Found another '90 ZR1 in Dubai - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

captcorvette · 05-31-2012

Back in I think '93 I found a red '90 ZR1 for sale at a local dealership. It wasn't really for sale but the dealership knew my bad habit of collecting corvettes and the shop manager called me. The shop manager told me he had a corvette in the shop and no one knew what was wrong with it and the owner was very unhappy. He threatened to sell the car so the service center called me.

The car had less than 2000 miles on it and the owner (a man from Iran who had lived in California) was fussing & cussing when I got there. He made a rude remark about how much he would flog the car off for and I wrote him a check on a bank just around the corner. Over the next hour I tried to help sort out some problems on the car that were pretty obvious but it did not solve the problems. Remember I am an untrained shade tree mechanic hobbyist.

The owner returned my check and declined the $25,000 I offered. I never saw the owner or the car again but the agency told me the car went to Kuwait.

Yesterday a friend of mine called me to tell me there is a '90 ZR1 for sale and it only has 2500 miles on it. I called the seller and he quoted me $40,000 U.S. Dollars he wants for the car. I asked to see the car and he started the process for me to look at the car and I should get clearance to view the car on Saturday.

The person selling the car works for the owner and obviously doesn't know much about the car as he first told me it was a 2000 model but the picture was a '90. Then when he returned my call about an appointment on Saturday he confirmed it is indeed a '90 model but he had no clue as to a VIN# or how to look where I was telling him or give me any details about the car other than what he had been told by the owner and the owner didn't really have time to talk to the seller due to his schedule.

So I am in a dilemma. I don't want to see this car go to someone with too much money and they destroy it. This is the common scenario here with new hot off the press 4 wheeled toys. Cannot tell you the number of highly collectible cars trashed and abandoned or just flogged off in dismal condition.

I would really like to have this car but the price to me seems absurd. I have been looking for a Ruby and this is bright red so doesn't fill my actual wants just would hate to see this piece of history trashed. My long term plans would be to put it in our museum but retain ownership and continue to drive the wheels off my black '90.

The seller thinks his price is spot on because:
1. He as had someone translate some old "King of the Hill" documents that were in the car.
2. He insists the car is: "like new". But it hasn't been well cared for just stored.
3. The present owner is a member of the royal family and they often flog off excess cars but seldom have a realistic opinion of the vehicles and it can very wildly from excessively expensive to ridiculously cheap. AND there is no way to change their opinion.
4. He has been informed that there are only a handful of new ZR1's and only three in UAE.

So I am open to opinions, suggestions and thoughts on what to do with this find as I am very afraid that one of the other "rich kids" in town will buy it and destroy it in a few weeks or months. It happens too often.

Fair price for this car? Worth trying to save? Just forget it and let fate step in?
Wayne

tomtom72 · 05-31-2012

Wayne,
I feel your pain, but we can't save them all. Sounds like you could go thru the list of "common issues" over at the NetReg site and get this car back to being it's old self. Injectors for sure, and then proly multiple vac leaks from old dried out stuff?

Sounds like a hard case though, I'd offer 20 tops & walk away. The car would have to be cosmetically 100% though, otherwise it's less. JMHO

Tom

oricale · 05-31-2012

Capt, the answers will lay with the car when you see it, if it's beat down and they want 40,000...let it go...not worth it...BUT...get the last 5 of the vin see if it's an early or otherwise a collectable '90.....it's all what the car tells you when your sitting in it.

Here are things to ponder:

All original(most probably)
Actual miles?(again,..probably)
All there!?(hopefully)
Condition(rubber,seals, corrosion, glass, paint, interior cracking rubbing ect)
Mechanical condition : like Tom said.injectors vacuum...ect..
Cost: at some point cost outweighs common sense(but you are in Saudi...So...)

It very well could be a museum find..stored like so many other cars there...in that case, if you have the cash and means to properly store it...GO FOR IT..

gbrtng · 05-31-2012

Stateside that vehicle would bring mid to high 20s if it appeared like a 2.5k mile car.
It's your call as to how to factor in the original cost as sold in the middle east, but
low 30s might be in reason.

captcorvette · 05-31-2012

Thanks everyone. I am scheduled to an appointment viewing this coming Saturday. Hopefully they will let me take photos. I will catch the VIN# and do some research. This is quiet interesting. Too bad it is not a '93 or up and a Ruby then I am afraid I would become VERY poor instead of just normally poor.

Will post up what I find.

