The ZR-1 was too expensive to succeed - but too good to ignore | Jason Cammisa Revelations | Ep. 16
One of the design briefs for the C4 Corvette was that it had a minimal frontal cross-section, so it was less visible to radar. In other words, it helped you get away with speeding.
Another target was to be the most powerful car sold in America. The 1990 - 1995 Corvette's ZR-1 option package was the most expensive in the history of Detroit, but it gave the Corvette world-beater firepower.
Its LT5 V-8 was designed by Lotus and built by Mercury Marine, an all-aluminum, four-cam V-8 that was developed from the Lotus Etna concept engine, not a Small Block. It shared the traditional Small Block 4.40-inch bore spacing (after a quick redesign) and used an early form of passive Variable Valve Timing.
The 32-valve V-8 breathed through 16 individual intake runners, half of which could be closed off at low loads. When opened, those runners breathed through valves that ran on a far more aggressive cam profile. This allowed the engine to be both torquey and efficient at low-rpms, but powerful at the top.
The 2023 Corvette Z06 is the first DOHC V-8 in a Corvette, but the ZR-1 was the only ever installed in the front.
And through the ZR-1 broke records, it wasn't the sales success that Chevrolet had hoped for - and there are many very interesting reasons why - culminating in the grudge-match development of the LS-series Small Block.
Host Jason Cammisa takes us through the story in this episode of Revelations.
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I had a 95 ZR1...It was absolutely amazing.. Sold it for a wife and kids.. It was a bad trade.
Technology scary wife bad
Couldn't you keep the Corvette and buy a boring family car?
@@milesromanus7041 can't always afford both
HAHAHAHAHAHA
@@sandhydra6666 relax dude 😂
You got a lot of this right because you read my book, “Corvette From the Inside.” The inclined radiator was, first, a feature of the C3. A Skunk Works team members said it was one of the clues that directed them toward stealth. The ZR-1 windshield was heat reflecting in order to enhance AC system performance. It would also have prevented garage door openers from working and, yes, it would have made Radar Detectors ineffective. Thus, the window in the windshield, I don’t think Chevrolet Sales and Marketing, with few exceptions, understood the Corvette very well nor did they understand how it could help Chevrolet so it was, from its beginning, an orphan. So, we set about to change that. Unfortunately, Lloyd Reuss moved too quickly out of a direct role in support of the Corvette so the ZR-1 seemed more of a burden to Chevrolet. That, as a production Chevrolet, it could run 180 mph for 24 hours, to set an FIA World Endurance Record of 175.885 mph with only stops for fuel, tires and driver changes. meant little to Chevrolet. Actually they didn’t think we could do it and planned accordingly. We knew otherwise. Marketing then took the Corvette Advertising budget and gave it to support the sail boat America Cube (A3) in the America’s Cup sail boat race. A3 was a looser. We showed them what GM Engineers were capable of. It took the GM bankruptcy for Chevrolet to finally understand the Corvette.
Dave is legend. I hope to meet you one day. My son is a GM engineer at Milford/Warren and I'm super proud. We are both Corvette fans! All Corvettes are red. The rest are mistakes!
I've owned 3 Corvettes, a 72, a 73 and an early production 84 (the first C4). I had to sell the C4 shortly after acquiring it because it had the Z51 suspension that was spine crushing. Cool to read a comment here from the great Dave McLellan. You spelled loser incorrectly. Might want to edit that.
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH Thank you. Nothing cripples an otherwise competent and well-expressed comment than incorrect usage of the language required to express it. The opposite of *looser* is *tighter.* The opposite of *loser* is *winner.* Click the three dots on the right side of your comment and edit that error out, Dave! (I'll even edit THIS comment to disappear that there was ever an error.) I still think about buying an '84 *just* for that lovely digital instrument display (and because I love the C4 body,) and then I think, "Naah, it'll date me." Worse than that, it's powered by chemistry. I bought a 2011 Leaf new, and I don't think you could ever convince me to throw money at another ICE car (in 80,000 miles, my maintenance costs have been two sets of tyres and a set of wiper blades and NO OIL EVER. It also costs a tenth as much per mile.) But Chevy could electrify the 'vette; if they do it right, I'd buy the heck out of that. Just don't do it like Ford did with the Mustang. Eugghh.
Hello, Dave. After so many years of seeing well known names being by used by not the well known person, it was a cool breath of fresh air to see your post. You are THE Dave McLellan, aren't you? LOL Early 84 C4 owner (December 1983 birthdate.... they DID make 83 Vettes!)
Dave, I love my 95 ZR-1! It sounds amazing and it's such a well engineered car. Mine gets driven like you intended them to be (85K spirited miles) and it still runs great. It's fun educating C4 haters by showing them the tail lights and then seeing the look of shock on their face at the next red light. You and your team built a hell of a car and I'm glad it's finally starting to be respected for the legend that it is. Such a shame Chevrolet marketing didn't get behind the project.
Yeah designing part of the car to minimize radar signature has to be one of the most badass things I've heard in a while.
That’s called knowing your customer. At least 30% of corvette owners have active warrants or d.u.i’s😂😂😂
Also…. nose candy was still popular at that time😂😂😂
I don't know why I discovered this channel so late - but this is right up there with Regular Car Reviews.
Best part about Hagerty is those drives at the end
The part where he dressed up as the Average Corvette Owner was very RCR
I was thinking the same thing!
There is no comparison have you seen the editing in the drag race videos? UNRIVALED
I swear all I watch on KZhead is cars channels and animals vids 😁. This is my favorite channel by far
Great video. I’ve owned two C4’s and one day I got pulled down by a speed trap. The deputy actually told me she had hoped I would run because she had “never chased a Corvette.” She also told me she had a hell of a time getting a radar reading on me “for some reason.” She let me go with a warning.
Cool story, bro.
