Born as a rather mundane sports car with an inline-six under the hood, the Chevrolet Corvette morphed into one of America's most powerful production vehicles in the 1960s. But as the Malaise Era arrived, the 'Vette needed more than 20 years to hit the 400-horsepower mark again.
The two-door Chevy reached this benchmark for the first time in 1968 thanks to the 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) big-block V8. It was rated at 435 horsepower in the Tri-Power setup, but Chevrolet took things up a notch with the 460-horsepower LS7 in 1970. The switch to net power ratings and new emission regulations sent the Corvette below the 300-horsepower mark starting in 1972.
Chevrolet would not offer another Corvette with more than 300 horses until 1990, when the C4-based ZR1 debuted. Originally rated at 375 horsepower and 370 pound-feet (502 Nm), the LT5-powered ZR1 was upgraded to 405 horses and 385 pound-feet (522 Nm) in 1993. It wasn't the most potent Corvette at the time of its introduction, but it became one of Chevy's greatest creations.
Featuring an aluminum-block V8 engine developed by Lotus, which GM acquired in 1986, the C4 ZR1 remained in production through 1995. Chevrolet would need another six years to drop another Corvette that matched the ZR1's performance. The company sold 6,939 units, making the ZR1 a somewhat rare gem 30 years later.
But while you wouldn't have much trouble finding a C4 ZR1 in the US, getting your hands on an LT5-powered sports car in Europe is decidedly trickier. And that's exactly why stumbling upon a derelict example in the United Kingdom is a big (and almost shocking) deal. It's hard to believe someone would neglect a C4 ZR1 for decades, but it happened; this stunning piece of American history has been sitting for over 20 years at a farm.
It's not your typical barn find, as in it's not a rust bucket, but two decades of no action have taken a toll on the ZR1. The new owner found it with a mossy exterior, a moldy interior, and a 5.7-liter V8 engine that wouldn't run. Fortunately, Jonny Smith of YouTube's "The Late Brake Show" was called to document its rescue and help move the car to its new home.
Our host could not get the Lotus-developed engine running, mostly because mice had chewed through the wiring, rendering the starter motor useless. But he gave the Corvette its first and much-needed wash in more than 20 years, turning it into a more presentable classic.
One of fewer than 300 C4 ZR1s exported to Europe, this Corvette is now in good hands and will soon return to the road. Until then, see it emerge from its grave in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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