From the Estate of Tom Ferrara 1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1...

1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
VIN. 1G1YZ22J9S5800191
350ci DOHC 32-Valve Aluminum V8 Engine
Tuned-Port Fuel Injection
405bhp at 5,000rpm
6-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*Ultra low-mileage example, with 519 original miles
*Single owner from new, meticulously maintained
*One of only 16 Dark Red Metallic ZR1 from 1995—and the only with Grey leather
*From the final year of production

THE CORVETTE ZR1

The ZR1 was the most audacious Corvette to date when it debuted in 1990. As opposed to just being an engine option as were previous high-performance Corvettes, the ZR1 was a complete car with Corvette's first and only overhead cam engine - developed jointly with Lotus Cars in England - plus a wider body, special extra-wide Goodyear tires on the rear, and a special rear fascia with squared taillights.

Without question, the soul of the new ZR1 was its all-aluminum 32-valve quad overhead cam V8 that put out 375bhp (increasing in 1993 to 405bhp) and 370 lb.-ft. of torque. It was an engineering masterpiece that would propel the ZR1 to 60mph in just over four seconds and would register a top speed of 175mph. The engine was co-developed by GM and Lotus and was built at a Mercury Marine plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma, a plant known for its precise aluminum machining capabilities.

The ZR1 was unveiled at the 1989 Geneva Auto Show. Soon after, the ZR1 owned the cover of virtually every magazine in the world, while pricing for the ZR1 turned out to be about $30,000 more than a Corvette coupe at approximately $62,675 (increasing to $72,209 by 1995), setting a new record for a GM passenger car. The ZR1 enjoyed a five-year production run and was phased out in 1995.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

The 191st ZR1 built in the final year of production for the C4 ZR1, this example ticks just about every box one could want for the seminal model. Purchased new By Tom Ferrara and with 519 original miles at the time of cataloging, Mr. Ferrara was careful in ordering the car. While 60% of ZR1 owners ordered their cars in Black or Torch Red, only 16 (3.57%) selected Dark Red Metallic and only one chose to pair it with Light Grey leather—that one car being the example presented here.

Completed at the factory in Bowling Green at the beginning of December, 1994, it was first registered to Mr. Ferrara on January 15, 1995 and has remained in his collection since new. Driven only a few miles a year, the ZR1 has still been subject to regular maintenance and its annual New York safety inspection. The clean CARFAX report documents the pilgrimage to the inspection station each June, with the car passing every time with only a few more clicks on the digital odometer.

Carefully stored with the car and seats covered, it is offered today in virtually time-warp condition. Included with the car is are the original owner's manuals, window sticker, build record, and more. Short of finding a working flux capacitor and going back to 1995, this is the closest one can get to obtaining a virtually as-new '95 ZR1 nearly three decades later.