Nice article on high ZR-1 auction value

[WARP TEN]

This Market Moment article showed up in the current February 2025 issue of Sports Car Market magazine. They follow auctions and offer analysis and collecting advice. It is a nice article on a surprisingly high ($115k) auction value obtained for a low mileage 40th Anniversary '93 ZR-1. Personally I have never understood the allure of Anniversary models but the market clearly shows they are valued. Why is the most common '93 ZR-1 (245 produced out of 448) valued higher than one that is extremely rare, like my (former) one-of-seven Medium Quasar Blue or the one-of-two Dark Red Metallic. But I know many people like the color combination. Anyway, overall the article suggests there may be brighter days ahead for good quality stock C4 ZR-1s. --Bob

[Z51JEFF]

Personally I'd take a non Anniversary car over a 40th car side by side. Just don't like the color of the 40th cars.

[EdCruz320]

I think the fact that so many had that option creates a market for them that doesn't directly correlate to rarity. Something similar is happening with my 87 Grand National which is worth more than an 87 Regal Turbo T Type. Despite the T Type being significantly more rare, the GN is worth more.

[WARP TEN]

Personally I'd take a non Anniversary car over a 40th car side by side. Just don't like the color of the 40th cars.

Actually, at the time I liked the Ruby Red color but I did not care for the matching interior. I thought a contrasting tan or black should have been offered along with the maroon. Had GM offered a tan interior I probably would have bought one but alas, they didn't. I eventually got my tan interior in my '95 Polo Z, and today I have a tan interior in my dark red Z06. But each to their own I say. --Bob

[mackguy]

Another 2 40th anniversaries just sold at Mecum, a 4,000 mile car for just shy of $90,000 and a 12,000 mile car for just over $50,000. I think the 12k buyer got a better deal!
The one at Barrett Jackson was actually $127,000 including the buyer fees (Mecum reports their results including fees, Barrett doesn't)

I recently put all public ZR-1 sales for the past year in a spreadsheet, and while I certainly wouldn't take this information to the bank due to relatively low sample size, I was surprised to find that on average a non-40th anniversary car is worth a 21% premium over a 375hp car, which seems pretty reasonable; however a 40th anniversary car has sold for a 48% premium over a non 40th 405hp car!

I'm not surprised the 40th anniversary carries a premium, but ~50% over mechanically identical cars doesn't seem very logical. It is the car I wanted though, as I love the color combo, and while there were similar exterior colors offered, there was no similar interior (which was really the draw for me) Also a personal thing, but I like the old style seats better and 93 was the only year for the old seats with the 405hp engine.

As far as rarity, yes 40th anniversary cars were 55% of 1993 production, but still only 3.5% of overall ZR-1 production so it's not very common. Though there are 11 colors that were even less common... Over 60% were bright red or black.

[Z51JEFF]

I think the fact that so many had that option creates a market for them that doesn't directly correlate to rarity. Something similar is happening with my 87 Grand National which is worth more than an 87 Regal Turbo T Type. Despite the T Type being significantly more rare, the GN is worth more.

My favorite out of the Buicks was a Metallic Brown,T-tops T Type. I'd take that car over any GN with the exception of a GNX.