The weird angles and maybe the texture of any dirt on the sloped body panels of a C4 Vette could possibly act as a radar deflector or something stealth like....either that or the deputy had a crappy radar gun....cool story tho
That's funny. She probably didn't get you radared and had no official record of you speeding. She just knew you were. I had a cop yell at me while I was walking into work that he knew I was speeding but couldn't get a lock before i slowed down. He was so mad but couldnt do anything so he chose to follow me until I get out the car and yell at me lol
From the front, the parts of a car most visible to radar are the radiator and headlight reflectors. In the Corvette the radiator is angled so it bounces the radar waves up instead of back to the receiver. The headlights fold down so the reflectors also don't bounce radar waves back to the cop so it really is a stealth design. I wonder how visible to radar the plastic-fantastic electric cars of today are.
@@JC130676 Still would have same effect if using radar but if it a laser (LIDAR), will get accurate speed read unless surface laser hits isn't reflective or weakens laser beam dark color flat/matte finish (special clear paint made, now illegal in some states, is available but detectable on photos though). So a laser jammer, illegal in some states, would be the way to go in today's time.
Finally, it's so rare to find someone who doesn't just blindly hate on the C4 like everyone else. God the C4 ZR1 is so cool.
People who hate the C4 usually haven't driven them. They are definable a product of their era but they are that transition from old to new that produced the types of corvettes that followed.
Late model C4s are actually not as awful as everyone makes them out to be. Besides the mid 90s plastic GM had, They are pretty good cars for what they started as in the 80s.
@@willstikken5619 I worked for chevy from 2013-2016 and drove several C4s. They werent that bad if you stayed away from the 80s year models, The 93s to the final year of production were not dreadful. They really did nail down the C4 towards the end of its generation.
@@joshuakhaos4451 The thing people generally miss is that they started the transition into the modern corvette. Prior to the C4 most Corvette performance was HP driven, stuff a strong engine in there and don't worry as much as about turning or stopping. When power suffered so did performance. With the C4 the design philosophy changed and they started to inject technology in ways they never did for previous generations. There are plenty of things to pick at on these cars. Styling however is subjective, horsepower can be increased as can handling and breaking. If there is one thing that lets these cars down it is the interior quality, especially in the earlier cars. Overall these are fun, relatively inexpensive cars with a lot of performance potential.
@@willstikken5619 I've said for years that the C4 Corvette was the most pivotal...likely most important...generation of all Corvettes (with the exception of the 1st generation). It defined what GM was aiming for...a World-Class competitive sports car...not a sporty boulevard cruiser anymore.
Those engines are epic they were balanced and blueprinted and every engine went on a dyno at the engine plant. To average 175 mph for 24 hours they had to run around 190 mph when you figure the time for pit stops for tires and gas! That was around 4200 miles wide open . I’d like to see someone try that now with a street car!
I never knew that! That’s absolutely amazing man! I’ve always loved the looks and thought that they’re a widely underestimated and underrated car. Months ago I came across one on the Mass Pike in my 01 2.5RS w/ an EJ25 swap. It puts down 385AWHP at 20PSI. Regardless that thing pulled on me like no one’s business and it was quite impressive
*_ERRRR WRONG THEY JACKED THE COMPRESSION UP TO 11.00:1 SO THEY CAN SELL IT!!! BECAUSE GM BUILT TWO EXACT MOTORS ONE IN OVER HEAD CAM AND ONE IN PUSHROD. EXACT AS IN SAME COMPRESSION RATIOS, VALVE SIZES, INTAKE RUNNER, BORE AND STROKE ETC. THE THEY DYNO THEM THE PUSHROD MOTOR MADE MORE HP TOP AND BOTTOM END "FACT" BECAUSE OVER HEAD CAM MOTORS PRODUCE MORE PARASITIC DRAG THAN A PUSHROD MOTOR MAKING THEM LESS EFFICIENT BUT IT DIDN'T END THERE! THEN THEY DROPPED BOTH MOTORS INTO IDENTICAL BLACK CORVETTES AND LET THE CEO'S DECIDE IT'S FAITH.. ALL UNKNOWINGLY PICKED THE PUSHROD ENGINE STATING "ITS QUICKER ACCELERATION WAS THE DECIDING FACTOR" FACT!!! BUT GM HAD A ISSUE WHAT TO DO WITH THE GIANT TWIN CAM TURD ZR1 AND SIMPLY THEY CHEATED AND RAISED COMPRESSION RATIO THEN SOLD THE LIE LIKE ALL EXOTIC CARS!!!! HOW DO WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN MANY MAGAZINE'S ALSO IT WAS THE "ONLY SCIENTIFIC STUDY PUBLISHED SHOWING PUSHROD VS OHC COMPARISON"!!!! THAT BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY SOMEONE OBSESSIVE OHC LOVE NOT REALITY!!!_*
I'd like a EV that could do that
Idk about 175mph but the Subaru impreza did a 60,000mile run with an average speed of 138mph+ with just tyres and fuel changes back in its day.
@@Ava-qe4qe wtf are you doing stop
The sound that ZR1 engine makes under full throttle gave me goose bumps! What an awesome achievement at a time when horsepower was in the beginning stages of making a comeback. Kudos to Chevrolet for going that extra mile with the help of Lotus to bring us a thing of beauty!
About a year ago I acquired a 1990 ZR-1 with 10k miles and thought I would just make it a garage queen while the values went up. Then I took it for a drive. A year later it has 13K on it and I wouldn't get rid of it. these cars are made to drive, and while I have owned a lot of fun cars, including two C7's, this thing is sooooo fun to drive and makes the best engine noise ever with an engine that is an absolute piece of automotive art. Thanks Jason for a great video!
My father had a ‘91 ZR1. I learned to drive stick in that beast. What a glorious sound at 7,200rpm!
You lucky bastard. I hate you 😉😂
@@craig.encinitas my wife learned stick in my F430!
Really dislike feeling every piece of grit on the road and sitting in the floor.
@@StrokeMyLovePump it is a sportscar ofcourse.it's a bit part of it
This man could explain the history of brick-making and still make it very interesting to watch
I would watch that.
easily the best automotive journalist on youtube, crazy how hagerty snagged him up. his stuff blows pretty much every other automotive channel out of the water with charisma, good writing, and great production quality.
Tbh I wouldn't mind watching that anyway. I often find that the most mundane things have a fascinating back story
I don’t know who you’re talking about but it’s certainly not Jason camisa. He acts like a cartoon character that drank too many red bulls.