05-31-2012	#1
captcorvette Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Posts: 449	Found another '90 ZR1 in Dubai Back in I think '93 I found a red '90 ZR1 for sale at a local dealership. It wasn't really for sale but the dealership knew my bad habit of collecting corvettes and the shop manager called me. The shop manager told me he had a corvette in the shop and no one knew what was wrong with it and the owner was very unhappy. He threatened to sell the car so the service center called me. The car had less than 2000 miles on it and the owner (a man from Iran who had lived in California) was fussing & cussing when I got there. He made a rude remark about how much he would flog the car off for and I wrote him a check on a bank just around the corner. Over the next hour I tried to help sort out some problems on the car that were pretty obvious but it did not solve the problems. Remember I am an untrained shade tree mechanic hobbyist. The owner returned my check and declined the $25,000 I offered. I never saw the owner or the car again but the agency told me the car went to Kuwait. Yesterday a friend of mine called me to tell me there is a '90 ZR1 for sale and it only has 2500 miles on it. I called the seller and he quoted me $40,000 U.S. Dollars he wants for the car. I asked to see the car and he started the process for me to look at the car and I should get clearance to view the car on Saturday. The person selling the car works for the owner and obviously doesn't know much about the car as he first told me it was a 2000 model but the picture was a '90. Then when he returned my call about an appointment on Saturday he confirmed it is indeed a '90 model but he had no clue as to a VIN# or how to look where I was telling him or give me any details about the car other than what he had been told by the owner and the owner didn't really have time to talk to the seller due to his schedule. So I am in a dilemma. I don't want to see this car go to someone with too much money and they destroy it. This is the common scenario here with new hot off the press 4 wheeled toys. Cannot tell you the number of highly collectible cars trashed and abandoned or just flogged off in dismal condition. I would really like to have this car but the price to me seems absurd. I have been looking for a Ruby and this is bright red so doesn't fill my actual wants just would hate to see this piece of history trashed. My long term plans would be to put it in our museum but retain ownership and continue to drive the wheels off my black '90. The seller thinks his price is spot on because: 1. He as had someone translate some old "King of the Hill" documents that were in the car. 2. He insists the car is: "like new". But it hasn't been well cared for just stored. 3. The present owner is a member of the royal family and they often flog off excess cars but seldom have a realistic opinion of the vehicles and it can very wildly from excessively expensive to ridiculously cheap. AND there is no way to change their opinion. 4. He has been informed that there are only a handful of new ZR1's and only three in UAE. So I am open to opinions, suggestions and thoughts on what to do with this find as I am very afraid that one of the other "rich kids" in town will buy it and destroy it in a few weeks or months. It happens too often. Fair price for this car? Worth trying to save? Just forget it and let fate step in? Wayne

05-31-2012	#2
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,609	Re: Found another '90 ZR1 in Dubai Wayne, I feel your pain, but we can't save them all. Sounds like you could go thru the list of "common issues" over at the NetReg site and get this car back to being it's old self. Injectors for sure, and then proly multiple vac leaks from old dried out stuff? Sounds like a hard case though, I'd offer 20 tops & walk away. The car would have to be cosmetically 100% though, otherwise it's less. JMHO Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

05-31-2012	#3
oricale Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: STAFFORD VA, Posts: 576	Re: Found another '90 ZR1 in Dubai Capt, the answers will lay with the car when you see it, if it's beat down and they want 40,000...let it go...not worth it...BUT...get the last 5 of the vin see if it's an early or otherwise a collectable '90.....it's all what the car tells you when your sitting in it. Here are things to ponder: All original(most probably) Actual miles?(again,..probably) All there!?(hopefully) Condition(rubber,seals, corrosion, glass, paint, interior cracking rubbing ect) Mechanical condition : like Tom said.injectors vacuum...ect.. Cost: at some point cost outweighs common sense(but you are in Saudi...So...) It very well could be a museum find..stored like so many other cars there...in that case, if you have the cash and means to properly store it...GO FOR IT..

05-31-2012	#4
gbrtng Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio area Posts: 1,177	Re: Found another '90 ZR1 in Dubai Stateside that vehicle would bring mid to high 20s if it appeared like a 2.5k mile car. It's your call as to how to factor in the original cost as sold in the middle east, but low 30s might be in reason. __________________ “Buy the best example of what you want, and pay whatever it takes. That way, you cry only once.” ~ Bruce Meyer

05-31-2012	#5
captcorvette Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Posts: 449	Re: Found another '90 ZR1 in Dubai Thanks everyone. I am scheduled to an appointment viewing this coming Saturday. Hopefully they will let me take photos. I will catch the VIN# and do some research. This is quiet interesting. Too bad it is not a '93 or up and a Ruby then I am afraid I would become VERY poor instead of just normally poor. Will post up what I find.