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Originally Posted by WARP TEN
RichieDMD, I think your approach to seeking a ZR-1 is right on. What you need, though, is a considerable amount of patience. Absent some remarkably good luck, plan to spend the better part of a year searching for the car that fits you best. My ZR-1 searches definitely predated BAT and other online auction type forums, but the plan was the same: I wanted to get the latest used ZR-1 I could afford. In 1994, that was a 1993 and in 2012 it was a 1995. I am definitely a fan of the last three years of production for several reasons. Rarity is one, the engineering improvements made in the later years of the model run are another, and the slight increase power (any porting or other power increasing modifications negate that advantage of course). Dunn heads don't make a bit of difference to the car's performance; GM simply replaced one foundry with another making the same heads. But most of the '95s had one or two Dunn heads if that is important to you. My #409 had two and I think that two were on cars back to about #150 or so, but others can comment on that.
If a ZR-1 has been well maintained, preferably by one of the well known C4 ZR-1 experts like Marc Haibeck, Pete, Steve Schroder, Aaron Scott, Corey Henderson, and several others including the Wazoo group, that would be much more important to me that mileage. If you can find a car you like from a Registry member that would be a plus in my mind. I sold my '93 in 2007 with 74,000 miles and it today has more than 120,000. C4 ZR-1s are quite durable and trouble free. Many are over 100,000 miles. The LT5 is essentially bulletproof and the rest of the car is for the most part an ordinary C4. There are a number of common maladies in all C4s ZR-1s, and there is a large owner's group here and on other forums with an extensive knowledge base and experience to help out on fixing almost anything.
On my 1993, I spent about 8 months looking for a Dark Red metallic car but by happenstance found a 6,000 mile Quasar Blue one and got that. Kept it for 13 years and put almost 70k miles on it. On the '95, my search took about 9 months in 2011-2012 until I finally found a relatively low mileage (20,000) stock car in a color I wanted. I paid a little more than I wanted to for it but got what I was after. In both instances upon acquisition I immediately sent them to Marc Haibeck for him to go through thoroughly and make them perfect drivers. He changed all the fluids, fixed things that needed it and even found a few needs that I wouldn't have even thought to ask about. Money well spent. I also added a few modifications like 4.10 rears, Hurst short shifters and Corsa exhausts. But no need to do that. So my overall advice is to clearly decide what you want in terms of colors, stock vs. modified, mileage and keep looking. By the way, modifications done by the well known experts like Marc are nothing to worry about and can increase enjoyment. I eventually did Marc's 510 HP package on the '95 but kept the look stock. A very enjoyable eimprovement. Good luck with your search. --Bob
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Hi Bob. I really appreciate all of the advice. What I really want is a moderate mileage, well maintained, original (or mostly so), 94 or 95 red ZR-1. I have a whole list of things I would like (like double Dunn heads) because I think it makes it more desirable...but they really aren't necessary and aren't deal breakers.
I think you are right, just take time and keep my eyes open and one will come along. I'm kicking myself for not jumping on that 94 that sold on Friday on BaT...but I hadn't really been vocal about my desire to actually buy one of these with my wife and when I mentioned it I don't think she believed I was actually serious (and I'm not going to spend upwards of $40K of our savings on a car without her consent). Oh well, another will come along.
What I need to do is not buy the first car that comes along. In the past I have gotten excited and jumped on a bad deal (once or twice). I can't do that here.
As far as more performance, I'm pretty confident I will be happy with stock. I don't need a car that's going to be insane to drive. My former daily driver is a special edition 2002 LS-1 Camaro which I love and am turning it into my hot rod. My daily driver is a 2017 M3 so plenty of power there as well. I don't need absolute power here. I just love the story behind the C4 ZR-1 and think it is an awesome piece of American auto history and I want to have one for myself to enjoy.
I've also never owned a Corvette (I'm a huge Camaro guy...in fact on most message boards my handle is CamaroDMD but I didn't think that would work here). I think a C4 ZR-1 is the ideal first Corvette.