@@turbodude there are better journalist like Sam Smith and Chris Harris but Cammisa is the best at making video.
Excellent synopsis of the ZR-1. A lot of untapped potential in the LT5. Mine has been massaged by former Lotus/Lingenfelter engineer, Graham Behan, and now makes 630hp.
Very impressive! How was that achieved?
Are you on the ZR-1 Registry? I would love to connect with you about this! 😀
I was lucky enough to be a passenger and then be allowed to drive one in the late 90s. My friend's grandfather purchased one before his passing. God bless that man and may he rest in peace. My friend inherited it. And, oh boy, was this thing FAST. No speeding tickets and no accidents. It was truly the first breathtaking car I ever had the pleasure of driving. Even though it was my friend's car he would allow me to drive it from time to time. It was incredible. The video with the engine sound brings back good memories.
Thanks for bringing back many happy memories. As a young Engineer I organised those durability tests. The CHEVY cycle and the CORP cycle still bring me out in a cold sweat.
Very cool, mind to share a little more information about some of the testing criteria you were a part of?
@@chestrockwell8328 I would love to. Probably one of the most fascinating parts was where we actually ran the tests, here in the UK.
@@jlarsen11 Please continue Jon.
@@jlarsen11 please continue Jon
@@jlarsen11 et alors?
You stop what you're doing when Jason Cammisa comes with another lesson.
sometimes
The dopamine is crazy
@Jason Cammisa when i look at your name, i wonder if you are the "real" Jason Cammisa or another idiot on youtube pretending to be Jason Cammisa in hopes for the attention 😉
@@ACommenterOnKZhead yeah, doesn't seem real at all
Well he is better than that homeless looking guy Magnus Williams
All of these (L98, LT1, LT4, LT5) are still fun to drive. Even my buddies 205 HP crossfire 1984 C4 was a BLAST to drive in the twisty roads in the Pocono mountains.
Experienced this car after Dog And Pony Show(tm) before deployment OIF-3. Was at [redacted] with my buddy [redacted] and dude let me drive his blue C-5. Didn't understand why he had u-shaped pillow... Damn thing spun the [new] tires on the highway going uphill on dry road when he told me to downshift and nail it. RT 280 in NJ from E.O. towards Essex Green. Phenomenal car. He was over 60, hemorrhoids, etc, wife hated that car. I heard he got a newer mag-ride later and was happy AH. C-5 is awesome, fat ass, beware of EBCM with no replacement parts. If you get stuck, take it to the Russian guys in NY, they can fix anything.
I never really liked Adam Sandler in movies, but his YT channel rocks. Thank you, Adam.
I knew almost everything about this Vette, that is because I love this model and read every single bit of info about it, but as usual, Jason and Hagerty kept on feeding us enthusists with more unknown car-data, just like the fact of the radiator place in an angle in order of avoiding those nonsense radars!!! thanks for another good video!
Yep like you, I knew a lot about these cars and had a lot of fun owning one. I never knew that was the reason for the angle of radiator though.
Odd. I knew only a little about this car but I knew about the angled radiator.
It's so it doesn't stick up out of the body. DUH.
The 84-89 had straight up radiator, all 90-96 had angled radiators, not just the Lt5 engine option.
As Jason said, the reason engineering went to an angled radiator was to lower the profile of the front of the car, get more radiator surface into the same space for better cooling. All 90-96 Vettes got the angled radiator as a design upgrade, not just the ZR-1. The lowered reflectivity of a radar signal was a pleasant side effect/surprise, which of course the media latched on to and promoted. The reduction in distance that radar can first “see” a 90-96 Vette has a lot to do with the angles at which the radar signal bounces off the body of the car (or the metal radiator behind the plastic skin of the Corvette). Stick a license plate on the front bumper of that ZR-1 and almost all of the radar signal is reflected right straight back at the radar gun & gives the nice officers a long distance notice of your pending arrival and your speed. My PT Cruiser Turbo is likewise unseen by radar until I get very close, even though it has a metal skin. (I told the dealership before taking delivery that if they drilled & installed the front license plate bracket I would refuse delivery of the car!) I’ve run it 140K miles with no front plate, no radar detector and no speeding tickets….. Who knew that a car designed to look like it was born in the 1940’s would have so many beautiful sweeping curves on its front end that the vast majority of the radar signal scatters off to the side instead of right back at the radar gun. (I HAVE gotten some pretty pissed-off stare-downs from the LEO’s though, as they could tell I saw them & slowed down significantly before getting into range where their radar could "lock in" a reading of my speed.) .
The drive at the end of the video was icing on the cake. The owner's manual quote was a nice nugget. NSX owner's manual "change from 2nd gear at 81 mph and 3rd gear at 112 mph or you will over rev the engine". I own a '91 NSX. The original owner paid 20K over list, 83K. Certainly ZR1 territory . Used Corvettes are the most bang for the buck you buy in the sport car world.
@@TruthBeTold121212 that’s what potholes are for.
@@cream_cheeze5871 Red, Getting on the expressway and was pretty deep into 3rd gear (80/90 MPH) when I looked behind me, yep police. He tailed me for a mile then pulled beside me and gave a thumbs up, car guy. Don't push the car though, to much respect for a 31 year old car
I can envision me driving like that, getting pulled over and giggling like an absolute idiot all the way to jail, and not caring!
well that depends, if you work on things yourself a vette basically becomes pointless and generic, i got a 79 Trans am for 2k, you cant find find a decent vette for under 10k maybe a C4 but who would want one of those
@@cloaked2562 "79 Trans am for 2k" ....running well with body still decent? if yes, thats pretty "F"ing hard to find. They are usually WAY overpriced.
The story behind the car makes it legendary
I was working at a dealership when they came out and volunteered to deliver a new one to a customer in Nashville. I remember punching it while merging onto I-65 and it scaring the s**t out of me! Years later I became a fan.
I owned one of these cars back when they were new. I was an awesome car and could pretty much smoke anything on the road at that point in time. The LT5 engine seemed to have an ability to rev endlessly. For a Corvette it was the ultimate sleeper. Not many people new it was a "special" Corvette. Had a lot of fun with that car.
