Franklin Mint 1993 40th Anniversary ZR-1 Corvette

[THarrison351]

1993 marked the fourth decade of America’s sports car with a very special commemorative edition- the 40th Anniversary Edition. This was an option package that was made available on all 1993 Corvette models, Coupe, Convertible, and ZR-1. All 40th Anniversary Edition Corvettes (and only 40th Anniversary Edition Corvettes) are Ruby Red from the inside out. With a unique deep-shining metallic, special 40th anniversary emblems, and stunning ruby red interior, these Corvettes truly are a celebration of Corvette history. Ever since it stormed onto the sports car stage in 1990, Corvette ZR-1 has been front and center, the ZR-1 made history. It put Corvette in league with the fastest Ferraris, Porsches, and Lamborghinis, and while doing so the US-born ZR1 maintained Corvette’s comfort and civility level. The ZR1 made more history in 1993, the LT5 V8, which is exclusive to ZR-1, jumps 30 horsepower to 405 at 5800 RPM, Torque is 385 lb-ft at 5200 RPM. Specifications of the 32-valve LT5 V8 are legendary; all-aluminum construction, four overhead camshafts, Multi-Port Fuel Injection with a 16-runner inlet manifold and two Multec injectors per cylinder. There is no distributor; ignition is via a four-coil “direct-fire” system. The result is totally uncompromised high performance. But the intriguing aspect of the LT5 engine is its ability to combine high-RPM power with a smooth, refined around-town attitude. A dual-mode induction system contains the secret of LT5 tractability. Within each cylinder, the intake ports, valves and cam lobes are divided into two groups, the primary and secondary. Below half-throttle, or 3000 RPM, the engine breathes through the primary ports only. So operation, in effect, is on three valves per cylinder. But the ZR-1’s full potential is unleashed when you put your foot down. The secondary port throttle valves open to permit fuel-air mixture to enter the secondary intake valves. At this point, the engine is running on all 16 injectors and all 32 valves. The secondary intake valves are actuated by cam lobes with more duration than the primaries, providing true variable valve timing, for both tractable low-speed and impressive high-speed characteristics in a single engine. (National Corvette Museum)

Franklin Mint created a nice model of this 40th Anniversary Corvette when it was released in 1995. I saw somewhere, pictures of the details of this car and was surprised it was one of Franklin Mint's Corvettes, because most of their efforts until the 2000s are pretty lame. Especially when compared to almost any Corvette from Danbury Mint. I also noticed they are really inexpensive if you can wait for bidding and good examples. This one came with everything and only needed a paint touch up on the fender and a light clean up. $25 plus shipping. I've seen cars by themselves in good condition go for around $20 or less plus shipping. Now this still isn't up to the Danbury Mint's 40th Anniversary Corvette in details, but that one was released in 2006, comes with an LT-1 instead of the LT-5, and there just seems to be something off on the front end slope. Anyways, here it is.

Pop-up headlights! Well, flip-over.

The Danbury mint shows you the removable top will fit under the hatch behind the seats. Franklin Mint doesn't mention it in their literature, but it does fit. They also painted the door panels correctly with the driver's armrest and controls being black. The orange buttons on the instrument panel are a little too much though.

 

My picture's not the best, but the 40th anniversary logo is in the center of the headrest.

Nicely rendered underhood detail

I always liked the look of the square taillights the ZR-1s came with and then eventually all C-4 Corvettes.

Simple, but nice chassis details.

So from what I can tell from Legacy Motors forums and Tony Perrone's comments, the Franklin Mint 40th Anniversary ZR-1 Corvette came with two type of wheels, painted and chrome. The early released were chrome and apparently they didn't look like the machined aluminum finish of the 1:1 car so they started painting them. I think the ones I have which are chrome, look more like the real thing than the painted ones, but that's JMHO. You can see they did a good job on that tiny logo in the wheel too!

I don't really like Corvettes, but somehow in the last year I've acquired four of them.

Edited September 30, 2020 by THarrison351

[randyc]

On 9/29/2020 at 9:04 PM, THarrison351 said:

I don't really like Corvettes, but somehow in the last year I've acquired four of them.

 

LOL.  Me too.  I have 7 or 8 diecasts now and a few plastics.   Sometimes ya just gotta....  even more interestingin my stuff is that I have no real interest in Firebirds and variations, yet I have 17 of them in various scales.   Where do they all come from???

[Motor City]

Tim,

That's a nice model!  Are all of those 1/24th scale?  Who made/makes the green L-88, the 2019 & 2020? 

 

[THarrison351]

The green 1968 L-88 is Danbury Mint which like all the mints is no longer in production. The 2019 and 2020 are MotorMax. I did topics on the '68 and 2019. I haven't done any mods on the 2020.

 

[Motor City]

thanks for the info, Tim!

[slusher]

Really sharp Corvette, Tim. Really nice photography....

[THarrison351]

Thanks Everyone! This is a really nice Corvette and if your patient, very inexpensive on eBay. Great bang for the buck.