If you’re hunting for a time-capsule ZR-1, this one’s tough to beat. With only 18,000 miles since new, it’s one of the lowest-mileage examples you’ll find. The Bright Red paint and matching red leather interior scream 1990s excess, and under the hood sits the iconic LT5 V8 mated to a six-speed ZF manual. It just had a round of service earlier this year, so if you want a mostly original slice of ‘90s performance royalty, this auction is worth a look.
Bring a Trailer
What It’s Worth Right Now
The C4 ZR-1 market is holding strong, with Classic.com pegging the average sale at around $36,500 and the current benchmark at $37,560 for 1990–1995 models. Prices are all over the map: high-mileage drivers can dip as low as $12,500, while pristine, collector-grade unicorns have fetched up to $99,000.
Mileage is king here, and this ZR-1’s odometer puts it ahead of the pack. Most 1990 ZR-1s with 19,000 to 43,000 miles are listed between $30,000 and $42,000, but if you want one with delivery miles, be ready to shell out north of $65,000.
Bring a Trailer
With 18,000 miles, this Corvette lands in the sweet spot: low enough to be collectible, but not so low you’d be afraid to drive it. Factor in the recent maintenance and original looks, and it’s sitting pretty at the top end of the early ZR-1 market.
Condition and Details
The ZR-1 was Chevrolet’s technological showcase during the early 1990s, and this example keeps that original formula intact. It wears Bright Red paint over red leather upholstery and includes the body-color removable roof panel along with a second removable roof panel. Signature ZR-1 styling touches include the wider rear bodywork, squared-off taillights, pop-up headlights, fog lamps, and distinctive rear fender vents.
Bring a Trailer
Under the hood, you’ll find the 5.7-liter LT5 DOHC V8 – a collaboration between GM and Lotus, hand-assembled by Mercury Marine. It cranked out 375 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque, all funneled to the rear wheels through a six-speed ZF manual. This ZR-1 also gets the Selective Ride and Handling Package with Bilstein dampers, and it rolls on staggered 17-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in Nitto NT555 G2 rubber.
Bring a Trailer
The seller says it got a bunch of fresh parts in March 2026: new clutch, resurfaced flywheel, transmission fluid, spark plugs, cam sensor, oil pressure switch, air filter, and drive belt. A couple of power seat adjustments aren’t working, and Carfax shows at least one open recall, so keep that in mind.
Bring a Trailer
The Offer
| Specification | Detail |
| Make | Chevrolet |
| Model | Corvette ZR-1 (C4) |
| Year | 1990 |
| Mileage | 18,000 miles |
| Engine | 5.7-liter LT5 DOHC V8 |
| Power | 375 horsepower, 370 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Six-speed ZF manual |
| Drive Type | Rear-wheel drive |
| Exterior Color | Bright Red |
| Interior Color | Red leather |
| Current Auction Status | No Reserve |
Interested in this Corvette ZR-1? View the listing here.
What Makes the Corvette ZR-1 Unique
The C4 Corvette ZR-1 wasn’t just a quicker ‘Vette – it was a whole new animal. Chevy went all-in on engineering, pushing the ZR-1 into supercar territory for the early ‘90s. The star of the show was the LT5 V8, a dual-overhead-cam masterpiece cooked up with Lotus and totally unlike any other Corvette engine before or after. Paired with the ZF six-speed manual, it let the ZR-1 go toe-to-toe with Europe’s best.
Bring a Trailer
The ZR-1 also brought beefier suspension with the Selective Ride and Handling Package, a wider rear end, bigger tires, and a bunch of styling tweaks that set it apart from your run-of-the-mill C4. All those upgrades have made the LT5-powered ZR-1 a collector’s favorite – especially when you find one with low miles and original everything, like this car.
Final Thoughts
This 1990 Corvette ZR-1 ticks all the right boxes: low miles, original paint and interior, a manual gearbox, and proof of recent maintenance. It’s not so pristine that you’d be afraid to drive it, but it’s still a seriously clean example of Chevy’s ‘90s flagship.
With no reserve on the auction, it’ll be interesting to see where the final bid lands. If it stays in line with other low-mileage ZR-1s, someone’s about to score one of the most ambitious American performance cars of the ‘90s.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. We are not a dealership or broker. All vehicle specifications, pricing, and availability are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for typographical errors, omissions, or the accuracy of the provided information. Please verify all details directly with the seller.
About the author
Jacob Oliva
Senior Editor, Autoblog