Born from Reeves Callaway's Le Mans ambitions, the LM put carbon fiber race bodywork on a C4 with a 435 hp SuperNatural 383, running 0-60 in 4.1 seconds and the quarter in 12.5.
C4 CORVETTE - 1994
The 1994 Corvette
A quiet year: the National Corvette Museum opened and GM confirmed the C5 for 1997. The car itself gained a passenger airbag and a two-spoke wheel, the 4L60-E electronic automatic, sequential injection, leather as standard with new seats, a glass convertible window, run-flat tires and two new colors.
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The Basics
Model & Gen: 1994 Corvette (C4)
Body Type: Two-door hatchback coupe with lift-off roof panel and two-door convertible, now with a glass rear window; ZR-1 coupe (RPO ZR1) on new five-spoke wheels
VIN: 1G1YY22P?R5100001 – 1G1YY22P?R5122882 (LT1 coupes 1G1YY22P…, convertibles 1G1YY32P…); ZR–1: 1G1YZ22J…R5800001 – 800448
Original Price: $36,185.00 coupe; $42,960.00 convertible; ZR-1 $67,443.00 ($31,258.00 package)
Colors: 10 solid colors including new Admiral Blue (1,584) and Copper Metallic (116); Torch Red the best-seller at 5,073
Engine: 350 ci LT1, 300 hp and 340 lb-ft, now with sequential fuel injection and a stronger ignition; or the ZR-1’s 405-hp LT5
Transmission: 4L60-E electronically controlled four-speed automatic standard on LT1 cars (new, with brake-shift interlock); ZF six-speed manual (MN6) at no cost, 6,012 cars, standard on the ZR-1
Units Produced: 23,330 (17,984 coupes, of which 448 ZR-1s, + 5,346 convertibles)
The Overview
The 1994 Corvette is remembered for what happened around it. On September 2, 1994, after years of fund-raising by Chevrolet and private contributors, the National Corvette Museum opened in Bowling Green across the road from the assembly plant, with some four thousand Corvettes in town and 118,000 visitors over the Labor Day weekend; Chevrolet put the 1959 Stingray racer, the Mako Shark II and other milestone cars there on permanent loan, and Zora Arkus-Duntov and Dave McLellan were both present. The same year General Motors confirmed that an all-new C5 was on schedule for 1997, which is why most of the Corvette team was already working on it and the C4 changed little. In August, twenty-five convertibles, twelve black and thirteen red, served as the official cars of the inaugural NASCAR Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, running hot laps and carrying drivers on the parade lap.
The changes were mostly under the skin. The LT1 kept its 300 hp and 340 lb-ft but moved to sequential fuel injection and a more powerful ignition for better throttle response, idle, drivability and cold starts; the automatic became the 4L60-E, the Corvette’s first electronically controlled transmission, with smoother, more consistent shifts and a brake-shift interlock that required a foot on the brake to leave Park. A passenger-side airbag arrived to meet the second phase of the federal passive-restraint rules, taking the glovebox with it (storage bins appeared in the door armrests) and bringing a simpler two-spoke steering wheel that many preferred less than the old four-spoke. Leather became standard, the seats were redesigned with lower bolsters and console-mounted controls including lumbar and bolster adjustment on the sport seats, the driver’s window gained one-touch express-down, instrument lighting went from white to tangerine, R-134a replaced R-12 in the air conditioning, and convertibles got a glass rear window with a defogger in place of the plastic one. Goodyear’s run-flat Extended Mobility tires (RPO WY5, $70) were offered for the first time, rated for 50 miles with no air and ordered with the low-tire-pressure warning (UJ6); 2,781 cars took them. The ZR-1 kept its 405 hp and got non-directional five-spoke wheels, which the base car could not have until the 1996 Grand Sport and Collector Edition. Two new colors, Admiral Blue and Copper Metallic, replaced Quasar Blue and Ruby Red; Copper went on only 116 cars because of supply problems and is the rarest C4 production color.
Production rose again, to 23,330 at $36,185 for the coupe and $42,960 for the convertible, with 448 ZR-1s at $67,443 and 887 Z07 coupes. Callaway’s SuperNatural LM qualified fastest in GT2 at Le Mans and led its class for six hours before running out of fuel, then won the GT class and finished second overall at the Vallelunga four-hour race; Guldstrand built the GS90. Chevrolet announced that 1995 would be the ZR-1’s last year, Mercury Marine having built enough LT5s for 448 cars a year through 1995, while Dave Hill and John Heinricy were already laying the ground for the special editions that would close out the C4 in 1996. Today the 1994 is a 1993 without the anniversary cars: the ZR-1s, with 405 hp and the five-spoke wheels, sit with the 1993 and 1995 cars at the top of the C4 market, the Copper cars are a footnote collectors seek out, and the standard coupes and convertibles, the most refined of the pre-1995 C4s, are priced with the 1992–93 cars.
