1990 ZR-1 w/13k miles on auction at BAT

[ambrowns]

Just noticed a 1990 red on red ZR-1 come up for auction on Bring a Trailer. Seems in pretty decent condition. Although the video that shows the car idling makes it sound like a belt or something squeals loudly. Will be interested to see how the auction turns out.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-chevrolet-corvette-11/

[WARP TEN]

To provide a little perspective, a red/red 90 ZR-1 with only 325 miles on it sold a Mecum Chicago recently for $33,000 including buyer's premium. Marc and I were there and he looked if over pretty carefully. We didn't hear it run but owner said it is fine. Figured about all it needed was injectors (to deal with ethanol) and new gas. --Bob

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Make sure the "squeal" is not the pilot bearing!
:cheers:
Marty

[Racinfan83]

Make sure the "squeal" is not the pilot bearing!
:cheers:
Marty

Yeah. Been there, done that...:(

[2cam]

Greetings all!

I'm new to the forum and would love to hear your perspectives on this car.

I actually was interested in it two weeks ago when it appeared on the DFW Craigslist for $17,500. However, the pictures (multiple different cars shown in different locations that didn't look very similar), the text of the ad, and the vague response to my inquiry led me to believe that the ad was probably a scam. Apparently not...

Anyway, I'm still interested in the car and would to find out if anyone happens to be familiar with this specific ZR-1 and its history. The selling dealer states that he acquired it in a trade and has very little background information on it. However, it appears that it's been in Texas its entire life.

Any red flags for you guys on the car? DRM500RUBYZR-1 and Racinfan83 bring up a good point about the potential of a pilot bearing failure given the squeaking sound in the video. What is the consensus? Could that noise be a pilot bearing? It doesn't seem to be an inexpensive or easy repair... :(

Thanks for any input that you can provide. Oh, and as a bit of background, I'm a bit of a car nut having owned over 70 cars over the last 30 years. Mostly Euro stuff and American muscle/pony cars. However, there has been a couple of Corvettes as well including an '87 C4. I currently have a 3.2 Carrera but would like to pick up another C4 - preferably a ZR-1.

Cheers,

2cam

[Racinfan83]

For what it's worth - that noise does not sound anything like mine did when the pilot bushing went bad. That sounds like the idler pulley, or alternator to me. No way to really know without being there to listen...
And I did the pilot bushing in my garage on jackstands. A lot of work but not expensive if you do it yourself..

[sljs3413]

I talked to the guy that had it listed. He told me he only paid 10k for the car. He sounded kinda shady, the car looks good but something just doesn't sound right. He said it came from Houston....kinda scary.

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

H20?
Possibly bought for 10k you say..... hmmmmm?
Some parts cars with engines cost that much
Where was it when the flooding happened?
???
Marty

[2cam]

I talked to the guy that had it listed. He told me he only paid 10k for the car. He sounded kinda shady, the car looks good but something just doesn't sound right. He said it came from Houston....kinda scary.

H20?
Possibly bought for 10k you say..... hmmmmm?
Some parts cars with engines cost that much
Where was it when the flooding happened?
???
Marty

You guys bring up a great point. Looking at the Carfax provided in the auction, the car has spent a good portion of its life in the Houston area and then all of a sudden it pops up for sale in Dallas (and now with a dealer in OK). It's not out of the question, but the timing coinciding with the flooding that Houston saw with Harvey recently does make one wonder. I'll specifically ask about that in the auction.

On another note, does it look like the car is missing the center portion of its front spoiler?

Thanks!

2cam

[FU]

11750.00 and climbing.

[2cam]

I've called and texted the person that had the car for sale on the Dallas Craigslist to see if they could provide additional info on the car's background. Haven't heard back yet...

Does anyone on the forum know of another '90 ZR-1 that's for sale in comparable condition? I'd love a mostly stock example in white/red, red/red, or red/tan. The mileage doesn't need to be as low as this. The car just needs to be as nice and original as possible.

Thanks!