No doubt!
Did you pay $90k for it too? Or did you get it when they were selling under sticker?
@@keegenkuehne I bought it "used" with 5000 miles on it. Paid 30K
I was a GM test driver in 1990-91, in the days when they were testing the C4 Corvettes with the new LT1 engine. One other memory of my time there was how much the engineers enjoyed testing various Porsche cars once in awhile, especially for brake testing. When they were really going to it, tire life was measured in hours, not days or weeks. Of course, there was an on-side fully stocked tire shop, so no worries there. They viewed Porsche as being the pinnacle of braking performance and were anxious to tap any knowledge they could to help the Corvette match or exceed it. Another memory was the torture testing of transmissions and drivelines as a whole. One test we'd do with various models, not just the Corvette, was to pull up to a painted line, put it in neutral, and run it up to redline. Then we'd drop it in drive until we spun the tires to another line about 10' away, then slam it into reverse, and repeat the process several times over while keeping it at redline the whole time. Personally, I didn't test the Corvette that way that I can recall, but a friend of mine was assigned to a division for awhile where he had to do it over, and over, and over. And each time they did it, they had to pull forward and back 50 times in a row. With the power and traction of the Corvette, he came to despise that car. He said his back would feel like it would going out by the 5th shift, and he knew he still had 45 more to go. Pretty much ruined the car for him, but I always enjoyed the days I was assigned to the Corvette instead of something like a Chevy Citation. A lot of great memories from those days, plus another year after GM when I drove for VW.
Awesome to know! Another piece of what some people might call “useless information” but really awesome to know!!
@@GabrielGonzalez-pn6dp thanks. I am grateful for the chance I had to do that line of work for a few years. I knew I wouldn't ever get rich doing that, but a few years is exactly what I aimed for from the beginning. Now the GM test facility there is long gone.
Great story👍
Ever talked to anyone about test driving Grand National or The Gxn?
So how did you get into that type of position, if you don't mind me asking? And are you doing anything now in the same or similar field? How does one go a put getting qualified for getting into a job like that? Lol...besides me driving my v6 Honda 2dr like a maniac
I'm from the Netherlands and own a Porsche, but the part where the creators of this car made it harder for cops to give one a speedticket is legendary! Over here speeding tickets are hell ;)
The drive down the windy road was probably my favorite part
Agreed, but at the end does he say "I don't love this car"?
@@ccutler0553 i think he says "i kinda love this car"
I get more excited seeing a clean C4 than I do a C8
Getting hard to find them in clean conditions .
@@MrJz97ss very true. When I look on marketplace, they usually look junked out. If not, they're overpriced
Ditto the C8 is hideous. Looks like a fiero Ferrari kit car.
Oh yes. Citroën C4
We had a perfect specimen roll up for an inspection back when I worked at an auto repair shop. It was in the shop for a few days so we could get parts. It was a great occasion seeing that thing every time I pulled up to the place.
Whatever the subject is, it'll be interesting. Thx Mr. Cammisa, you're a legend :d
Un grande Jason, saludos desde Chile.
@Jason Cammisa Most facts were so wrong in this video. See people take you at face value. Zora didn't create the Corvette was an engineer years later pushing for a rear engine. Twin Turbos were through Callaway and were never production prospects ever. ZR1 didn't care about the NSX but Viper hurt it's sales which you didn't mention. Also didn't mention the whole auto industry Nick named this car "King of the Hill" please re edit and get your facts straight before posting as people actually take what you say as word.
Yes he is! 👍
@@bikingD Right on most counts, but the B2K Callaway package was a factory-backed option on the order form with a warranty. It's not the same thing as buying a car and then having Callaway modify it after-market today.
@smellslikegasoline Et en plus il te répond en personne. Le grande classe!
I had a plain jane 1990 and it was still a helluva ride. At idle in my driveway you could feel the rumble in the concrete. Leaving a light sideways was always a thrill. I could only imagine what this thing must have been like.
@Repent and believe in Jesus Christ Hey, I'm a Christian also, but time and place and context brother. If you get that wrong your not helping the cause. Just sayin'
One of the best automotive journalists and a massive petrolhead!!! Keep going Jason!! Keep giving us content and valuable information!!
Agree. Well researched and very informative productions.
I love the C4's design. I love it. I know it's not everyone's favorite, far from it. But it looks so cool to me. The simple design is elegant and sporty with this mixture of straight lines and subtle curves. And the ZR1 version seems like a truly great machine.
was at work the other day and someone had a red C4 in the lot...had to stop and check it out. There were a ton of newer nicer cars ...but the C4 still stands out in my opinion
The refreshed C4 with the wraparound lower lights and rectangular taillights is one of the best looking Corvettes of all time. They look sinister.
I know right
They look way better in person. Not that they don’t look good in photos but the shape stands out a lot more when your own eyes look at one.
Honestly, its my favorite Corvette design, very simple but defined what a corvette was to look like for the next 30 years.
I go in every episode thinking "This is a car I never considered liking" and go out like "wow I need this car" :D
It's a Kramer thing
Me too! I'm on CraigsList on each one of these!!
Happens alot amigo :-)
Hands down, the best closing segment of ANY of your videos. The sounds, the visual stimulation of the drive (from drive POV, to the fender mounted GoPro) just added to the goosebumps i had forming, while cranking up the volume.
The outgoing video was awesome! So cool to hear your giggle at spinning the tires while upshifting and breaking the rear end loose! FANTASTIC!!!
I know it's pretty popular to dump on Corvette (and owners) and especially the C4 these days. We had the opportunity to acquire a ZR-1 at the peak of its unpopularity and have really enjoyed it. The LT5 is a pretty special piece of hardware and has a really unique sound and feel if (like me) you're accustomed to the traditional US V8 experience. Much of the marketing bravado is pretty ridiculous, but that was the age in which the car was born. Even stupider was the marketing and media hype for the 1992 Firehawk which claimed to beat the ZR-1 in almost every respect. Having an example of each car, I'd say that's a bit of a mixed bag.
The Firehawks are crazy rare
Fire hawk? Had to look that one up!
