1990 CORVETTE

  • Finally, after months of hoopla and a few false starts, the super-performance ZR-1 Corvette arrived in 1990.
  • Intended for production in limited quantity, with a price tag higher than any General Motors product, the ZR-1 became a collectible long before anyone ever saw one "in the flesh."
  • Customers seemed eager to pay far above the suggested retail price for the few examples that became available.
  • Under the ZR-1's hood was a Lotus-designed 32-valve, dual-overhead-cam, 350-cid (5.7-liter) V-8, by Mercury Marine in Oklahoma.
  • Although the displacement was identical to the standard Corvette V-8, this was an all-new power plant with different bore-and-stroke dimensions.
  • Wider at the rear than a standard model, partly to contain huge 315/35ZR-17 rear tires, the ZR-1 was easy to spot because of its convex rear end and rectangular tail lamps.
  • Ordinary Corvettes continued to display a concave rear end with round tail lamps.
  • Standard ZR-1 equipment included an FX3 Selective Ride adjustable suspension, which was also available on standard Corvettes with the six-speed manual gearbox.
  • Four-speed overdrive automatic was available (at no cost) only on the regular Corvette.
  • New standard equipment included an engine oil cooler, 17-inch alloy wheels, and improved ABS II-S anti-lock braking.
  • The convertible added a new backlight (i.e., rear window) made of flexible "Ultrashield" for improved scratch resistance and visibility.
  • An air bag was installed in the new steering wheel on all Corvettes and a revised dashboard mixed digital and analog instruments.
  • Corvettes colors were
    • White
    • Steel Blue Metallic
    • Black
    • Turquoise Metallic
    • Competition Yellow
    • Dark Red Metallic
    • Quasar Blue Metallic
    • Bright Red
    • Polo Green Metallic
    • Charcoal Metallic
  • Interiors came in Blue; Black; Gray; Red; Saddle; and White.
  • Standard features included a removable body-color roof panel for hatchbacks or a convertible top (Black, Saddle, or White top colors were available, but the choices you could order were determined by paint color).
  • Cloth upholstery was also standard.

I.D. NUMBERS

  • The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
  • The Coupe serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY238*L5100001 to 1G1YY238*L5120597
  • The Convertible serial numbers ranged from 1G1YY338*L5100001 to 1G1YY338*L5120597
  • The ZR1 serial numbers ranged from 1G1YZ23J*L5800001 to 1G1YZ23J*L5803049
    PositionCharacterDescription
    11US built
    2GGeneral Motors product
    31Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
    4&5YYBasic Corvette
    YZCorvette ZR-1
    62 or 3Body style number
    2 = Two door hatchback style 07, 08, 77, or 87
    3 = Two door convertible style 67
    71 or 21=Manual seat belts
    3=Manual belts with driver-inflatable restraint system
    4=Automatic belts
    88L98 5.7-liter Tuned-Port-Injection Chevrolet or GM of Canada V8
    JLT5 - 5.7-liter TPI V-8
    9?A check digit that calculates the characters in the serial number and gives it a single digit code and can be used to verify that the serial number is legitimate
    10LThe model year where 1990
    115Bowling Green, KY
    12-17100001 and upproduction sequence for coupes and convertibles
    800001 and upproduction sequence for ZR-1s
  • Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter engine code suffix
  • Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when the engine was built
    • The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
    • The one or two numbers shows the month
    • The last digit shows the year
  • Engine suffixes:
    CodeEngineHorsepowerCompressionTransmissionFuel SupplyExtra features
    ZSAL98 350-cid245/250-hp V-89.5:1THM automatic 
    ZSBL98 350-cid245/250-hp V-89.5:1manualtuned port injectionEngine oil cooler
    ZSCL98 350-cid245/250-hp V-89.5:1THM automatictuned port injectionEngine oil cooler
    ZSDLT5 350-cid375-hp V-811.0:1manualtuned port injectionAir conditioning
    ZSDLT5 350-cid375-hp V-811.0:1manualtuned port injectionElectronic air conditioning
  • The 1990 Corvette exterior colors were:
    • 10 = White
    • 25 = Steel Blue Metallic
    • 41 = Black
    • 42 = Turquoise Metallic
    • 53 = Competition Yellow
    • 68 = Dark Red Metallic
    • 80 = Quasar Blue Metallic
    • 81 = Bright Red
    • 91 = Polo Green Metallic
    • 96 = Charcoal Metallic
  • Upholstery Codes
    ColorCloth UpholsteryLeather Upholstery
    Black19C193
    Saddle60C603
    Blue 223
    Red 733
    Gray 903

IDENTIFICATION

ModelModel No.Body/Style No.Body TypeFactory PriceShipping WeightProduction Total
Coupe1YYY07
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger		$31,979322316,016
Convertible1YYY67
2-dr. Convertible - 2 passenger		$37,26432637,630
ZR-11YZZ07
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger		$58,99534653,049

