Rare Black Rose Corvette ZR-1 preserved with help from SKYCTC student

Bowling Green, Ky. – The National Corvette Museum has completed the preservation of an exceptionally rare 1993 Corvette ZR-1 finished in Black Rose, one of only 11 Corvettes ever produced in this exact configuration. Central to the project was the work of Summer Votaw, a student at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, who served as an intern in the museum’s Vehicle Maintenance and Preservation Department.

The Black Rose ZR-1 represents a unique blend of performance and rarity. As the top performance model of the C4 generation, the ZR-1 was powered by the 405-horsepower LT5 engine and produced in limited numbers. Even more distinctive is its factory Black Rose paint (Chevrolet RPO code GGA), a deep metallic purple offered only briefly between 1992 and 1994. Of the thousands of Corvettes painted Black Rose, just 11 fourth-generation models were equipped with the ZR-1 performance package.

Preserving a vehicle of this caliber required meticulous attention to detail. Votaw spent more than a month preparing the car for refinishing, including disassembly, hand-sanding, and extensive fiberglass and bodywork—critical steps for achieving a flawless finish in such a dark, unforgiving color.

“It means a lot to me, especially being this young and still in school for my profession, to get hands-on experience with a car like this,” Votaw said. “Working on the ZR-1 was eye-opening, particularly the fiberglass and bodywork involved. It’s been an incredible learning opportunity.”

In addition to the paint restoration, the museum’s preservation team conducted a comprehensive mechanical refresh. Work included replacing the fuel pumps, clutch, and the entire brake system to ensure the ZR-1 performs as impressively as it looks, meeting the museum’s high standards for both display and drivability.

Museum officials say the project highlights not only the importance of preserving rare automotive history, but also the value of providing real-world learning experiences for students like Votaw.

“This is exactly the kind of opportunity we strive to provide—where education, craftsmanship, and history come together,” museum staff noted.

Now on display, the 1993 Black Rose Corvette ZR-1 stands as both a rare artifact of Corvette history and a testament to the skill, dedication, and emerging talent of the next generation of automotive professionals.