Do you still have the Firehawk?
The C4 gets a bad rep despite being a dynamically good car. Doesn't a standard C4 pull nearly 1G on the skidpad?? The ZR1 was mythical when I was a kid. Always loved the look of the C4 too.
I'll say drumbeats just for good measure.
Very cool history lesson! wow i never knew the ZR1 was THAT good. Thumbs up for the Lotus guys to upset the small block engineers. they got angry and built the Gen2 sbc's and of course the LS!!
Competition can be a good thing if it is directed in the right way.
Competition fuels innovation
It wasn't that good. It's called marketing.
As a British European...The C4 ZR1 is still one of the nicest looking American cars ever. I still lust after one (and many of the later Corvettes) to this day. In Europe the motoring snobs overlook the 'Vette as America is not renowned for good sportscars. The C3 still good looking looks like a muscle car (with a wimpy engine) but the C4 was a proper overlooked sportscar.
I have a 93 "base" model. I love driving it, and that LT1 still doesn't disappoint after all these years.
YES! I love this car, there was one for sale in my small town a couple years ago for a ridiculously cheap price and I wanted to get it so bad. So many forget about the first DOHC Corvette, calling the new Z06 the first. This machine was a technological marvel for its time and it's a shame it gets little love.
Maintaining that engine would have probably been a small fortune.
@@04dram04 Sure, but it's cool as hell
@@04dram04 same with every lotus made engine they are made to sound great and make power not save people's money you pay to play with high performance cars
The ZR-1 is an epic car and it ushered in a new golden age of performance. I love how Jason uses the actual facts and doesn´t just repeat some stereotypical none sense like a lot of other reviewers do.
1990s C4 ZR1 ushered golden age of performance, yeah right, the 1987 RUF CTR (Yellowbird) had 1.3 sec 0-60mph and 45mph more top speed, the F-40 and Diablo were also better than the C4 ZR1, even a rare 1980s Countach Turbo S. no need to bring the real 1990-1995 legends out : n 1969 the Corvette ZL1 not ZR1 with 430hp was the fastest production car in the world. "it was the quickest" 1990-1995 C4 ZR1 4.9 sec 0-60 vs 1987 Ruf CTR : 3.65 seconds, 3.7 Countach Turbo S, F-40 4.2 sec, etc "it was the fastest" 175mph ZR1 1990-1995 : Ruf CTR 220 mph, F-40 199 mph, Lambo Diablo 202 mph, Bugatti EB110 218 mph, Cizeta Moroder 204 mph, Diablo SV 204 mph, Ruf CTR2 217 mph, Jaguar XJ 220 217mph, Vector W8 218 mph, Mc Laren F1 243 mph, Porsche Dauer 962 251 mph, Lambo Countach Turbo S 208mph, standard Countach versions 179 to 185 mph, etc all better than the 175 mph of the ZR1. The 1990 C4 ZR1 0-60 4.9 sec (video claims mid 4 yeah right) 175 mph top speed would have been obliterated by the 1987 Ruf CTR (yellowbird) in acceleration 3.65, top speed 220 mph, on the streets and on race tracks.
@@THEREALZENFORCE You have to keep in mind that all of the cars you mention are extremely expensive, extremely low volume cars, that the vast majority of people couldn´t buy. The ZR-1 is production a car that you could buy at a dealership and they are still affordable today. I own a 1990 ZR-1 and i love it, with modern tires and a free flowing exhaust my car does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, that's pretty good for a 30 year old car in my book.
@@kaldarleifar 3.9 sec (instead of reality 4.9 and 4.5 claimed by people) RWD C4 ZR1 is fake news. So you are claiming an equal time as an over 500hp C6 Z06 (3.9) which made that time under optimal conditions on track with pro drivers. That's like saying if we put modern tires and better exhaust the RUF CTR would do 2.6 instead of 3.65 sec 0-60 mph. Why do people always have to exaggerate the specs of their cars or bikes : insecure personalities, important ego, what is the reason ? Your car does nowhere near sub 4 seconds, factual reality.
1980s Porsche Dauer C62 road legal 2.7s 0-62mph, 251 mph, 10 sec 1/4 mile 1987 Ruf CTR Yellowbird : 3.6s 0-60mph, 220 mph, Nordschleife record holder 1986 Porsche 959 : 3.6s 0-60mph, 211mph speed, quarter mile 11.8 sec 1990 C4 ZR1 : 4.9s 0-60mph, 175mph (181?) top speed, quarter mile 13.3 sec 1988 Callaway Corvette : 5.2s 0-60mph, 254 mph top speed, quarter mile 13.5s 1987 Ferrari F-40 : 4.7s 0-62mph, 199mph top speed, quarter mile 12.2 sec 1980 Lamborghini Countach Turbo S : 3.7 sec, 208 mph 1990 Lamborghini Diablo : 4.5 sec (4.1?) 0-62mph, 202 mph top speed, 12.8 sec quarter mile Reality not fan fiction, you claim to be quicker 0-60) than a F40 (lighter and more powerful, with a twin turbo V8) and a Diablo, yeah right :-) keep on dreaming. F40 477hp 2765lbs twin turbo 2.9 V8 C4 ZR1 375hp (or 405hp version) 3239 lbs C6 Z06 505hp 3130 lbs You literally ignore physics with your claims.
@@THEREALZENFORCE I´m not saying the ZR-1 i faster than the F40 it´s not, but it can reach 60 quicker do to the simple fact the ZR-1 can hit 60 in first gear and the F40 has to shift that notoriously slow gated shifter to do the same.
Jason Cammisa always delivering the quality of a real car enthusiast in any video he's featured 👏 .... that driving in the twisted roads was soooo satisfying to watch towards the end👌🤌🔥🔥
Thanks for imparting the history of the LS1, helpful as I spent a good part of 2021 with a team building the molds and three sets (upper and lower sections) of composite cowling parts for MooseMods' conversion of the Murphy Moose kit plane to use the LS3 powerplant.
I was fortunate enough to get a spirited ride in one of these when I returned from Desert Storm. I grew up with and owned several firebreathers from the Muscle Car era, but this thing was, and still is a monster. If you have a chance for a spirited ride in one, don't pass it up, you may not get another one. P.S. That motor is a thing of beauty!
