How Mercury Marine Completed Every LT5 Corvette Engine

by Scott · Published November 16, 2025 · Updated February 21, 2026

November 16, 1993: Mercury Marine completes the construction of all LT5 engines for C4 Corvette ZR-1 cars

When the C4 ZR-1 came out in 1990, it was not a surprise. The ZR-1 was supposed to be an ’89 model, but the engine wasn’t fully developed yet. While a significant part of the rear portion of the car had dedicated, unique parts, styling went out of its way to make the “performance” C4 Corvette look like a regular Corvette. Surprisingly, no one held them to it!

The “OMG-moment” didn’t happen until you popped open the clamshell hood and gaze your eyes upon the Chevrolet/Lotus-engineered, Mercury Marine-built LT5 engine. A DOHC (double-overhead cam) engine was the stuff of seriously exotic European cars, Japanese racecars, and motorcycles.

The basic L98 Corvette engine had 250-HP, the ZR-1’s LT5 had 375-HP! To handle all the extra power, the ZR-1 had much wider-than-stock rear wheels and tires, such that the entire back of the car, from and including the doors, back, was all special-to-ZR-1-only parts

From 1989 to November 13, 1993, about 7250 engines were built

The ZR-1 option almost doubled the cost of the car, so not many were sold. Power was up to 405-HP in 1993, and the series ended with the 1995 model. When the C5 arrived, it was such an overall-improved car, no one was warm for a 2X-priced Corvette.

Get FREE Access to the Latest Posts

When the C5 2002 Z06 came out with the same horsepower rating as the hyper-expensive ZR-1, at a fraction of the cost, ZR-1 interest faded. However, that doesn’t change the fact that if you’re in the market for the baddest C4 Corvette with the most exotic bragging rights, the ZR-1 is for you! At the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction in September, a beautiful 1991 Callaway ZR-1 sold for just $28,000.

And check this out! A race-prepared, stock 1990 ZR-1 Shatters a 50 Year 24-Hour Speed Record with an average speed of 174.885 mph! – Scott