The 1994 Corvette Story
For both owners and enthusiasts alike, 1994 was a significant year for the Chevy Corvette – not because of any significant changes to the car itself, but because of two key announcements made by Chevrolet. First, after years of planning and fund-raising on the part of both Chevrolet and private contributors, the Corvette Museum would finally open on September 2, 1994.
For the grand opening ceremonies, some four thousand Corvettes from nearly every state were present. Throughout the three days of opening festivities, 118,000 visitors would tour the museum. Chevrolet provided a number of significant Corvettes “on permanent loan” to the museum – including the 1959 Stingray racer and the Mako Shark II. Both Zora Arkus-Duntov and Dave McLellan were present for the event. Second, General Motors announced that an all-new C5 Corvette was on track for the 1997 model year.
In fact, much of the Corvette design team had been re-assigned to the C5 program and were already focused on testing the new model, which was why the C4 remained mostly unchanged for 1994.
That’s not to say that there weren’t any changes made in the 1994 model year. The LT1 engine gained a more powerful ignition system for shorter starting times, especially in cold weather. Additionally, a new sequential fuel injection system was introduced for better throttle response, idle quality, overall drivability and lower tailpipe emissions.
Matching the engine’s refinements was the Corvette’s first electronically controlled automatic transmission, the 4L60-E, which offered drivers smoother and more consistent shifting than the previous model’s all-mechanical four-speed. Additionally, a lockout switch was installed on the new automatic gearbox which required drivers to depress and hold the brake pedal before shifting out of “park”. This last addition was installed as a response to industry concerns regarding “unintended acceleration.” For its own part, the ZR-1 received a boost in performance to 405 horsepower (a fact which would eventually make the 1993–1995 ZR-1 Corvettes the most desirable and collectible of them all.)
Did you know? Twenty five Corvette convertibles were deemed “official cars” for the inaugural NASCAR Brickyard 400 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In all, twelve black and thirteen red Corvettes were produced for this historic occasion. All twenty-five of these Corvettes received a boost in horsepower, enabling them to be used to run “hot laps” at the Speedway. Additionally, these Corvettes were used for specific pre-race parade vehicles to transport NASCAR drivers around the track.
There were no cosmetic changes made to the exterior of the 1994 Corvette. The only visible difference that differentiated the 1994 Corvette from earlier years was the introduction of two new colors – Admiral Blue and Copper Metallic (although Copper Metallic was limited to only 116 cars due to limited availability).
For the ZR-1 Corvette, non-directional, five-spoke wheels were introduced and included as part of the RPO ZR1 package option. These wheels were not made available on the base model coupe or convertible (although the same five spoke wheel package would be offered on the Grand Sport and Collector Edition Corvettes in 1996.)
A significant, functional improvement was made to the tires on the 1994 Corvette. While the Corvette was already equipped with “Z-rated” tires, optional Goodyear “run-flat” tires were offered to consumers for the first time. These Goodyear Extended Mobility tires (RPO WY5) were developed with special bead construction that enabled them to be driven on with no air.
When ordering this option, consumers were also required to purchase the low pressure tire warning system option (RPO UJ6) because if the tire was to run deflated for a distance greater than 50 miles, damage to either the tire, the rim, or both could result. Goodyear rated the tires for 50 miles at up to 55 mph with no air.
The interior of the 1994 Corvette received virtually no upgrades either, although a few standard options were added including a passenger side airbag and knee bolster – both of which were introduced to help bring the Corvette into compliance with the second phase of the federal government’s passive-restraint requirements.
The passenger side airbag actually took the place of the dashboard glovebox and, as a result, stowage compartments were incorporated into each of the door mounted arm rests to compensate for this loss of storage.
Leather seats were also made standard and were available in both base and “sport” versions. Less restrictive bolsters were included to accommodate larger passengers and to facilitate easier entry and exit. The seat controls were moved from the front of the seats to the center console of the Corvette, and these controls allowed considerable control of the sports seats, including adjustable lumbar support and side bolster adjustments.
The most notable physical design change to the 1994 Corvette was the redesigned steering wheel. To most critics, the new design, which featured a simplified, two-spoke steering wheel, was actually considered a functional downgrade from its predecessor, which had featured spokes at the “10” and “2” positions in addition to the remaining two spokes which carried over into the 1994 design.
After a long absence from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a Callaway SuperNatural LM Corvette, prepared by Reeves Callaway, out-ran every competitor in the GT2 Class during qualifying. After running in first place for 6 hours, it would later run out of gas due to a fuel-consumption miscalculation. However, the Corvette would achieve a greater measure of success later that same year when it would outrun ten Porsche 911 racers and finish first in the GT class and second overall at a four-hour endurance race in Vallelunga, Italy.
There were other changes made to the interior as well. A one-touch “express down” driver’s side power window was added to the 1994 Corvette. Additionally, new dashboard instrumentation had been modified. The interior dashboard light colors were changed from white to tangerine. R-134a refrigerant replaced the ozone-depleting R-12 Freon. On the convertibles, the rear windows were now made out of glass instead of plastic and now included a standard rear-window defogger.