Amazing content as always. Now we get to watch ZR-1 values go crazy. Damnit Jason, these were a bargain!
Exactly :(
FCK that speculative banksters .. car-ignorants ...
I agree with you. It may not be the most powerful but it’s the only overhead four cam engine Chevrolet has ever made. It has to go up at some point.
They already have gone up.
@@troypatillo1688 not anymore
Great Video! I was a teenager when the ZR1 was introduced and Its been on my radar ever since. I had an LT1 C4 over a decade ago which was an enjoyable daily driver for me. I have been very fortunate to have recently picked up a low mileage 1990 ZR1. I am gonna say I will be keeping this car for quite a while. Its sitting next to my Shelby 350r, another keeper. Its all about the motor and the driving experience with both of those cars. Even if C4 Zr1 prices are climbing a bit. Its still a great value.
Great video. The driving part at the end was a total blast. Flying down the road It's like nothing else exists but the right now....
Fun fact not in the video: Even with 4 chain-driven overhead camshafts, 32 valves, and moving secondary intake butterflies, the LT5 was so well balanced that you could balance a quarter on edge on the intake plenum with the engine running. I’ve repeated this little trick quite a few times on my Dad’s 1990 ZR-1. Also interesting, the C4 is the only generation of ZR-1 to feature the hyphen between the “R” and “1”. Future generations (C6 and C7) have no hyphen.
You know you need change spark plugs when you can't do that anymore. I owned one for 5 years.
Damn beat me to that comment. Good to know others knew about the coin test ;-)
Yeah but didn’t the -(Hyphen)Add a little weight, lol…
@@markim5087 Check it out……your comment made me curious about the weight of the ZR1 models across the generations. The C7 ZR1 curb weight was 3560 lbs, the C4 ZR-1 (this car) was 3466 lbs and the C6 ZR1 was 3373 lbs. So yeah, apparently the hyphen did add a little weight, but for the C7 something else added MORE weight. The be fair that car was supercharged, but so was the C6.
I think it was Foos that advertized one of their engines running , sitting on a wooden barrel.
Nice job Jason. I remember the introduction of the ZR-1. The dealer even charged money for the sales brochure. I recall seeing the window sticker price on a new 1990 ZR-1 in Wisconsin for $69,990 in the summer of 1990.
Wow that would be 150,000 in todays money. Makes the new z06 look like chump change.
A very good friend if mine was one of the development engineers at Lotus in Hethel UK. and used to bring it home at weekends to put some miles on it. It truly was an awsome car completely engineered by Lotus, engine, transmission, suspension..
That is amazing! I have a completely new respect for the C4 Vette era! 👍🏼👍🏼👏🏼
Unbelievable car and criminally underrated. Much more raw driving experience then the C5's and newer cars.
I love the C4 ZR1, it's so underrated, it's so fast, absolutely love them.
Many thanks for that little gift of drive-time footage at the consultation conclusion - made my day !!
All of your content makes me want to go drive. Your passion is infective!
Notice the square in the glass on the windshield? That’s for radar detectors. They have these anti glare films in the glass which blocked radar detectors from working. It’s noticeable now because the windshields delaminate. Huge class action lawsuit on that years ago. Also, if you kept the delaminated windshield, it’s worth more. Much like the split window corvette. My dad’s 95 has the same thing. But we will never replace it. That one in the video isn’t too bad. Also, it’s kinda cool listening to the sound of a stock LT5. Very similar to ours. The induction sound is the signature of that engine. Never heard one in person actually. I’ve been listening to and driving a fully built stroker Lingenfelter LT5 since I wasn’t even as tall as the car. Great video!
I still have the original windshield in my 93 ZR1. It is still in very good shape.
TIL! Thank you so much! I think my C4 has that aswell, I was wondering about it ...
I used to be in the autoglass business. I worked for LOF/Pilkington and PPG/PGW. As late as 2010, that's when I left, there were still OEM, LOF solar windshields in the warehouse where I worked. For all I know, they're probably still there! I don't remember the part number(s) but IIRC there were three different part numbers for 1990s era C4s -one for the regular vettes and two for early and late ZR-1s. Look for the "Bug". The bug will have the glass part number that starts with "DW" (Domestic Windshield) followed by a 4 digit number. There's also a "DOT" number. That number will tell the subcontractor. There's DOT number search tool on the website "glassbytes. com". If you all need an OEM windshield, go to the local Pilkington or PGW warehouse, they might have one still in stock They won't sell to the general public, but they might be able to hook you up with a shop that can buy it and install it for you.
Brilliant history lesson. So good even a non-car person would be fascinated. The most interesting result was motivating GM engineers to improve their own pushrod engine.
Facts. Not a car person on this end, but man was this video understandable and just awesome to watch.
Well, no. Motivating GM management to improve things is what it takes. Left to their own devices the R&D folks would have never let this happen in the first place (at least for long). It's not like it's coming out of their checks. ;> The GTO and the Corvair were prime examples of what happens when the bean counters aren't paying close enough attention to what the inmates in the company are up to. The Buick Nailhead engine somehow slipped through as well. And I'm sure that there are a ton of examples out there. :)
Getting mad because foreign engineering is better is the epitaph of American auto executives during the 1980s.
@@jacobrzeszewski6527 They were pretty bad, no doubt about it. Although "mad" isn't how I would phrase it, "unconcerned" would be more appropriate. Which is by far the more damning of the two if you ask me. I think that they always felt that it either wasn't their responsibility, or that the ship would right itself somehow. Either way, they were wrong. There are occasional flashes of brilliance, this Corvette for example, the "Saturn" EV1 (a fantastic car that had absolutely nothing to do with Saturn. And another reason to hate Rick Wagoner), and the C8 appears to be somewhat of a badass. As for me, I'm a nerd who happened to work for one of the coolest companies on the planet. But I'm not particularly a car guy. Most plants that I've worked in I couldn't tell you what they built there without walking out to the line and asking someone. I recently did a project at KTP. The "T" standing for "Truck", so that was helpful... I lost interest in cars after the glory days of the late 60's - early 70's. I'm not sure which car I miss more, my '66 Impala convertible, or my '64 Triumph TR4.
