A Never Enjoyed '90

[TX '90 ZR1]

I look at this with sadness. The poor car (not to mention the owner that will loose his pants) was parked 28 years ago with no miles.
A personal story relating to this, and I will keep it as short as possible.
When the '90 ZR-1 came out, as many of you will remember, it was one of the biggest stories of the time in the auto industry. People were clamering to get their hands on one and paying WAY over MSRP.
A lot of these cars that were paid "too much" for were put directly in storage to later reap the "tremendous increase in value" that was envisioned. Some were not driven, but hauled to storage as to not have ANY miles on them!!
At the time I was involved in the auto industry. I called in a favor from a Chevy dealer and purchased one at MSRP. Tried to get it at net, but he was not that accomodating!! The one he had was Red with Red. I took this as a definite plus, because everybody knows the Red/Red ones are the fastest of the fastest.
I drove the HELL out of it!! Enjoyed what the car was built to do. After about 30,000 miles my eye was on something else and I sold it for about 1/2 of what I paid. Worth every penny in my estimation. I enjoyed the car!!
Remembering this was what convinced me to buy the '90 I now have. It is a duplicate of my original one except for the serial number. It is also in better shape than my original one was when I sold it. As I said, I drove it HARD!!
Anyway, to close my disertation, there is a '90 with 85 miles on E-Bay. It is sad that the owner did not enjoy this car for all these years, and if kept in top condition with reasonable miles would be worth about the same.
Sometimes rolling the dice gets you "7's". Sometimes not.
Here's the link for those that might be interested.
https://www.ebay.com/i/253818270137?ul_noapp=true
:cheers:

[spork2367]

And worse yet, it will need thousands to make it drivable/reliable.

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

I look at this with sadness. The poor car (not to mention the owner that will loose his pants) was parked 28 years ago with no miles.
A personal story relating to this, and I will keep it as short as possible.
When the '90 ZR-1 came out, as many of you will remember, it was one of the biggest stories of the time in the auto industry. People were clamering to get their hands on one and paying WAY over MSRP.
A lot of these cars that were paid "too much" for were put directly in storage to later reap the "tremendous increase in value" that was envisioned. Some were not driven, but hauled to storage as to not have ANY miles on them!!
At the time I was involved in the auto industry. I called in a favor from a Chevy dealer and purchased one at MSRP. Tried to get it at net, but he was not that accomodating!! The one he had was Red with Red. I took this as a definite plus, because everybody knows the Red/Red ones are the fastest of the fastest.
I drove the HELL out of it!! Enjoyed what the car was built to do. After about 30,000 miles my eye was on something else and I sold it for about 1/2 of what I paid. Worth every penny in my estimation. I enjoyed the car!!
Remembering this was what convinced me to buy the '90 I now have. It is a duplicate of my original one except for the serial number. It is also in better shape than my original one was when I sold it. As I said, I drove it HARD!!
Anyway, to close my disertation, there is a '90 with 85 miles on E-Bay. It is sad that the owner did not enjoy this car for all these years, and if kept in top condition with reasonable miles would be worth about the same.
Sometimes rolling the dice gets you "7's". Sometimes not.
Here's the link for those that might be interested.
https://www.ebay.com/i/253818270137?ul_noapp=true
:cheers:


Remember buying my first when the entrance fee was crazy.


WORTH EVERY DAMN PENNY!!!


STILL!
Marty

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

And worse yet, it will need thousands to make it drivable/reliable.


Figures.
M

[G-Sting]

I look at this with sadness. The poor car (not to mention the owner that will loose his pants) was parked 28 years ago with no miles.
A personal story relating to this, and I will keep it as short as possible.
When the '90 ZR-1 came out, as many of you will remember, it was one of the biggest stories of the time in the auto industry. People were clamering to get their hands on one and paying WAY over MSRP.
A lot of these cars that were paid "too much" for were put directly in storage to later reap the "tremendous increase in value" that was envisioned. Some were not driven, but hauled to storage as to not have ANY miles on them!!
At the time I was involved in the auto industry. I called in a favor from a Chevy dealer and purchased one at MSRP. Tried to get it at net, but he was not that accomodating!! The one he had was Red with Red. I took this as a definite plus, because everybody knows the Red/Red ones are the fastest of the fastest.
I drove the HELL out of it!! Enjoyed what the car was built to do. After about 30,000 miles my eye was on something else and I sold it for about 1/2 of what I paid. Worth every penny in my estimation. I enjoyed the car!!
Remembering this was what convinced me to buy the '90 I now have. It is a duplicate of my original one except for the serial number. It is also in better shape than my original one was when I sold it. As I said, I drove it HARD!!

:cheers:


Awesome, Kenny. Thanks for the reminder.

Life is too short not to enjoy it.