Production Volumes
Despite the limited number of cosmetic and mechanical changes, the sale of 1994 Corvettes actually rose to 23,330 units despite a modest price increase to $36,185. Even with the increase in Corvette sales, the ZR-1 Corvette sales continued to suffer with only 448 units sold in 1994. Given the year over year decline in ZR-1 sales, it was announced by General Motors that 1995 would be the last year for their “King of the Hill”.
A sufficient number of LT5 engines had been assembled by Mercury Marine to allow for the production of 448 Corvettes a year through the end of 1995 and it was only because of this fact that the ZR-1 continued production at all, especially given the overall lack of sales of the high end Corvette.
Still, even with the arrival of the C5 Corvette on the horizon, there were those within the Corvette design and engineering teams that were pushing for a unique, special edition Corvette to close out the C4’s thirteen year run. While these special edition Corvettes were still two years into the future, the foundation was already being laid within GM by key players – including Dave Hill, Chief Engineer since late 1992, and John Heinricy – to introduce a final iteration of the C4 Corvette to the world.
With many pitfalls still ahead of them, it seemed uncertain that anyone would embrace the idea, but through the insistence and determination of Heinricy throughout the remaining years of the C4’s production, the best was still to come.
The Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The 1994 Copper Metallic Corvette
1994 Chevrolet Corvette | Photo Credit: Bring A Trailer
Only 116 of the 23,330 1994 Corvettes were painted Copper Metallic, the rarest regular-production color of the C4 generation; the paint was in short supply and Chevrolet dropped it after one year. The same year the National Corvette Museum opened across the road from the plant, with four thousand Corvettes in town for the weekend.
DID YOU KNOW
Special & Limited Edition Models
The 405-hp ZR-1 has its own section below. Also here: Callaway’s SuperNatural LM, the Le Mans car and its street twin, and Guldstrand’s GS90.
1994 Callaway SuperNatural Corvette
With the twin-turbo B2K behind it, Callaway Cars built the SuperNatural: a naturally aspirated LT1 taken to 400–490 hp with Callaway’s own heads, cam, intake and exhaust, in a C4 wearing the carbon-fiber SuperNatural body with its deep nose, side skirts and tail. For 1994 Reeves Callaway took the car racing: the SuperNatural LM qualified fastest in GT2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and led its class for six hours before a fuel miscalculation ran it dry, then won the GT class and finished second overall at the Vallelunga four-hour race. The street LM, with the race car’s carbon body and SuperNatural engine, was built in single figures and is the rarest of the 1992–96 Callaways.
MORE: ALL 1994 CALLAWAY POSTS
1994 Corvette ZR-1
The second of the three 405-hp years, and the year the ZR-1 got its own look at last: non-directional five-spoke wheels, 17 x 9.5 front and 17 x 11 rear, that no other Corvette could have until 1996. Otherwise the car was the 1993’s, with the Lotus-designed LT5’s 405 hp and 385 lb-ft, the ZF six-speed, FX3, the 13-inch brakes and the 3-inch-wider tail, at $67,443 after the package price fell to $31,258. Chevrolet announced during the year that 1995 would be the last; 448 were built, as in 1993 and 1995. In 2026 the 1994 ZR-1s sold for $43,000 to $53,000 at auction, a step above the 375-hp 1990–92 cars.
MORE: ALL 1994 ZR-1 POSTS
Price & Options
Core Features & Factory Options
The 1994 coupe listed at $36,185.00 and the convertible at $42,960.00, up $1,590 and $1,765, the increases covering the passenger airbag, the 4L60-E, standard leather, the glass convertible window and R-134a air conditioning; 17,536 LT1 coupes and 5,346 convertibles were built. The ZR-1 package (RPO ZR1) fell to $31,258.00, so a 405-hp ZR-1 was $67,443, and 448 were built.
The Z07 Adjustable Suspension Package ($2,045.00) went into 887 coupes and FX3 ($1,695.00) into 4,570 cars in all; the ZF six-speed (RPO MN6) was free and went into 6,012 cars, 4,779 coupes and 1,233 convertibles; the 3.07:1 performance axle (G92, $50.00) into 9,019 automatics, nearly half; New York emissions (NG1, $100.00) onto 1,363 cars and California emissions (YF5, $100.00) onto 2,372.
With leather now standard, the only seat upgrade was the sport seat (RPO AQ9, $625.00, down from $1,100), which went into 9,023 cars; the power driver seat (AC3, $305.00) into 21,592 and the passenger seat (AC1, $305.00) into 17,863. The Bose CD system (U1F, $1,219.00) went into 17,579 cars, three in four, and the tire-pressure warning (UJ6, $325.00) into 5,097, 2,781 of them with the new run-flat Extended Mobility tires (WY5, $70.00) that required it. Coupe roof panels: blue-tinted glass (24S, $650.00) on 7,064, bronze (64S, $650.00) on 3,979, both panels (C2L, $950.00) on 3,875.