The words in the last second of this video says it all. "I love this car..."
I once got to ride in a ZR1. It was dope as hell and I had never before seen a car with an extra ignition that allowed to switch between half and full engine power
My inner 10-year-old is smiling… I’ve been waiting for an episode on the C4 ZR-1 for a long time. Thanks for this one!
Thank you for a great review on the 1990 ZR-1! I have a history to it's development, mounted different size tires at various racetracks around the country. The company bought 2 right off the line in 1990. If you see the video on the ZR setting SEVERAL records, there was a red one and a white one. I hauled the red car to many locations and it was basically my "rental" car for the event. (except race car drivers giving rides!)After 31 years, I purchased one exactly like that company car, (they wouldn't sell it to me). It went to Ft. Stockton, TX. I backed her out of my trailer, drove it to the garage, and handed over the keys. After the record run(s), I realized why they didn't sell it but it's ok now! I got it last March with 34K miles, like new. So, the twin car to yours in the video resides with me!
Cool story!!! Thanks for sharing it !!!
How did I not know about this channel? I cannot believe I have been missing out on this channel for so long!!
I don't like Corvettes, but this was the only design that I truly adored. Still looks good even today.... it has aged very well.
Carmudgeon episode AND Revelations in one week is magnificence. Happy Holidays, discount Adam Sandler!
I think Jason is the result of combining Adam Sandler and Jon Cryers DNA
Another random fact, the cutout in the windshield tint was supposed to be for a radar detector, as the tint interfered with how well radar passed through. Most noticeable at 15:32, note bottom of windshield how theirs a rectangular area that is more matte and does not reflect. Package deal, make it harder to detect with radiator, make radar easier to detect when your driving it!
According to Dave McClellan, who was a Chevy Corvette engineer and wrote the book mentioned in this video, that un-tinted area in the tinted windshield glass ( that he calls "a window within the windshield" ) was designed so that ZR1 owners could operate the remote for their garage door opener. His comment is posted only a few posts above yours. But your explanation makes total sense as well. Still, I gotta go with the explanation from one of the engineers who actually played a role in the design & engineering of this classic beast. All the best to you!
Absolutely brilliant! Thank you for such an in-depth and entertaining documentary.
I love your enthusiasm for this car, and telling the story I lived through was fun.
Awesome history lesson on the ZR1. I'm more of a truck guy than a Corvette guy, but you made this topic very entertaining and informative for all auto enthusiasts.
My most favorite Corvette made by a mile. These things are so cool, and the subtleness makes them even better in modernity.
Always loved the looks of the late C4's and watching this makes me miss my c7
Closing out with pure footage of driving of the car is a great idea.
I do not understand how Jason does not have his own show, special, series, channel, whatever. Pure Brilliance.
...you're watching it
@@TC-lk2ev I mean that's longer than 20 mins and sporadically spread among other YT channels. Is it too much to ask for?
This video was put together SOOO well. Commentary, old footage, camera work. This whole video is very well done
What an amazing car!! Beautiful looks and bloody quick for it’s day! Would love to experience one!
So far owning a Corvette has eluded me however I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am in 2008. The switch from the LT-1 to the LS-1 for the '98-'02 models was a brilliant move and insured Trans Am would go out with a bang. The LS-1 has proven to be one of the best GM engines ever built and to this day people are dropping it into just about every application you can think of.
In 30 years I have watched a lot of car reviews. My hats of to you Sir. This one is the best by far. Passion wins. That the rad bit was perfect. Only drivers really get that.
Love it! Love mine! I have two cars, an 2018 S3 and a 1990 ZR-1, and it's the S3 that I'm contemplating a sale over because the ZR-1 is just too good to let go. If you have one, hold onto it because they just don't make cars so hilarious to drive anymore. That entire turn-of-the-decade period of automotive history is just insane in all the best ways. In that driving footage at the end, I don't think you were getting full power; you have the infamous "INFL REST" light on (in theory a bad SRS module, in practice usually a bad sensor ground) and when that light, or any other Driver Info Center (DIC) service light, is on, it won't open up the secondaries even when it says "FULL POWER". You can also hear that pulsing sound when you get on it, which is the effect of attempting to shove too much air through too small a hole...because the secondaries are shut. It can still kick the tail out even neutered, but it should feel and sound very smooth and have a surge of power like a turbo-charged engine on boost when you get to ~3200 rpms and >20% throttle.
The kind of comment I look for on You Tube, REAL based Knowledge someone else can be helped with 👍👍.
My car had the INFL REST light on when I bought it, and I’ve since had it fixed. It made the same amount of power both ways. Just my experience.
I'm seriously considering selling my mustang to get a really nice low mile example. I love the C4, always have. I'm just not sure
@@kylec4zr1 The engine didn't sound right in this video, though. Either their audio equipment was naff or it's pulsing because it's not opening up the secondaries. Bad audio seems unlikely given the quality of the content on display, but never say never.
@@vomErsten I hear it too but to me it sounds more like an exhaust leak.
Fun fact: Chevy never had an internal designation of C1, C2, C3, C4 etc. That's apparently something that the internet came up with. Because the 'C' doesn't actually relate to the chassis number. But there's rumor that they now use it internally for C8, but not sure if it's just casually or officially.
Same with the Foxbody Mustang. It was never used internally. Ford only ever referred to it as a Mustang on the Fox platform.
Long time porsche fan and driver, but I definitely respect this car alot more now after this video. That Vette looks better than new
that lt5 is still one of the smoothest best balanced engines i have ever driven. also can't 100% hate the interior. the 90-93 seats are still considerably higher quality than anything we have seen out of corvette until very recently. MUCH better than the crap in my old 2002 z06, those were the low point in vette seats
If the interior is "sub-par" then maybe a "restrained" reupholstering job could make the difference. The end product should beat the crap out of a modern car with that sort of performance stats.
