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.

VIN 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

Position	Character	Description
1	1	US built
2	G	General Motors product
3	1	Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
4 & 5	YY	Basic Corvette
4 & 5	YZ	Corvette ZR-1
6	2 or 3	Body style number 2 = Two door hatchback style 07, 08, 77, or 87 3 = Two door convertible style 67
7	1 or 2	1=Manual seat belts 3=Manual belts with driver-inflatable restraint system 4=Automatic belts
8	8	L98 5.7-liter Tuned-Port-Injection Chevrolet or GM of Canada V8
8	J	LT5 - 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
10	L	The model year where 1990
11	5	Bowling Green, KY
12-17	100001 and up	production sequence for coupes and convertibles
12-17	800001 and up	production 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:

Code	Engine	Horsepower	Compression	Transmission	Fuel Supply	Extra features
ZSA	L98 350-cid	245/250-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic
ZSB	L98 350-cid	245/250-hp V-8	9.5:1	manual	tuned port injection	Engine oil cooler
ZSC	L98 350-cid	245/250-hp V-8	9.5:1	THM automatic	tuned port injection	Engine oil cooler
ZSD	LT5 350-cid	375-hp V-8	11.0:1	manual	tuned port injection	Air conditioning
ZSD	LT5 350-cid	375-hp V-8	11.0:1	manual	tuned port injection	Electronic 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

Color	Cloth Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
Black	19C	193
Saddle	60C	603
Blue		223
Red		733
Gray		903

IDENTIFICATION

Model	Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
Coupe	1YY	Y07	2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger	$31,979	3223	16,016
Convertible	1YY	Y67	2-dr. Convertible - 2 passenger	$37,264	3263	7,630
ZR-1	1YZ	Z07	2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger	$58,995	3465	3,049

ENGINE

Feature	Standard Engine (RPO L98)	ZR-1 Engine (RPO LT5)
Type	V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve	V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve with 4 valves per cylinder and 4 overhead camshafts
Block	Cast iron block and aluminum cylinder head	Cast iron block and cylinder head
Displacement	350 cid (5.7 liters)	350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke	4.00" x 3.48"	4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio	9.5:1	11.0:1
Brake horsepower	245 @ 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
Torque	345 lb-ft @ 3200	370 lb-ft @ 5600
Main bearing	five	five
Valve lifters	hydraulic	hydraulic
Fuel supply	Tuned-port induction (TPI) system	Tuned-port induction (TPI) system

TRANSMISSION

CHASSIS

Feature	Coupe	Convertible	ZR-1
Wheelbase	96.2 inches (2.443 m)	96.2 inches (2.443 m)	96.2 inches (2.443 m)
Overall length	176.5 inches (4.483 m)	176.5 inches (4.483 m)	177.4 inches (4.506 m)
Overall width	71.0 inches (1.803 m)	71.0 inches (1.803 m)	74.0 inches (1.880 m)
Overall height	46.7 inches (1.186 m)		46.7 inches (1.186 m)
Front tread	59.6 inches (1.514 m)	59.6 inches (1.514 m)	59.6 inches (1.514 m)
Rear tread	60.4 inches (1.534 m)	60.4 inches (1.534 m)	61.9 inches (1.572 m)
Front Tires	P275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT	P275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT	P275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT
Rear Tires	P275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT	P275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT	P315/35ZR-17 Goodyear Eagle GT
Steering	rack and pinion (power assisted)
Front suspension	Single fiberglass composite monoleaf transverse spring with unequal-length aluminum control arms and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension	Fully independent five-link system with transverse fiberglass single-leaf springs, aluminum upper/lower trailing links and strut-rod tie-rod assembly
Brakes	Four-wheel power disc
Body construction	Unibody with partial front frame
Fuel tank	20 US Gal (16.7 Imp Gal) (76 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO AC1	Power passenger seat	$270
RPO AC3	Power driver seat	$270
RPO AQ9	Leather sports seats	$1,050
RPO AR9	Base leather seats	$425
RPO B2K	Callaway Twin Turbo installed by Callaway Engineering	$26,895
RPO CC2	Auxiliary hardtop for convertible	$1,995
RPO C2L	Dual removable roof panels for coupe	$915
RPO 24S	Removable roof panels with blue tint for coupe	$615
RPO 64S	Removable roof panels with bronze tint for coupe	$615
RPO C68	Electronic air conditioning control	$180
RPO FX3	Electronic Selective Ride & Handling system	$1,695
RPO G92	Performance axle ratio 3.07:1	$22
RPO KOS	Engine block heater	$20
RPO KC4	Engine oil cooler	$110
RPO MN6	Six-speed manual transmission (no-cost option)
RPO NNS	California emissions requirements	$100
RPO UJ6	Low tire pressure warning indicator	$325
RPO UU8	Delco-Bose stereo system	$823
RPO UlF	Delco-Bose stereo system with compact disc changer	$1219
RPO V56	Luggage rack for convertible	$140
RPO ZS1	Performance 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

VIN Numbers

IDENTIFICATION

ENGINE

TRANSMISSION

CHASSIS

OPTIONS

HISTORICAL NOTES

PHOTOS

LITERATURE & LINKS