Convertibles: the hardtop (CC2, $1,995.00) on 682, and tops in black cloth (2,770), neutral beige cloth (1,471) and white vinyl (1,079). Chevrolet exported 513 cars to Canada, 79 to Japan, 50 to Germany and 31 to Switzerland. A typical LT1 coupe with sport seats, both power seats, the CD, a tinted roof and the performance axle came to about $39,000, a hardtop convertible about $46,000 and a ZR-1 about $68,000. The published color totals add up to 23,330 exactly.
MORE: PRICING, OPTIONS & COLORS / RPO CODES
| CODE | DESCRIPTION | QUANTITY | RETAIL PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1YY07 | Base Corvette Hatchback Coupe (300-hp LT1 with sequential injection, 4L60-E automatic, driver and passenger airbags, leather seats, passive keyless entry, ASR, ABS, VATS, staggered 17-inch wheels, lift-off roof panel, air conditioning with R-134a, power windows with express-down) | 17,984 | $36,185.00 |
| 1YY67 | Base Corvette Convertible (as coupe, with manual soft top and glass rear window with defogger) | 5,346 | $42,960.00 |
| 24S | Removable Transparent Roof Panel, blue tint (coupe) | 7,064 | $650.00 |
| 64S | Removable Transparent Roof Panel, bronze tint (coupe) | 3,979 | $650.00 |
| AC1 | Six-Way Power Passenger Seat (included with ZR1) | 17,863 | $305.00 |
| AC3 | Six-Way Power Driver Seat (included with ZR1) | 21,592 | $305.00 |
| AQ9 | Leather Sport Seats with adjustable lumbar and bolsters (base leather seats now standard; included with ZR1) | 9,023 | $625.00 |
| C2L | Dual Removable Roof Panels, body-color and tinted (coupe) | 3,875 | $950.00 |
| CC2 | Removable Hardtop (convertible) | 682 | $1,995.00 |
| FX3 | Selective Ride and Handling, electronic (included with ZR1 and Z07) | 4,570 | $1,695.00 |
| G92 | Performance Axle Ratio, 3.07:1 (automatic cars) | 9,019 | $50.00 |
| MN6 | ZF Six-Speed Manual Transmission with CAGS (standard on ZR1) | 6,012 | no charge |
| NG1 | New York Emission Requirements | 1,363 | $100.00 |
| U1F | Delco-Bose AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc (included with ZR1) | 17,579 | $1,219.00 |
| UJ6 | Low Tire Pressure Warning Indicator (required with WY5; included with ZR1) | 5,097 | $325.00 |
| WY5 | Goodyear Extended Mobility (run-flat) Tires, new (requires UJ6) | 2,781 | $70.00 |
| YF5 | California Emission Requirements | 2,372 | $100.00 |
| Z07 | Adjustable Suspension Package (coupe: heavy-duty springs, bushings and stabilizer bars, 13.0-inch rotors, heavy-duty cooling, 9.5-inch wheels with P275/40ZR17 front and rear, plus FX3) | 887 | $2,045.00 |
| ZR1 | Special Performance Package (coupe: 405-hp LT5, ZF six-speed, FX3, Z51-type suspension, 13-inch brakes, 3-inch-wider rear quarters, roof-mounted stop lamp, new five-spoke 17 x 9.5 front / 17 x 11 rear wheels, power leather sport seats, Bose CD, low-tire-pressure warning) | 448 | $31,258.00 |
| CODE | EXTERIOR | TOTAL | SOFT TOP | INTERIOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Torch Red | 5,073 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray, Torch Red |
| 41 | Black | 4,136 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray, Torch Red |
| 10 | Arctic White | 4,066 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray, Torch Red |
| 45 | Polo Green II Metallic | 3,534 | Beige, Black | Black, Light Beige |
| 28 | Admiral Blue (new) | 1,584 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray |
| 75 | Dark Red Metallic | 1,511 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray |
| 73 | Black Rose Metallic | 1,267 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray |
| 43 | Bright Aqua Metallic | 1,209 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray |
| 53 | Competition Yellow | 834 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray |
| 66 | Copper Metallic (new, one year only) | 116 | Beige, Black, White | Black, Light Beige, Light Gray |
Specifications & Performance
Engine & Transmission
The LT1 kept its 300 hp at 5,000 rpm and 340 lb-ft at 3,600 but changed how it was fed and fired: the batch-fire multiport injection of 1992–93 gave way to sequential fuel injection, one injector pulse per cylinder per cycle, for better throttle response, idle quality and emissions, and a higher-energy ignition shortened starting, especially in the cold; otherwise it was the 1993 engine, 10.5:1 with reverse-flow cooling, Optispark ignition, aluminum heads (now casting 10207643) and Mobil 1, with the engine codes ZWA (automatic) and ZWB (manual).
