[VIDEO] 1991 ZR1 vs 1996 LT4: Which C4 Corvette is Faster and Better?

By
Keith Cornett
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[VIDEO] 1991 ZR1 vs 1996 LT4: Which C4 Corvette is Faster and Better?


While they don’t quite get the love they deserve these days, the C4 Corvettes were at one time the tip of GM’s technological spear. The cars were a certified hit when they first came out and they were so good on the track that the SCCA banned them from regular competition, eventually forcing Corvette owners to race themselves in the Corvette Challenge racing series.

During the 13-year model run, GM offered various enhancements and upgrades to the motors, and eventually we would see the 1990 Corvette ZR1 with its DOHC 32-valve LT5 motor designed by Lotus that offered 375 horsepower in its first three years of production before maxing out at 405 horsepower in 1993-1995.

After the ZR1’s production run was completed in 1995, GM would bring another special Corvette engine to market which appeared in the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport and was optional on the 1996 Collector’s Edition. This one-year-only powerplant featured 330 horsepower thanks to a variety of upgrades including new aluminum heads, a revised camshaft, and higher compression levels.

Brad Hansen owns a 1996 Collectors Edition with an LT4 V8 and we’ve featured his excellent videos on the C4 Corvette from his Retro Cars Forever channel on YouTube. Brad tells us that a friend had recently purchased a 1991 Corvette ZR1 and for the last year he has been filming the two cars in a series of real-world tests including acceleration, performance driving, curb appeal, and reliability.

Is the Corvette ZR1 the true King of the Hill or is the LT4 an underrated champ? Watch the comparision video below to find out!


Source:
Retro Cars Forever / YouTube

Related:
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4 COMMENTS

  1. I watched the video and liked it as I do all of Brad’s videos I’ve seen. However I would take a 96 Grand Sport Coupe over either one of these cars. I’ve always liked the Grand Sport look.

  2. He left a lot on the plate with the granny-shifting, even though I realize the Z wasn’t his car. I have a ’96 LT4 and previously owned a ’91 ZR1 (at the same time), run back-to-back with me and a couple of other drivers (family) swapping cars. The ’96 always gapped the Z from the start until around middle, top 3rd gear, then the Z walked away. Perfect example of torque vs horsepower. Hate I sold that ZR1…

  3. I have a 96 GS. Totally stock. I have auto crossed the GS and it is so compliant very neutral. i could steer with ether end. Once I ran again a dedicated C4 atou cross racer, and was not much slower. I believe the wheels and tires are larger than on the Silver Collector Addition. I think that might close the handling and Acceleration gap.

  4. I’ve owned a 64 coupe w/a ZZ430 motor rubbed on to make over 500 ponies and a Muncie, a 2003 ZO6 6 speed coupe and a 72 t top 4 speed with a 30 over 400 sb with AFR heads and lots of cam. Right now I drive a 19 Camaro SS manual trans dark gray in color, very incognito and faster than any of the Vettes. Maybe not as good looking but damn that thing hauls the groceries!

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