[Z51JEFF]

Not a fan of red or 90s for that matter but love that car and would have ZERO hesitation about buying it regardless of what it needs,and then I’d drive it!

[efnfast]

What a shame. Why the horribly low starting / asking price?

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Indeed a treasure!


Some EBay sellers start the bid at 10k in an effort to build interest.
While it may, it also draws in the bottom feeders who all leave when the price hits 20k.
As many have said before, myself included, auctions are not the place to sell a C-4 ZR-1.
It takes far longer than 7-10 days to get it in front of the right buyer.
It may happen, but rarely.
Someday that may change, but for now it is just not the best place for ZR-1's, particularly high quality ones.


Agree that it was such a waste.
A Chevrolet dealer near me had a 90 with a $100k price on it in 91.
I offered 75k and they would not take it.
A few months later, George Kerbeck sold me a 92 GM Exec ZR-1 well below sticker.
I was on top of the world!
It is now owned by Charlie (dredgeguy).
To think the owner of the one on Ebay likely paid over sticker then really never drove it is just a shame.
However, he is not alone.
I search out low mile cars, and there are always ones out there.
Enthusiast owned, well cared for, fully maintained and kept nearly as new with very few miles.
Still makes my day when I find one and move it on to a new owner who gets tears in his eyes when I hand him the key!
That ZR-1 will become someone's treasured dream car!
Cool!
Marty

[TX '90 ZR1]

I agree Marty.
Even if the car needs some issues taken care of, imagine having a right at brand new C4 ZR-1 that you can enjoy for years.
Drive it, keep it maintained and you will have for years to come a prime example of one of the Icons of American automotive history.
:)

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

I agree Marty.
Even if the car needs some issues taken care of, imagine having a right at brand new C4 ZR-1 that you can enjoy for years.
Drive it, keep it maintained and you will have for years to come a prime example of one of the Icons of American automotive history.
:)



Kenny,
I feel the same way.
I always joke about mine.
I have had it for over 23 years.
I like to tell friends that I will never let it go, and I mean never.
I then tell them that I selected a funeral home that has a hearse with a trailer hitch...................................
I'm taking it with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marty
p.s. ( my son does not seem pleased however)

[lfalzarano]

I agree with Marty[emoji106]


Lou

[dredgeguy]

Indeed a treasure!


Some EBay sellers start the bid at 10k in an effort to build interest.
While it may, it also draws in the bottom feeders who all leave when the price hits 20k.
As many have said before, myself included, auctions are not the place to sell a C-4 ZR-1.
It takes far longer than 7-10 days to get it in front of the right buyer.
It may happen, but rarely.
Someday that may change, but for now it is just not the best place for ZR-1's, particularly high quality ones.


Agree that it was such a waste.
A Chevrolet dealer near me had a 90 with a $100k price on it in 91.
I offered 75k and they would not take it.
A few months later, George Kerbeck sold me a 92 GM Exec ZR-1 well below sticker.
I was on top of the world!
It is now owned by Charlie (dredgeguy).
To think the owner of the one on Ebay likely paid over sticker then really never drove it is just a shame.
However, he is not alone.
I search out low mile cars, and there are always ones out there.
Enthusiast owned, well cared for, fully maintained and kept nearly as new with very few miles.
Still makes my day when I find one and move it on to a new owner who gets tears in his eyes when I hand him the key!
That ZR-1 will become someone's treasured dream car!
Cool!
Marty
Marty drove 92 #246 everyday and put 40K+ miles on the car. The car went through 3 other owners who collectively only put on less than 10K miles over almost 20 years before I purchased it with 50K miles. I drive it everyday if no rain or snow and now have 91K. You cannot put a price on pure joy just getting in and driving. It simply puts a smile on my face

[lfalzarano]

I drove mine every day in Florida until we both retired 3 years ago. It was 25 years old then and it now enjoys the required exercise every two weeks to scare the locals on the roads. Lots of smiles and miles!


Lou

[ghlkal]

Yeah, I agree - that's sad. It's too bad the original owner didn't get a chance to enjoy it.



I called in a favor from a Chevy dealer and purchased one at MSRP. Tried to get it at net, but he was not that accomodating!!


The original owner of mine paid $20K over sticker from a dealer in CA.

[Bob Eyres]

I feel bad for the guys that bought the cars and never enjoyed them.
I lusted for a ZR-1, but couldn’t afford one new, so waited until 94’ for a deal.
Corvette Mike in LA had a 91’ with 4K mi. for 1/2 sticker price and I jumped on it.
The drive, with my son, back to Florida was worth the price alone. I’ve been driving, modding, and racing it ever since.
For me, it was the best $35K I ever spent.:-D

[rush91]

No knock on anyone who buys a car, with the idea of it being a future investment. I just don't get it....Growing up my next door neighbor had a 1977 Mustang Cobra. To this day, it still has only 600 miles on the car. Now granted the 1977 Cobra Stang is no future sought after classic, but with that low of miles, who knows. I could never buy a new muscle car / performance car, and let it sit in a garage for 10-15 years.....I just don't get it. Cars are meant to be driven, and things break. Enjoy them while you can, because life is too freaking short!!