The 4L60-E replaced the hydraulically controlled 4L60: the same gearset (3.06, 1.63, 1.00, 0.70) but with shifts and converter lock-up commanded by the powertrain computer, which also allowed the brake-shift interlock; the standard axle stayed 2.59:1, with 3.07:1 as G92 and 3.45:1 behind the ZF six-speed (2.68, 1.80, 1.31, 1.00, 0.75, 0.50).
The LT5 in the ZR-1 carried over its 1993 upgrade at 405 hp at 5,800 rpm and 385 lb-ft at 5,200, 11.0:1, four-bolt mains, code ZWC, with the six-speed and a 3.45:1 Dana 44. Period tests put an LT1 six-speed coupe at 0–60 in about 5.3–5.6 seconds and the quarter mile in about 14.0 at 100 mph, with a top speed near 160; the ZR-1 ran 0–60 in 4.4–4.7, the quarter in 12.8–13.0 at 110–113 mph and 179 mph flat out.
The chassis was the 1993 car’s: forged-aluminum front arms and fiberglass monoleaf springs, the five-link rear, Bilstein gas shocks, 13.0:1 power rack-and-pinion, two-piston front calipers with Bosch ABS and ASR, 12.0-inch rotors on base cars and 13.0-inch on Z07 and ZR-1, FX3 optional on any car, and the Z07 package’s heavy-duty springs, bushings and bars with FX3 and 9.5-inch wheels on P275/40ZR17s all round.
Base cars kept the staggered 17 x 8.5-inch fronts on P255/45ZR17 Goodyear Eagle GS-Cs and 17 x 9.5-inch rears on P285/40ZR17s; the run-flat Extended Mobility versions (RPO WY5) used a stiffened sidewall and special bead to run 50 miles at up to 55 mph with no air, and because a flat was hard to feel they could only be ordered with the low-pressure warning system.
The ZR-1 moved to non-directional five-spoke wheels, 17 x 9.5 front and 17 x 11 rear, on P275/40 and P315/35ZR17s. The driver’s and the new passenger’s airbag sat in a redesigned two-spoke steering wheel and a dash that lost its glovebox; the seats were new, with lower bolsters for easier entry and console-mounted switches.
Wheelbase stayed at 96.2 inches and length at 178.5; curb weights were about 3,309 lb for the LT1 coupe, 3,360 for the convertible (now with a glass rear window) and 3,512 for the ZR-1.
MORE: FULL SPECIFICATIONS / ENGINE
| SPEC | 1994 CORVETTE |
|---|---|
| Engine, LT1 | 350 ci (5.7 L) Generation II small-block V-8, RPO LT1, VIN P: 4.00 x 3.48 in, aluminum heads (casting 10207643) on the 10125327 block, 10.5:1, reverse-flow cooling, Optispark ignition, new sequential fuel injection and higher-energy ignition, Mobil 1; 300 hp net @ 5,000 rpm, 340 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm; engine codes ZWA (automatic), ZWB (manual) |
| Engine, LT5 (RPO ZR1) | 5.7 L all-aluminum DOHC 32-valve V-8 by Lotus and Mercury Marine, 3.90 x 3.66 in, 11.0:1, four-bolt mains, sixteen-runner induction with valet lock-out, Mobil 1 required; 405 hp @ 5,800 rpm, 385 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm; block 10199001, heads 10174389/10174390; engine code ZWC; 7,100 rpm limit |
| Transmission | 4L60-E four-speed automatic with electronic shift and converter control and brake-shift interlock (new) standard on LT1 cars, ratios 3.06, 1.63, 1.00, 0.70; ZF S6-40 six-speed manual (RPO MN6, no charge, 6,012 cars) with CAGS, ratios 2.68, 1.80, 1.31, 1.00, 0.75, 0.50, standard on the ZR-1 |
| Axle ratio | 2.59:1 automatic, 3.07:1 with RPO G92 ($50.00, 9,019 cars), 3.45:1 with the six-speed and in the ZR-1’s heavy-duty Dana 44; limited-slip standard |
| Traction control | Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR) standard, switchable off |
| Suspension | Independent front with forged-aluminum control arms and transverse fiberglass monoleaf spring; independent five-link rear with fiberglass monoleaf spring; Delco-Bilstein gas shocks standard; FX3 Selective Ride Control (RPO FX3, $1,695.00, 4,570 cars incl. ZR-1 and Z07); Z07 Adjustable Suspension Package (RPO Z07, $2,045.00, 887 coupes): heavy-duty springs, bushings and bars, 13.0-in rotors, heavy-duty cooling, 9.5-in wheels all round, FX3 |
| Brakes | Four-wheel discs with Bosch ABS; two-piston front calipers; 12.0-in rotors on base cars, 13.0-in on Z07 and ZR-1 |
| Safety & security | Driver’s and new passenger’s airbags (VIN restraint code 2) in a new two-spoke wheel and glovebox-less dash; VATS resistor key; alarm; passive keyless entry; brake-shift interlock on the automatic |
