Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Hello all,

After 4 years without a ZR-1 during a brief soiree into the classic Mopar muscle department, I have decided to buy another ZR-1. I just can't go much longer without owning the definitive American muscle car from my generation. I have my eyes set on a couple of cars which are being sold for the same price however I cannot decide which way to go. They both appear to be very nice cars but they are very different from each other.

The first Z has fairly low millage (32K) and is bone stock and original. The car has been well taken care of and looks fantastic on the inside and out. I have ran through the ZR-1 Net Registry buyers guide checklist with the seller and everything appears to be checking out. The car has some service records, it's pizza box and both tops. The only problem with it is that it is boring. If I purchase the car, I going to end up porting the top end, chip, headers exhaust etc. My concern with this car is the money I'm going to end up spending to get it where I want performance wise, and believe it or not, it's millage. My previous ZR-1 had 8K on it when I sold it and I had numerous issues with dried out vacuum lines, gaskets, seals, and injectors from not the car not being driven prior to my buying it.

The second Z has higher millage (80K) but has already received all of the mods I would end up performing on the other car and much more. This Z has been meticulously maintained and looks as good cosmetically than the low millage car. This Z has all of it's service records and they indicate that some major cost inducing repairs have already been addressed such as: new clutch, injectors, water pump, speaker amps, CD player, and brakes. The car did have a blown head gasket at around 65k which was documented along with photos of the block, liners, pistons, heads, and valves to prove that no damage was done to the motor itself. The owner attributed the damage to a mechanic using the wrong anti-freeze and replaced both head gaskets at that time with Jerry's. My concern with this car is obviously the millage and longevity of the engine although slapping some much larger pistons in it would be the natural progression if things did go south.

So that's my conundrum. I look forward to, and appreciate any and all insight.

Best regards,

Obiwan:saluting:

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

You don't mention the MY of each of the cars, but based upon "pizza box" the first one is MY 90-91.

You mention that you would want to do some mods to the car that the second one already has. If you are unable to do these yourself, you are looking at $6-10K to do these mods.

Does the first car (stock) have the injectors changed? Again, if you can't do these repairs yourself you are looking at $$ for injectors and then when the plenum is off, coils, wires, vacuum lines, etc.

The second car may have a lot of the common C4 issues sorted out along with the common ZR-1 problems, plus it has the mods you want.

What is the color of each of these cars?

If you wanted a stock ZR-1 and the choice is these two, then car A, if you do want to mod a car and you can't do a lot of the work yourself, car B.

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I find it difficult on how to answer your question since you have already owned one and probably have a good knowledge and opinion on all the different years..

My feeling is that I would either get a later car to get the newer interior and the newest ZR-1 possible, or a high mileage deal for closer to $10-$12k. The car i have now was acquired with 27k mi on it and it hadn't hardly been driven in 4 years. The list of repairs and TLC was quite a bit more than I thought it would be, but it has been nice to be sporting a good daily drivable car that still has a near pristine interior. I would probably forgo that on another go around and get as cheap as one as reasonably possible.

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I bought a stock Z and spent $ modding it. If I had to to it again I would look for one that was well modded. These car are great in stock form but are soooo much better modded. The 500hp packages are so proven now that they are becoming the new starting point in performance. Buy the one that your gut tells you to. Just remember if you by stock and then get bit by the mod bug, your wallet is in for a world of hurt. Good luck & keep, us posted. :handshak:
I would love to buy that 95 black/red that is for sale now but my choice is a new garage or anothe Z.

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Once you start modding the car, you won't want to stop driving it. These things are tooooo much fun once you get over the 500hp mark. Sort of like "rapture of the deep" for you scuba guys. You just want to keep diving deeper. :cheers::dancing

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Some good questions already have been asked
(MY, color, etc)
I would forget the asking prices.
Come up with, based on what you're going to do to the car, an offering price
for each car.
Let each car owner know whats' up, that you will bid on one car then the other if it doesn't pan out.
Make your offer to each car the amount YOU think they are worth to YOU.
Of course if one is red and the other is not
the the choice would have to be red. :thumbsup:

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I agree with Dom, I have two and I drive the 500hp Aerobody more than the Ruby.
Does the second top and pizza box really matter?

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I have two spare painted tops and a spare 90 pizza box. I'm set for my next car.
Get the modded one


Edit: who did the mods

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Thanks for the replies so far. Both cars are 91s and both actually have dual tops and pizza boxes/owners kits. The lower millage car is a rare white with blue interior (strange combo but I like it) the higher millage modded car is also a rare turquoise with black interior. I LOVE turquoise, it could be because I'm a 70's baby that never missed an episode of Miami Vice. Let me be clear, I would not want that color on any of today's cars but I think that it is perfect on a car from that time period. I am still waiting to hear back from the seller of the white 32K car in reference to weather or not the injectors have been swapped out. That point will be moot anyway when I eventually pull the plenum and ih's off to port them. I have also been casually looking at the 93 40th in ruby from VA that is for sale here on the registry marketplace but it's a little more $ and is completely stock as well.

Obiwan:fahne:

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Does the turquoise car have Fikse's?

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

You know the one. Mikeg's old car, which was Jeff Bruntz's before that. I have loved the green monster since seeing it in Vette magazine.

Obiwan:saluting:

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Yes I do know that car. Has it been for sale since Mike traded for C6?

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Not the entire time. Apparently the same dealer/salesman Mike bought it from has had it in his possession since Mike traded it in on the C6. The dealer said that he planned on keeping it a while but I guess he decided to sell it within the last few months or so.

