During the seminal years of the C4, the legend of the ZR-1 - later resurrected in 2009 - was born. In 1986, the Corvette team recruited Lotus to help them design the ultra-high performance edition of the Corvette that later became the ZR-1. Lotus designed or assisted in the design of the C4 Corvette parts that compromised the ZR-1 and gained it supercar status. They based the engine, the LT5, on the Corvette's then base engine the L98. Lotus also assisted in designing the ZR-1's FX3 active suspension system.

Eventually manufacturing of the LT5 engine was contracted to Mercury Marine in Stillwater, Oklahoma, due to GM's lack of a plant suitable to manufacture it. By 1989, the design and manufacturing process was sorted out, and the C4 ZR-1 was introduced at the Geneva Autoshow to an overwhelmingly positive.

Once the C4 ZR-1 was released to the public and put on the track, it began to set numerous records and win accolades - setting the stage for the re-release of the legendary ZR-1 moniker in 2009. For example, a 1989 ZR-1 was used to set a 24-hour speed record in 1990, while another was nicknamed the "Snake Skinner" for its ability to outperform the newly released Dodge Viper.

Fast-forward to 2009 and the "Blue Devil" program. It all supposedly started at a GM board meeting where Rick Wagoner (GM's CEO) was marveling at the accomplishments of Corvette's engineers and designers having built the Z06 for $60,000. He is quoted as saying, "I wonder what they can do for 100,000 dollars?" Thus began the development of the next generation ZR1.

In fact, the way the 2009 ZR1 was exposed to the public was similar to its predecessor: some spy photos released prematurely, a lot of rumors flying, and a lot of anticipation ... followed by the release of a car that surpassed everyone's expectations. However, the question of name was a very near thing - and widely debated for months prior to the car's release by the press and internet bloggers following the subject.

Prior to its release, many knew that the engine would be a forced-induction design, but the name the model would carry seemed to be in flux. There was speculation ranging from the Corvette SS to the Corvette Z07, but when the car finally debuted in January at the Detroit Auto Show it carried the ZR1 tag.

Sadly for collectors but adding to the legend, the C4 ZR-1 was only produced from 1990 to 1995 with a total production just short of 7,000 vehicles. For those looking to add some ZR-1 keys to their Corvette keychains, their scarcity makes a used ZR-1 a rare find - but also an important piece of Corvette history.