car,it looks like its been sitting next to the ocean.Everything under the hood is corroded.Phrogs,other than the resurrected Pilot cars that were brought back to life,yours is the first major restoration Ive seen,lookin good:thumbsup:

[phrogs]

Of course it will eat Cash, like any other car would as a project. I also agree as a keeper it would be fine, but to flip.. not worth it


It would be a good canidate for my Convertible but I would have to rebuild all the suspension and then there's the unknowns with the engine but For me on a car like this I would yank that engine as soon as I got it home and start cleaning everything to see what I got.

anyone got a pressure washer handy? HAHA

[Ccmano]

I think it's clear. This car is either a project car for someone who has time and ability but not much immediate cash on hand. Something as a longer term project like what bdw18_123 is doing. And then it will only be a driver. The mileage alone precludes it from being anything more. Or it will be a parts doner car. That's about it. Buying something like this to "restore" would be foolish. Maybe in 30yrs they'll be looking for "barn finds" like this but certainly not today. If I had the money (and could get for the right price, $6k max) and garage room I'd buy it and play with it.
H
:cheers:

[93RubyZ]

What amazes me is that people let cars like these get to this point.


I think the same thing every time I see one like this. And there have been others out there not much different as well.

[fred]

This is pretty much the life cycle of any car. The repairs exceed the value of the car, the cars get cheap enough that people who can't really afford to maintain them get their hands on them, and the cars just wear out. In this case, I talked to the guy, it seems someone bought the car 3 years ago, probably for under $10k (I vaguely remember this car), and thought he could restore it. Somewhere along the line, reality set in, along with a collapse of their values, and he decided to bail. Probably going to see a lot more of these cars in the next year or so. Which is good, and normal too, I've seen it with every generation of vettes. Some will get restored by people who can't afford to pay the big $$$ up front, once they reach a point of affordability (probably about $5k), some by hobbyists that just enjoy restoring cars, and many will get parted.

[4DSZR1]

.... The repairs exceed the value of the car, the cars get cheap enough that people who can't really afford to maintain them get their hands on them, and the cars just wear out. ...
True words, That's how I got my first 58 in 1979. It was in as sad as shape if not worse than this ZR-1 but getting a basket case 58 running was much easier and cheaper, comparatively, than getting a basket ZR-1 running today.

ah, it was fun getting the old bashers running :-)