2cam

[TX '90 ZR1]

I've called and texted the person that had the car for sale on the Dallas Craigslist to see if they could provide additional info on the car's background. Haven't heard back yet...

Does anyone on the forum know of another '90 ZR-1 that's for sale in comparable condition? I'd love a mostly stock example in white/red, red/red, or red/tan. The mileage doesn't need to be as low as this. The car just needs to be as nice and original as possible.

Thanks!

2cam

2cam:
Let me know how to get in touch with you. I know where a red/red one is that might be bought.

[Mystic ZR-1]

Sold for $20k + fees... nice car!
Another one given away...
The BaT comment "peanut gallery"
should get a life... Same BS from them
on almost every car that's auctioned.
Used to be amusing when I 1st started following BaT.

[2cam]

2cam:
Let me know how to get in touch with you. I know where a red/red one is that might be bought.

PM sent.

Sold for $20k + fees... nice car!
Another one given away...
The BaT comment "peanut gallery"
should get a life... Same BS from them
on almost every car that's auctioned.
Used to be amusing when I 1st started following BaT.

Yeah, the auction was kind of wild. I had my comments on there as well - mostly in relation to my concern about the car's whereabouts during Harvey. I did finally speak with the prior owner and they purchased the car from the original owner's family. It'd been in Dallas for at least a year prior to the storm. However, there weren't any records on work/updates that may have been performed during it's lifetime. After adding in the 5% BaT buyer's fee, the cost of new tires, and transportation, it just didn't make sense to buy it versus other cars that are currently for sale with a bit more mileage but with documentation of maintenance and updates.

Regardless, it was a beautiful car. Congratulations to the buyer!

2cam

[Mystic ZR-1]

Maybe the buyer will show up here?
Foolish if he doesn't...

[TX '90 ZR1]

2cam
pm answered

[Vette73]

I think the reason why prices are down and probably will stay down, is because what Chevy put out after the ZR-1....

The C-5 Z06 weighed less, handled better and was faster for a price less than a ZR-1....

The C6 Z06 appeared a few years later with a big block and over 500 horsepower ,all for a price of what the 95 Z cost new..

The ZR-1 put Chevy back on the map ....Then technology ran with it and future vettes just out performed the Z for the same price , if not less....



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[Mystic ZR-1]

All that is probably true, but, the ZR-1 is the
most unique and special Corvette they ever built.... period!

[shawn8492]

I think the reason why prices are down and probably will stay down, is because what Chevy put out after the ZR-1....

The C-5 Z06 weighed less, handled better and was faster for a price less than a ZR-1....

The C6 Z06 appeared a few years later with a big block and over 500 horsepower ,all for a price of what the 95 Z cost new..

The ZR-1 put Chevy back on the map ....Then technology ran with it and future vettes just out performed the Z for the same price , if not less....



Sent from my LG-TP260 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

All of what you say is true, but there are some people that want a unique Corvette that was a production of less than 7000. Sure Z06 production may be low, but when you pop the hood it is an LS motor. When you pop the hood on a Zr-1, it is a unique motor that you just don't see these days.

I have dreamed of a ZR-1 for years, even when I could have bought one, I bought newer ones instead. Now that I have had the newer ones, I came back to what I consider the best C4.
Shawn

[Vette73]

All that is probably true, but, the ZR-1 is the
most unique and special Corvette they ever built.... period!
Well I hope your right, since I have owned mine for about three years now..

All though I have to admit an L-88 is a unique peace as well...

Curious to see if any members here ever had the chance to drive one...[ATTACH]

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[Mystic ZR-1]

Big block, blah blah blah....
(L88 or otherwise)
You could get a big block in a
school bus or a dump truck....
Not an LT5

[2cam]

I think the reason why prices are down and probably will stay down, is because what Chevy put out after the ZR-1....

The C-5 Z06 weighed less, handled better and was faster for a price less than a ZR-1....

The C6 Z06 appeared a few years later with a big block and over 500 horsepower ,all for a price of what the 95 Z cost new..