| Steering | Rack-and-pinion with power assist, 13.0:1; tilt-telescopic column; new two-spoke airbag wheel |
| Body | 1991 facelift body: hatchback coupe with lift-off roof panel (blue-tinted glass RPO 24S or bronze 64S, $650.00; both panels RPO C2L, $950.00) and convertible with new glass rear window and defogger (hardtop RPO CC2, $1,995.00, 682); ZR-1 with wider rear quarters, roof-mounted stop lamp, fender badges and new five-spoke wheels; no exterior styling changes |
| Interior | Leather seats standard for the first time, redesigned with lower bolsters and console-mounted controls; leather sport seats with lumbar and bolster adjustment (RPO AQ9, $625.00, 9,023); power driver seat (RPO AC3, $305.00, 21,592) and passenger seat (AC1, $305.00, 17,863); door-armrest storage bins; express-down driver’s window; tangerine instrument lighting; R-134a air conditioning; Delco-Bose CD (RPO U1F, $1,219.00, 17,579); low-tire-pressure warning (RPO UJ6, $325.00, 5,097) |
| Wheels & tires | Base: 17 x 8.5-in front and 17 x 9.5-in rear alloys with Goodyear Eagle GS-C P255/45ZR17 front and P285/40ZR17 rear; Extended Mobility run-flat versions (RPO WY5, $70.00, 2,781 cars, requires UJ6), 50 miles at 55 mph with no air. Z07: 17 x 9.5-in with P275/40ZR17 all round. ZR-1: new non-directional five-spoke 17 x 9.5-in front and 17 x 11-in rear with P275/40ZR17 and P315/35ZR17 |
| Fuel tank | 20 gal; premium unleaded recommended |
| Wheelbase | 96.2 in |
| Overall length / width / height | 178.5 in / 70.7 in / 46.3 in coupe, 47.3 in convertible; ZR-1 73.1 in wide |
| Track, front / rear | 57.7 in / 59.1 in (LT1); 56.7 in / 60.6 in (ZR-1) |
| Curb weight | approx. 3,309 lb LT1 coupe; 3,360 lb convertible; 3,512 lb ZR-1 |
| Cargo volume | 12.6 cu ft coupe; 6.6 cu ft convertible |
| 0–60 mph | LT1: about 5.3–5.6 sec (period tests, six-speed); ZR-1: 4.4–4.7 sec |
| Quarter mile | LT1: about 14.0 sec @ 100 mph; ZR-1: 12.8–13.0 sec @ 110–113 mph |
| Top speed | LT1: about 160 mph; ZR-1: 179 mph |
| Fuel economy (EPA) | LT1 17/24 mpg; ZR-1 17/25 mpg |
| Production | 23,330: 17,984 coupes (448 ZR-1) and 5,346 convertibles; 513 to Canada, 79 to Japan, 50 to Germany, 31 to Switzerland |
| Assembly | Bowling Green, Kentucky; LT5 engines from Mercury Marine, Stillwater, Oklahoma; National Corvette Museum opened across the road September 2, 1994 |
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
23,330 (17,984 coupes, of which 448 ZR-1s, + 5,346 convertibles) Cars, 1G1YY22P?R5100001 TO 1G1YY22P?R5122882 (LT1 coupes 1G1YY22P…, convertibles 1G1YY32P…); ZRTO1: 1G1YZ22J…R5800001 TO 800448
The 1994 Corvette carries two VIN series: 1G1YY22P?R5 for the LT1 coupe and 1G1YY32P?R5 for the convertible, with one sequence from 100001 to 122882 for the 22,882 LT1 cars, and 1G1YZ22J?R5 for the ZR-1, with its own sequence from 800001 to 800448 for the 448 ZR-1s. The 1 is the United States, G General Motors, 1 Chevrolet, Y (fourth) the Corvette car line, Y (fifth) the base series or Z the ZR-1, 2 (sixth) the hatchback coupe or 3 the convertible, 2 (seventh) the new restraint code for manual belts with driver and passenger airbags (1990–93 cars carry a 3), P (eighth) the LT1 or J the LT5, the ninth character a check digit that varies with the car, R the 1994 model year and 5 the Bowling Green plant. The seventh-position 2 is the quickest way to tell a 1994–96 C4 from a 1990–93 one.
The LT1’s engine pad carries the plant prefix, build date and a suffix of ZWA (automatic) or ZWB (manual) on a 10125327 block with 10207643 heads; the LT5 carries ZWC, Mercury Marine’s build plate and the partial VIN on a 10199001 block with 10174389/10174390 (or 10225121) heads. A 1994 ZR-1 is identified by the Z in the fifth position, the J in the eighth, the 800001-series sequence, the wide quarters, roof-mounted stop lamp, fender badges, valet key and, new for 1994, the five-spoke wheels. Z07, FX3, WY5 run-flats and the Copper Metallic paint (code 66) all show on the build sheet; the trim tag on the door pillar shows the paint code and the leather trim code (193 black, 643 light beige, 143 light gray, 703 Torch Red).
