1990 Corvette – Vette-net

Although the C4 had already proven itself throughout the second half of the nineteen-eighties, there was no question that the Corvette would be transformed forever with the arrival of the 1990 model year.

In its entire history, there have been few model years that were so widely anticipated as the 1990 Corvette ZR-1. Although the ZR-1 had originally been slated for a midyear-1989 release, it had been delayed until the 1990 model year because of engineering and design refinements that prevented it from being ready prior to 1990.

Now, as Chevrolet moved into a new decade, it did so with the most technologically advanced, and one of the most powerful Corvettes of all time

Pricing: $31,979.00 (Coupe), $37,264.00 (Convertible)

Engine options: Base Model: 350CI 240/245 Horsepower, Tuned-Port Fuel Injected L98 V8 Engine. ZR-1: 350CI 375 Horsepower, LT5 V8 Engine

Transmission: 4-speed automatic (standard), 6-speed manual (optional)

Top speed: 175mph

Units Produced: 23,646

Available Colors: White, Steel Blue Metallic, Black, Turquoise Metallic, Competition Yellow, Dark Red Metallic, Quasar Blue Metallic, Bright Red, Polo Green Metallic, Charcoal Metallic

Highlights of the year:

Although the automotive world was focused on the arrival of the ZR-1, all Corvettes built in 1990 received some minor improvements. In an on-going effort to meet the first phase of the federal government’s “passive restraint” crash protection regulations, Chevrolet introduced a standard driver’s side airbag to its entire fleet, including the Corvette.

The L98 engine received a slight increase in power, boosting engine performance to 245 horsepower, thanks to the addition of an added air-intake speed density control system, a revised camshaft and an increased engine compression ratio.

A more efficient radiator was installed. It worked so well that there was no longer a need for the optional boost fan (RPO B24) which had been offered from 1986 to 1989

The interior of the Corvette received some minor improvements as well. A newly revised instrument display was introduced in the 1990 Corvette. The new display now combined a digital speedometer with an analog tachometer, fuel gauge, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, (and others).

An engine-oil monitor, which provided drivers with a display that calculated the useful oil life remaining and indicated when an oil change was necessary, was installed as part of the driver information center.

As CD technology was quickly replacing cassette tapes as the standard form of music media, Corvette offered a newly available Delco-Bose compact disc player audio system as an option in the 1990 model year. When ordered, the CD player included a special lock-out feature to discourage theft; in the event that the stereo was removed from a car, it would require a special code to be entered to reactivate it or the stereo head unit would remain inoperative.

Also new was a glove box on the passenger side dashboard. Lastly, the optional leather seats became available for all 1990 models.

Without question, the most significant change for 1990 was the introduction of an entirely new option (RPO ZR1) that would transform the Corvette line for all time. While the ZR-1 was not a separate model in the Corvette line, its introduction represented a return to the glory days of the Corvette, when such engineering legends as Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell were building Corvettes that could be optioned out for their drivability and performance

The LT5 came with a total of four camshafts, two per cylinder bank, one for each set of intake and exhaust valves. Valves were actuated directly from the lobes on the cams, and the intake cams featured distinct primary and secondary lobe profiles to match the valve operation of the staged induction system. Each bank’s pair of camshafts was driven by a steel duplex roller chain with a hydraulic tensioner. An ECM-governed fuel shutoff limited the engine to a maximum rpm of 7,200 rpms

Overall, sales of the Chevy Corvette dropped slightly in 1990, with a total sales of 23,646 units. Despite this decrease in sales, there was no question that Corvette had achieved an incredible success with the introduction of the ZR-1. Without question, “the King” had arrived.

Photos of the 1990 Corvette: