Origin: Bowling Green, KY
Engine: 8-Cylinder
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
While the Chevrolet Corvette had an impressive debut in the 1950s and was perfected in the 1960s, emission regulations in the 1970s slowed it down considerably. It didn’t get back up to speed again until 1990, when the C4 ZR-1 was announced. While there had been a C3 ZR-1 (1969-1971), it was nothing compared to its successor, a Corvette for the modern age.
In 1986, General Motors acquired Lotus Cars, an engineering consultant and performance car manufacturing firm based out of England. The Corvette division of GM approached Lotus with an idea: to create the world’s fastest production car. Lotus answered with a new style of engine dubbed the LT5. It had 375 horsepower, a unique air management system, and an upgraded steering and braking system. It was placed in a ZR-1 prototype dubbed ‘King of the Hill,’ which was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1989 before going into production later that year. Mr. Rich purchased two at the time, this two-door hatchback and a coupe. The ZR-1 can go from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 180 mph.
While the speed produced by the LT5 has long since been outclassed, the 1990 ZR-1 still maintains many long-distance speed records thanks to its robust design, being able to maintain 174 mph for 5,000 miles.