MORE: VIN DECODER / PRODUCTION
| POSITION | MEANING |
|---|---|
| 1G1 (First through Third) | Country, maker, make: 1 = built in the USA, G = General Motors, 1 = Chevrolet |
| Y (Fourth) | Car line: Y = Corvette |
| Y or Z (Fifth) | Series: Y = Corvette (LT1); Z = ZR-1 |
| 2 or 3 (Sixth) | Body: 2 = two-door hatchback coupe (all ZR-1s); 3 = two-door convertible |
| 2 (Seventh) | Restraint system: 2 = manual belts with driver’s and passenger’s airbags (new; 1990–93 = 3, driver’s airbag only) |
| P or J (Eighth) | Engine: P = 350 LT1, 300 hp, sequential injection; J = 5.7 L LT5 DOHC 32-valve, 405 hp (ZR-1) |
| x (Ninth) | Check digit, calculated from the other sixteen characters |
| R (Tenth) | Model year: R = 1994 |
| 5 (Eleventh) | Assembly plant: 5 = Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| 100001–122882 / 800001–800448 (Twelfth through Seventeenth) | Production sequence number: LT1 coupes and convertibles from 100001 (22,882 cars); ZR-1s in their own series from 800001 (448 cars) |
Pictures, Videos, Wallpapers & Galleries
Ten colors: Torch Red (5,073), Black (4,136), Arctic White (4,066), Polo Green II (3,534), new Admiral Blue (1,584), Dark Red (1,511), Black Rose (1,267), Bright Aqua (1,209), Competition Yellow (834) and new Copper Metallic (116). Convertible tops in black cloth (2,770), neutral beige cloth (1,471) and white vinyl (1,079); interiors in Black, Light Beige, Light Gray and Torch Red leather, with leather standard for the first time.
Market & Buying Guide
For Sale & What They Bring
The 1994 market has two tiers. The 448 ZR-1s trade with the 1993 and 1995 cars as the 405-hp ZR-1s, a clear step above the 1990–92 cars, with the five-spoke wheels a visual bonus; low mileage and LT5 service history set the price. Below them, the standard 1994 is one of the better C4 buys: the sequential-injection LT1, the 4L60-E, the passenger airbag, standard leather, the glass convertible window and the run-flat option make it more refined than a 1992–93 at the same money, and it lacks only the 1995’s larger brakes and the 1996’s LT4 and special editions. Six-speed coupes, Z07 cars, Admiral Blue and the 116 Copper Metallic cars draw the most interest; Copper is the one color a collector will pay for. Callaway SuperNatural LMs and the Guldstrand GS90 trade on documentation and rarely.
Results tracked by Classic.com from April through October 2026: ZR-1s sold for $49,500 (14,000 miles, Mecum Indianapolis, May), $53,000 (23,000 miles, modified, Bring a Trailer, June) and $43,000 (9,000 miles, Bring a Trailer, July), and a 4,000-mile car was bid to $43,000 on Bring a Trailer in August without selling. Standard cars sold for $45,000 (a 14,000-mile car at GAA in July), $16,250 (21,000 miles, six-speed, Bring a Trailer), $14,250 (45,000 miles, Bring a Trailer), $12,500 (48,000 miles, six-speed, Bring a Trailer), $11,000 (40,000 miles, Bring a Trailer), $10,450 (88,000 miles, Mecum Harrisburg), $10,250 and $8,750 (67,000 and 150,000 miles, Hagerty), $7,150 (51,000 miles, Mecum Indianapolis) and $10,251 for a 152,000-mile custom car, while 38,000- and 57,000-mile cars were bid to $8,700 and $5,300 and not sold. Dealers’ asking prices in autumn 2026 ran from $7,999 for a 137,000-mile car to $23,900 for a 6,000-mile automatic and $59,999 for a 144-mile coupe, with an 8,000-mile six-speed last listed at $32,000, a 1,000-mile car at $35,790 and convertibles at $15,300 (45,000 miles) and $18,990 (40,000). Check whether a result includes the buyer’s premium (Mecum and GAA results do, Bring a Trailer bids do not), and treat asking prices and unsold high bids separately from completed sales.
Verification: every 1994 should have the seventh-position 2 in the VIN and both airbags, the two-spoke wheel, the console-mounted seat switches, leather seats and, on convertibles, the glass rear window with defogger; a Copper Metallic car needs code 66 on the trim tag and the build sheet, since the color is easy to approximate. A ZR-1 needs the Z and J in the VIN, the 800001-series sequence, the wide body and roof lamp, the five-spoke wheels (the 1990–93 directional wheels on a 1994 mean a swap), the LT5’s Mercury Marine plate and its service history. Run-flat cars should still have the tire-pressure sensors and warning working, since the EMT tires are no longer made and most cars now run conventional tires with the system disconnected.