Obiwan:saluting:

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

On the way to the Gathering in BG 2010:

http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/v...Z/100_1920.jpg

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Dennis, your Atomic Z looks great!
I'm especially partial to the hi rise hood.
Congrats!

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Thanks Ted. The OP was asking about the turquoise car in the picture. MikeG's old car.

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I was in your exact position 2 months ago when I bought my Z. Stock or modded? And I went back and forth almost daily. I was looking at a '95 Dunn head car with 100k on the clock and bone stock or a '94 with 32k that was modded. I ended up buying the modded one that was massaged by Pete and I did it for one reason. The previous owner got to absorb the repair expense on the injectors, the coils, the fuel pumps, the secondaries...the list goes on and on. Not to mention the expense for powder coating, headers, exhaust....He spent a minimum of $10k and in the end may have gotten a little more for the car but I ended up the winner from a value perspective.

When I asked the same question 2 months ago the consensus was you're going to have to spend the money on the stock car when the injectors, coils, secondaries and fuel pumps go out. Save your money and buy the one that's already been done.

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Turq is a good color to have if you want to be different. Ask me how I know!

With the right wheels, Turq looks awesome.

There's really no wrong or right answer though. You'll enjoy whatever car you buy. Heck, it's a ZR-1!

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I agree!! That is one nice Z!!

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I would go with the modded car. As you state, the stock car is boring
especially compared to a modded car.

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

both sound great. If it were me, I would buy the lower mileage one. But seeing as how you want the mods, let the current owner take the hit on those and buy it already done.

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Still looks good!!!!
O-boy it feels good to be in Indiana!!
:cheers:

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I went through this last summer. I looked at two, a 30 k miles '94 with mods that originally cost about $9,000 and a 20k miles '95 bone stock. The 94 was priced about $5k more than the 95. Seemed reasonable as they were mods that I would do anyway. Before I had a chance to see it, it sold at the asking price. I think I intentionally dragged my feet on it because I really wanted a late production 95 anyway and I favored the Polo Green over the other car's color. But whoever got it got a great Z; it was a beauty and a known car locally. I am glad I got the 95, one of the last 40 produced and in very good shape. I will be doing the mods and a bit more, so I am definitely out more $$$$ and if I have to sell it I will probably lose at least half the value of the mods. But it will be exactly what I want with the mods done locally by Marc Haibeck. And I will have most if not all the original parts if someone someday wants to go back to stock. Whomever pries this out of my estate when I kick off will probably get a great bargain but for now I am happy. Substantially poorer, but with a ZR-1 permagrin. --Bob

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I will have either a 460hp red black 92 25K miles for sale in the next 3-6 months or a 91 White/Black 500-530hp 368 w/cams, coil overs, Billet shifter, and billet pedalsw/17K miles....

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I would disagree to the boring part of a stock vehicle, I would say your grin is not as big as a 500 hp car.

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I know you know the answer already ;)...so here is some positive reinforcement just so you can get on with your buying chores! Get the modded one! :-D

Now just in case you're really conflicted....I don't see how, but just in case. I never had a Z till I bought mine back in 04 when they weren't so reasonably priced. I bought a one owner, bone stock, no stories 7400 mile Virgin car in a color combo that I liked, black over grey. One of the Z brothers rode with me at Carlisle back in 06 or 07. We were getting the highway from Harrisburgh to go to the fair grounds.....know what he said after the acceleration up to highway speed was done? "I had forgot how slow stock Z's actually are."

:cheers:
Tom

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

I bought a '94 red/red on ebay with 16k in June 2010. I figure the original owner died, his kids took it to the dealer and traded it on new tahoe or something. the motor looked terrible - needed to be re-finished. The car ran terrible - I had owned a Viper in the interim after selling my first Z, so maybe that was part of it. So I sent it to Haibeck for top end job, refinishing & fix what I thought was secondaries not coming on. Oh, and had headers, magnaflow and 4.10 put in.
The car's awake now!!! And I have over $35K in it. There have been some killer deals with 90-91 modified (500 hp+) Zs on the net classified for mid to high twenties. So economically one of those would have been a better decision for me.
I think you need to look at the overall condition of the car to decide if it's the right one. and not buy it sight unseen like I did - although I'm happy with it now.

Hey Hil King Bob - that's funny you ended up with a green 95. You drove my green 91 - I don' t remember now if it was the museum grand opening in '93 or the last ZR-1 celebration in 95. I still like the green too.

Jack

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Hi Jack I remember that but not what event. I know that for the 95 last ZR-1 celebration I drove the Q Blue HIL KING in front of the parade with the red #448 and a white one for a Red, White and Blue leadoff from the plant to the museum. Had a video of that which I think I gave to Jim Voter with the car. I loved the QB HIL KING, but when my wife moved me into a 2 car garage I had to sell it (It went to a good home :-)). But I did always want a green/beige one and a late production 95 as well. So here I am again with a garage lift and a new license plate.---Bob

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Jack

Great story on your car! (Do you have 520hp?)

Love to see pictures of the outside and inside of your 1994!

I have haibecks paint work on my motor too!!!!

:cheers:

David

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

David,
Marc does nice work, doesn't he. I'll try attaching a couple of photos, not sure if this is going to work though.

Jack

Re: Which ZR-1 Do I Buy?
 

Obiwan, go back through the for sale section and look at the ad from 9-14-12 listing the immaculate 92 for sale. 19,000 miles, $28K. The black rose metaillic/gray interior is the most striking color combo - in my opinion. If I was in the market, that's the one I'd be jumping on.

Jack