The ZR-1 put Chevy back on the map ....Then technology ran with it and future vettes just out performed the Z for the same price , if not less....



Sent from my LG-TP260 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

I like all of these cars. The C5 Z06 is a great car - destined to be a classic. The C6 Z06s are getting really cheap for such an insane car. However, I would never (or rarely) extract 8/10ths or greater performance of any one of these, so the fastest, best performing car is somewhat irrelevant to me. A ZR-1 offers plenty of performance. It also has the upside of being at the bottom (more than likely) of its depreciation curve, being 25 years old which helps it qualify for lower cost collector's plates and insurance here in Texas. As a result, it's probably the most affordable super car available when you take all of those bits into consideration. Plus, I happen to really like the styling and motorsports history of the C4 and dig the palmares of the ZR-1. Win/win for me. :)

Cheers,

2cam

[Vette73]

Big block, blah blah blah....
(L88 or otherwise)
You could get a big block in a
school bus or a dump truck....
Not an LT5


Yes you could, but I doubt the truck or the school bus could fetch over 500K..

[Vette73]

I like all of these cars. The C5 Z06 is a great car - destined to be a classic. The C6 Z06s are getting really cheap for such an insane car. However, I would never (or rarely) extract 8/10ths or greater performance of any one of these, so the fastest, best performing car is somewhat irrelevant to me. A ZR-1 offers plenty of performance. It also has the upside of being at the bottom (more than likely) of its depreciation curve, being 25 years old which helps it qualify for lower cost collector's plates and insurance here in Texas. As a result, it's probably the most affordable super car available when you take all of those bits into consideration. Plus, I happen to really like the styling and motorsports history of the C4 and dig the palmares of the ZR-1. Win/win for me. :)

Cheers,

2cam

Yes agree on all counts.....Excellent value today for what you get.....Classic ins doesn't hurt either....

[32valvesftw]

Well said 2cam

[32valvesftw]

Sold for $20k + fees... nice car!
Another one given away...
The BaT comment "peanut gallery"
should get a life... Same BS from them
on almost every car that's auctioned.
Used to be amusing when I 1st started following BaT.

BAT is great place to look and maybe buy, but I doubt I would list a car there, the peanut gallery is too annoying.

[2cam]

BAT is great place to look and maybe buy, but I doubt I would list a car there, the peanut gallery is too annoying.

Interestingly, I feel just the opposite. It seems like the perfect place to sell a car due to the low cost of entry to sell AND a lot of cars do seem to bring a premium on the site (not sure that C4 or later Corvettes do however). From a buyers perspective, the acquisition costs seem higher since the cars typically do bring a premium and have the 5% BaT fee added on top of that.

If you haven't done so, take a look at some of the completed BaT auctions. The prices that some of the cars bring on there is astounding ($40K 240Zs, $70K Alfa GTVs, $90K 2002s, $30K 510s, etc). I'm not really sure that they would bring those prices otherwise. I would even venture that BaT has made a market for a number of these cars.

So, from a selling perspective, I'm a fan. From the perspective of an enthusiast that loves cars, I'm not sure that I like them due to their role in increasing the acquisition costs of machines that I'd love to have in the garage.

Which brings us back to the C4 and the ZR-1 specifically - these things are INCREDIBLE bargains in today's world of classic cars.

2cam

[Mystic ZR-1]

BAT is great place to look and maybe buy, but I doubt I would list a car there, the peanut gallery is too annoying.

Agree!
Nice place to look but the Peanut Gallery
is annoying. They're all experts and ask the
same inane questions...

[Mystic ZR-1]

Yes you could, but I doubt the truck or the school bus could fetch over 500K..

Maybe if ya kidnapped the school bus full
of kids you could get $500k ransom?

[Vette73]

Lol.....Yes maybe.....As far as the L-88, if I'm not mistaken I think a 67 bought in 3.2 million.....That's like so ridiculous Its not funny...

I believe it was the last C-2 L-88 made,and you can't even listen to the radio while you freeze your butt off driving in the winter...Lol

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