@@MrGaryGG48 , but then there are the questions of whether the look should be luxury car, racing car, high end sports car, high-end grand tourer, high-end exotic car, high-end super car, or high-end hyper car, whether the new interior would weigh down the car enough to negatively affect its performance, what kinds of materials that the new interior would require, would the parts look professionally stylish enough to be respected, would the parts be cheap enough, or cause the car to cost more, etc.
@@paxhumana2015 Therein lies the problem. At one end of the spectrum you can gut the creature comforts for strictly high-performance, and sell to a limited audience. If the product doesn't sell enough, the product dries up and the conversation becomes little more than speculation. The competition of that time of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Aston Martin were much more luxurious. The Corvette's LT5 engine was as competent as any if not better, but the Corvette interior was seriously lacking compared to that competition. The designers & managers that were trying to find that balance and still sell their cars must have lost a huge amount of sleep during the time leading up to the product release!
Finally!!! Thanks, Jason! I own a 91 ZR-1 myself and this is truly a milestone, an icon and an engineering gem. Glad to see this marvel now gets the appreciation it deserves and even more glad its you and your team! Thanks for the video!
This was an awesome video! Should be a lot more like it. I like this guy’s character. He is awesome! I learned a lot about the ZR1 and it’s history. I appreciate that. Give this guy a raise.
Still top 3 best Vette of all time.
Always wanted a ZR1 because they were a legend in their own time but never could quite afford one back then. My current Corvette is a low mileage 1991 convertible, six speed with a mildly tweaked L98 but even that will still propel it to 150+ MPH and still handles great in the curves.
my main gripe with C4's has always been the interior, which even for its time looked cheaper and less structurally sound than that of a Geo...but looks wise and certainly in the second phase version in terms of powah...it's just a perfect late eighties, early ninetees smoker on wheels
@@TheChill001 Some cheap materials indeed. But they actually hold up well. Albeit with squeaks from the targa chassis. The cockpit design of the later C4s was miles better than the Cavalier-esque C5. C7 finally got back to this design language.
@@TheChill001 c4 interior isn't even bad. I don't understand why people cry about it. Have you driven modern gms or Chryslers?
Great job Jason! I'd add that the ZR-1 provides such a visceral experience that I've not felt in any other Corvette, all generations. It is such an amazing car to own, easy to work on, and even better - being a part of the very large community of owners in the ZR-1 Net Registry who 'Keep the Legend Alive'. So glad those 30+ year old GSCs could still keep you on the road! Keep up the great work!
My buddy’s dad bought one back when I was in high school… still has it and still one of the most amazing cars I’ve ever been in!!!
Awesome video. The depth of research is stunning.
This is an amazing video! I bought my C4-ZR1 this year at 23 years old. My favorite Chevy engine with a radical history.
I was about to search for a ZR-1 review by Hagerty and Jason... Drove mine for the first time in a long time last night, nothing like hitting the 7,600 RPM readline roaring through Corsa exhaust. What a machine!
7600?? really? woah!
Stock redline is just over 7k. Peak power hits by 6. All LT1/4/5 tachs do read up to 500rpm high. You can raise the stock redline with a chip but unless it’s a built motor it would be harmful. That being said, I have Corsa on my LT4, but I watch LT5 videos with envy. That DOHC sound is so much more invigorating.
Got a chip from Mark, Watson headers, Corsa exhaust, deleted secondaries, 13lb flywheel. It's fun!
I'm retired and bought a1990 ZR1 in 2021 for $8400 with 82k on it. The owner had no clue what this beast was. Now it's my weekend driver here in Florida, and I embarrassed a lot of cars driving across hwy 40 to Ormand. I eat them top end. 😮
This is one of my favorite shows on youtube. Thanks Hagerty!
Killer video, and we're quite thankful for those small block guys going on a warpath bringing us the LSx platform :)
I was lucky enough to be working in a chevy dealership when this and the Callaway came out. Incredible machines for the time. Thanks for this video, especially the drive. Takes me back to when I was in my 20's
Did you work at Dworkin Chevrolet?
@@DimitriosChannel no, surf Chevrolet in NJ.
The C4 is probably my favorite corvette. I love 80s car styling, and I think the C4 encapsulates the design language of the period in a good way
In college I had the pleasure in touring the LT-5 engine plant in Stillwater. Cool trip.
Interesting history to explain where the LS came from. I can imagine that working with Lotus would certainly put the GM power train guys noses out of joint!
Rewatch video, nothing is shared between Lt5…
@@shonbratton1906 it’s also a joke from the end of the video
@@shonbratton1906 he didn't imply that anything was shared, he's saying that GM working with Lotus to make an engine (that ended up kicking their own engine's ass) would aggravate the GM powertrain guys. Which it did, deservedly.
Lotus was and is a great manufacturer to this day and I’m glad they continue to collaborate/develop with other manufacturers such as Toyota and Yamaha. If I were to ever get “supercar” money id most likely get a Lotus, meant to be driven.
I find it interesting and it may be just a coincidence but the ls was made from the small block team to compete with the lotus engine and the engine they came up with was the first and last initial of lotus
What an amazing video!!! As a C4 ZR-1 owner, thank you for this!
Love these videos about the older amazing cars. Thanks!
What an impressively well done video.
As someone who genuinely dislikes the C4, I always thought this specific car is an absolute monster. Even for today's standards it is pretty fast. That Lotus magic sure paid off :D
Came here for this. The ZR1 is the only C4 I've ever cared about.
Best corvette ever made was Lotus Zr1 :D Ironic
I agree Corvolet5
@@DuBstep115 you know that’s some made bullshit lmao
If you guys don’t like c4s you should look up the corvette ss, yea it’s real! It’s called the snake skinner, it was built specifically to obliterate the viper. Or the callaway sledgehammer. Insane cars for the time. They might change your mind!
This was the Corvette engine I wanted when I was younger and snobbier. As I've gotten older and learned more about the LS engines, I've become impressed with how much GM is able to accomplish from simpler "old tech" -- without compromising on emissions or fuel economy. I would be happy to drive a LS-powered Corvette nowadays...if I could still sit-still and drive for long periods of time without getting lightheaded.
The last bit of the video was perfect thank you
That last "send it" run was epic! Thank you.