ENGINE

FeatureStandard Engine (RPO L98)ZR-1 Engine (RPO LT5)
TypeV-8, 90-degree Overhead valveV-8, 90-degree Overhead valve with 4 valves per cylinder and 4 overhead camshafts
BlockCast iron block and aluminum cylinder headCast iron block and cylinder head
Displacement350 cid (5.7 liters)350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke4.00" x 3.48"4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio9.5:111.0:1
Brake horsepower245 @ 4000 (250-hp for hatchbacks using 3.07:1 rear axle due to use of low-restriction mufflers with this option combination only)375 @ 5800 rpm
Torque345 lb-ft @ 3200370 lb-ft @ 5600
Main bearingfivefive
Valve liftershydraulichydraulic
Fuel supplyTuned-port induction (TPI) systemTuned-port induction (TPI) system

TRANSMISSION

Automatic Transmission
  • Four-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic (TMH 700-R4)
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 3.06:1
    • 2nd = 1.63:1
    • 3rd = 1.00:1
    • 4th = 0.70:1
    • Rev = 2.29:1
  • Final drive ratio: 2.59:1 or 3.07:1
Four-speed Manual Transmission with overdrive
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.88:1
    • 2nd = 1.91:1
    • 3rd = 1.33:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • overdrive = 0.67:1
    • Rev = 2.78:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.07:1
Six-speed Manual with overdrive
  • Final drive ratio: 3.07:1

CHASSIS

FeatureCoupeConvertibleZR-1
Wheelbase96.2 inches (2.443 m)96.2 inches (2.443 m)96.2 inches (2.443 m)
Overall length176.5 inches (4.483 m)176.5 inches (4.483 m)177.4 inches (4.506 m)
Overall width71.0 inches (1.803 m)71.0 inches (1.803 m)74.0 inches (1.880 m)
Overall height46.7 inches (1.186 m) 46.7 inches (1.186 m)
Front tread59.6 inches (1.514 m)59.6 inches (1.514 m)59.6 inches (1.514 m)
Rear tread60.4 inches (1.534 m)60.4 inches (1.534 m)61.9 inches (1.572 m)
Front TiresP275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GTP275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GTP275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT
Rear TiresP275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GTP275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GTP315/35ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT
Steeringrack and pinion (power assisted)
Front suspensionSingle fiberglass composite monoleaf transverse spring with unequal-length aluminum control arms and stabilizer bar
Rear suspensionFully independent five-link system with transverse fiberglass single-leaf springs, aluminum upper/lower trailing links and strut-rod tie-rod assembly
BrakesFour-wheel power disc
Body constructionUnibody with partial front frame
Fuel tank20 US Gal (16.7 Imp Gal) (76 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO AC1Power passenger seat$270
RPO AC3Power driver seat$270
RPO AQ9Leather sports seats$1,050
RPO AR9Base leather seats$425
RPO B2KCallaway Twin Turbo installed by Callaway Engineering$26,895
RPO CC2Auxiliary hardtop for convertible$1,995
RPO C2LDual removable roof panels for coupe$915
RPO 24SRemovable roof panels with blue tint for coupe$615
RPO 64SRemovable roof panels with bronze tint for coupe$615
RPO C68Electronic air conditioning control$180
RPO FX3Electronic Selective Ride & Handling system$1,695
RPO G92Performance axle ratio 3.07:1$22
RPO KOSEngine block heater$20
RPO KC4Engine oil cooler$110
RPO MN6Six-speed manual transmission (no-cost option)
RPO NNSCalifornia emissions requirements$100
RPO UJ6Low tire pressure warning indicator$325
RPO UU8Delco-Bose stereo system$823
RPO UlFDelco-Bose stereo system with compact disc changer$1219
RPO V56Luggage rack for convertible$140
RPO ZS1Performance handling package for hatchback$460

HISTORICAL NOTES


  • Model-year production: 23,646.
  • Calendar-year production: 22,154 Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 22,690.
  • The $26,895 Callaway Twin-Turbo engine package could again be ordered through specific Chevrolet dealers as RPO B2K.
  • Cars that received this package were sent from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to the Callaway factory in Old Lyme, Connecticut, to receive engine modifications and other upgrades.
  • For a limited time an RPO R9G option was offered through Chevrolet dealers for competition-minded Corvette buyers who wanted to participate in the new World Challenge racing series.
  • Only 23 such cars were built.
  • In 1990, Corvette chief engineer Dave McLellan was the annual recipient of the Society of Automotive Engineers' Edward N. Cole Award for automotive engineering innovation.
  • McLellan was specifically recognized for his work on the ZR-1 package.

1990 CORVETTE PHOTOS


1990 Corvette

1990 Corvette

1990 Corvette

1990 Corvette

1990 Corvette

1990 Corvette

1990 Corvette

1990 Corvette

LITERATURE & LINKS




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