[mcich7781]

I currently own a 96 LT4 Coupe and a 91 ZR-1. Since the day I saw my first C4 ZR-1 and later a 96 Grand Sport (visually my favorite Corvette of all time) I knew I wanted someday to own a later model C4.

I have been a car guy my whole life and my trusty sidekick, a 62 Belair has been with me since High School for 43+ years. While raising a family Corvette ownership for me was just a dream for the better part of my life.

At the time in my life when I was able to finally purchase a C4, prices for a Grand Sport and ZR-1 were still somewhat out of reach for me. So I did the next best thing, I settled for a reasonably priced low mileage, 96 LT4 Coupe.

I know this will upset some Grand Sport owners and even though the 96 GS is my favorite Corvette of all time, for me personally I could not see paying a $10K premium for a paint scheme and some minor differences over my Red LT4.

The price for a comparable ZR-1 was also out of reach at that time, but the thing was…I never drove one on an open road.

A couple of years ago, with the kids out of college and an empty nest I took a chance and bought a reasonably priced 69K mile 91 ZR-1 on EBay, sight unseen. Yes, I know that was a risky proposition.

The car was in Washington State over 2000 miles from home. All I had to go on were EBay photos and a promise that the car was decent. Believe me, I spent hours on the phone with the dealer prior to bidding, and subsequently many days in the dog house after telling my spouse what I had done.

Prior to my purchase, the only ZR-1 I ever test drove was a very rough local 91 ZR-1. I never got that ZR-1 over 45 miles an hour due to road conditions and traffic. The car also had cosmetic issues that I did not want to deal with at the purchase price the dealer was asking.

A week later the car hauler arrives with car way up high on top. It’s here but I still can’t see it! As they are carefully bringing the car down, I can hear it but I still can’t get near it yet. It finally gets to the driveway and to my surprise it actually looked better than I imagined considering the mileage.

The car hauler leaves and now the moment of truth. I get crawl all over it. The car is not as clean as my daily driver’s interior or under the hood, but then again I am a fanatic. The seats, interior surfaces, and shiny Metallic Turquoise paint were excellent for the age and miles, I got some work here, but car TLC is my specialty.

I check all the vital fluids climb in and start it up. It sounds good. The AC works; “nice.” No abnormal sounds; “better.” I saw the Borlas in the photos, and it’s louder than I expected; “best.” I note little clutch chatter as I roll out on to the road; “bummer.” This car does not appear to have ever been a garage queen; it has been driven.

So now the first drive, the best part…

I take it easy for about a half a mile until I get out into the uninhabited area near my house. I stop, I ease the clutch out in first gear, raise the rpms slowly to 2,200 then I hammer it, the tires start fighting for traction as I get over 5000 rpm. Holy $H*t - 50 mph in first!!! I was not expecting that! The power delivery was such a surprise and it just kept coming and coming. At the time I remember thinking is this what an additional 35 HP feels like?

That’s the instant I realized my LT4 Corvette is no match for this ZR-1. It was not even close. I will never forget that afternoon as long as I live. I have driven some fast cars, but none as smooth and willing to run as my C4 ZR-1.

Months after my purchase and to my complete surprise, I located a previous owner and obtained a box of old original parts, historical receipts, and service records. I learned my “EBay Special ZR-1” was a DRM 500 modified car, but that is a story for another time.

It appears my personal LT4 / ZR-1 experience may be a bit slanted in favor of my ZR-1.

My LT4 has its good traits. It’s one of the last 200 C4’s ever made, so most of the C4 ills had been solved by the 96 model year. It’s beautiful, rides great, relatively easy to work on, and probably the most “Bang for your Buck C4 Corvette” I could have bought at the time or even today.

There are actually fewer LT4’s than total ZR-1’s and I still have it. It’s cherished with TLC like all of my cars, but then again I am a fanatic…