The inspection list is the 1993 car’s plus the new electronics. The Optispark distributor remains the LT1’s weak point until the vented 1995 unit, the intake and water-pump gaskets leak, and the 4L60-E’s early units have known 3-4 clutch and valve-body wear; the LT5 needs its specialist. Passive keyless entry modules and fobs fail and are expensive, the 1990–96 digital speedometer and the tangerine instrument lighting go dim or dark, airbag warning lights and the new SIR module are a 1994-specific headache, VATS keys and decoders wear, ABS and ASR sensors and the pump are expensive, FX3 shocks fail electrically, the ZF’s CAGS solenoid and shifter bushings wear, headlight motors strip their gears, the power antenna snaps, and the uniframe rusts under the battery tray and at the rear kick-ups. The new seats’ console switches and lumbar bladders fail, and the leather bolsters wear through. Convertibles add top fabric and pads, the glass-window defogger grid and leaks at the rear corners.
MORE: THE MARKET
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FAQs
How many 1994 Corvettes were built?
Chevrolet built 23,330 Corvettes for 1994 at Bowling Green, Kentucky: 17,984 hatchback coupes, of which 448 carried the ZR-1 package, and 5,346 convertibles, the most since 1990. Of the cars, 21,592 had the power driver seat, 17,579 the Bose CD system, 9,023 leather sport seats, 9,019 the 3.07 performance axle, 6,012 the ZF six-speed, 5,097 the low-tire-pressure warning, 4,570 FX3, 2,781 the new run-flat tires and 887 the Z07 package. Only 116 were painted Copper Metallic.
How much is a 1994 Corvette worth today?
Between April and October 2026, 1994 ZR-1s sold at auction for $43,000 to $53,000 (9,000–23,000 miles), and standard 1994s for $7,150 to $16,250 for 21,000–150,000-mile cars, with a 14,000-mile car bringing $45,000 at GAA. Dealers were asking $7,999 to $23,900 for ordinary cars, $32,000 to $35,790 for 1,000–8,000-mile cars and $59,999 for a 144-mile coupe in autumn 2026. Mileage, a six-speed and, on a ZR-1, LT5 service history decide the price; Copper Metallic (116 cars) carries a premium.
What engine did the 1994 Corvette have?
The LT1 350, 300 hp at 5,000 rpm and 340 lb-ft at 3,600, now with sequential fuel injection and a higher-energy ignition for better response, idle and cold starting, with the new electronically controlled 4L60-E four-speed automatic or the no-cost ZF six-speed. The ZR-1’s LT5 stayed at 405 hp at 5,800 rpm and 385 lb-ft at 5,200, six-speed only. Period tests put the LT1 at 0–60 in about 5.3–5.6 seconds and the ZR-1 at 4.4–4.7.
What colors did the 1994 Corvette come in?
Ten colors: Torch Red (5,073), Black (4,136), Arctic White (4,066), Polo Green II Metallic (3,534), new Admiral Blue (1,584), Dark Red Metallic (1,511), Black Rose Metallic (1,267), Bright Aqua Metallic (1,209), Competition Yellow (834) and new Copper Metallic (116, one year only); the totals add up to 23,330 exactly. Convertible tops came in black cloth (2,770), neutral beige cloth (1,471) and white vinyl (1,079); interiors in Black, Light Beige, Light Gray and Torch Red leather, leather being standard for the first time.
How much did the 1994 Corvette cost when new?
The coupe was $36,185.00, the convertible $42,960.00 and the ZR-1, as a $31,258.00 package on the coupe, $67,443.00. Leather sport seats were $625.00 (base leather was now standard), each power seat $305.00, the Bose CD system $1,219.00, FX3 $1,695.00, the Z07 package $2,045.00, the convertible hardtop $1,995.00, a tinted roof panel $650.00, the run-flat tires $70.00 with the $325.00 tire-pressure warning, and the performance axle $50.00; the ZF six-speed was free. A well-equipped coupe came to about $39,000, a hardtop convertible about $46,000 and a ZR-1 about $68,000.
What changed on the 1994 Corvette?
A passenger airbag and a two-spoke steering wheel, with the glovebox giving way to door-armrest bins; the 4L60-E electronically controlled automatic with brake-shift interlock; sequential fuel injection and a stronger ignition on the LT1; leather seats standard, redesigned with lower bolsters and console controls; a glass rear window with defogger on convertibles; one-touch express-down driver’s window; R-134a air conditioning; tangerine instrument lighting; optional Goodyear run-flat Extended Mobility tires; new five-spoke wheels on the ZR-1; and Admiral Blue and Copper Metallic replacing Quasar Blue and Ruby Red.
What were the 1994 Brickyard 400 Corvettes?
Twenty-five 1994 convertibles, twelve black and thirteen red, served as the official cars of the inaugural NASCAR Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 6, 1994, running hot laps for guests and carrying the drivers on the pre-race parade lap; they were given extra power for the duty. They were not a regular-production option and are documented through Chevrolet and Speedway records rather than an RPO, so any car offered as one needs its paperwork.
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