[spork2367]

No knock on anyone who buys a car, with the idea of it being a future investment. I just don't get it....Growing up my next door neighbor had a 1977 Mustang Cobra. To this day, it still has only 600 miles on the car. Now granted the 1977 Cobra Stang is no future sought after classic, but with that low of miles, who knows. I could never buy a new muscle car / performance car, and let it sit in a garage for 10-15 years.....I just don't get it. Cars are meant to be driven, and things break. Enjoy them while you can, because life is too freaking short!!

Agreed. Lots of first owners bought these as investments. That is obvious by the amount of cars with less than 1000 miles on them. A decent number with less than 500, and some with less than 100.

I believe many second and third owners also bought them believing they would be the ones to see big increases.

But at the very least, most people didn't buy these cars expecting to lose money. Most people buying classic/collector cars expect that with reasonable mileage increases and good maintenance, that the car will at the very least keep up with the rate of inflation and be worth what they paid. I think short of a market crisis like 2008 where everything drops, we are to the point where they will keep up with inflation and then some.

Unfortunately, there are A LOT of ZR-1 owners who will never see their investments back. Especially those who bought the car high then had to invest thousands into maintenance that hadn't been kept up with.

That is a big part of the reason you hear the "these cars are so under valued," or "they are being given away."

Under valued? Very dependent on what you're looking for. For performance out of an early 90's sports car? Absolutely. For great looks out of an early 90's sports car... Not so much. If one goes really low, or one goes really high, those are anomalies, and you have those in any market. If they are selling for what the market has averaged, that is simply what they are valued at.

To be honest, they still aren't cheap. 20-30k for an early 90's sports car is still above average. Could be worse, you could own a 1992 Mustang...

[Vettemann98]

80768076


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[Vettemann98]

This doesn’t look great? I say the C4 ZR-1 kicks the asses of the C5 and C6 as far as looks AND drives and sounds way better in a mean and nasty way. I should know as I’ve had several C5 and C6 in the past. It was the King of the Hill in the 90’s. That’s why I finally bought one and it’s the BEST corvette I’ve ever owned!! Sorry to steal your thread and apologize for redundancy of photo but had to comment on your take on the ZR-1 looks. Cheers!


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[TX '90 ZR1]

This doesn’t look great? I say the C4 ZR-1 kicks the asses of the C5 and C6 as far as looks AND drives and sounds way better in a mean and nasty way. I should know as I’ve had several C5 and C6 in the past. It was the King of the Hill in the 90’s. That’s why I finally bought one and it’s the BEST corvette I’ve ever owned!! Sorry to steal your thread and apologize for redundancy of photo but had to comment on your take on the ZR-1 looks. Cheers!


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

I agree. Much better than the C5 or C6 in the looks department in my opinion. Maybe not quite split window classic, but definitely the look and the performance that kept the Corvette on the map!!
:cheers:

[spork2367]

This doesn’t look great? I say the C4 ZR-1 kicks the asses of the C5 and C6 as far as looks AND drives and sounds way better in a mean and nasty way. I should know as I’ve had several C5 and C6 in the past. It was the King of the Hill in the 90’s. That’s why I finally bought one and it’s the BEST corvette I’ve ever owned!! Sorry to steal your thread and apologize for redundancy of photo but had to comment on your take on the ZR-1 looks. Cheers!


Totally get what you're saying and we're all here because we love something about these cars, but you didn't really read what I said about the looks

Under valued? Very dependent on what you're looking for. For performance out of an early 90's sports car? Absolutely. For great looks out of an early 90's sports car... Not so much.

C5s and C6s aren't early 90s sports cars so I wasn't making a comparison to them at all. And while it's completely subjective, most corvette enthusiasts would say that the C4 is the least desirable body style. It's an iconic 80s/90s look now, but didn't establish the car as anything special.

The C4 body style was starting to become dated in the early 90s. Other cars were becoming more round and the corvette held out (Not the only ones, so did Ferrari). Not only that, but the distinguishing differences between the base c4 and the zr1 were minute. The base C4 is flat and quite unattractive when looking down the side. The zr1 has just the right amount of flare.

Who sees that? Zr1 owners. Not the casual observer. Everyone else sees a body style from 1984 that was used for too long. Which doesn't help the cars uniqueness and value.

[spork2367]

Reserve not met at 29,300.