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Here's the story:
Illustrated Corvette Series No. 81 1990 Corvette
"In the Shadow of the ZR1"
The
introduction of the C4 '84 Corvette in the autumn of 1983 saved the
car's reputation as a true sports car. Every succeeding year, things
got just a little bit better, and the '90 Corvette was no exception.
Unfortunately, it stood in the shadow of the ZR-1.
Chevrolet had been stoking the Corvette fans since 1988 with the news
of the soon-to-arrive "Super Vette," the ZR-1. What seemed like
embarrassing delays only served to create a mountain of expectation for
the car. Consequently, the "regular" Corvette got as much attention as
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
The ZR-1 aside, Chevrolet had a great selection for Corvette buyers for
1990. To start off with, the car did not have another big price jump.
The new list price for the '90 Corvette was $31,979 up only $434 from
1989. The Z51 handling package was reduced by $115 to $434. On the
other end of the options scale, the ZR-1 cost an EXTRA $27,016! The
Callaway Twin-Turbo option cost $26,895!
Even though the ante for a super Corvette was as much as an 84-percent
premium over the stock version, Chevrolet public relations spin masters
were quick to point out that a nearly $60,000 Corvette was a bargain
compared to a Porsche or a Ferrari.
Like previous C4 Corvettes, the '90 model was peppered with small
improvements that all added up to a better sports car. Under the hood,
the fuel-injected L98 engine got another five horsepower as a result of
adjustments in the air- intake speed-density control system, increased
compression, a modified camshaft, and less restrictive exhausts. The
new sloped-back radiator design eliminated the need for a heavy-duty
radiator. Also, the radiator boost-fan was now standard. The 17-inch
wheels were lighter than the previous year and the selective ride,
andhandling package provided ride quality for everyone.
The interior received a new wraparound dash with analog gauges in front
of the driver and digital gauges in the center console. The new
steering wheel had the first generation airbag and the car now had a
real glovebox. It was also the first year for the new Bosch-Delco
200-watt CD player and the oil gauge now measured useful oil life.
The '90 Corvette with a six-speed transmission and the optional
handling package would have been the Corvette flagship were it not for
the ZR-1. This was a solid 150mph sports car with the bargain price in
the low-$30,000 range.
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