My name is Luis Flores. I am retired and now live in Buckeye, Arizona. I am originally from New Jersey. Ever since I was about 9 years old and watched the TV program Route 66, I wanted a corvette. I watched the show just to see that cool car. When I turned 40 years old, I bought my first corvette, a 1986 C4. It was super clean and had custom wheels. It only needed new weather stripping. The day I picked it up, I told my wife Ann, what I really want is a ZR-1. She looked at me and said, “Really, you just got this one! But I told her wait till you see one then you’ll know what I am talking about. It’s a totally different car.
In 2000, on one of our Saturday drives, we went to the dealership where I bought the 1986 Vette. This dealership sold only muscle cars and sports cars. I was speaking to the salesman who sold me the 1986 while walking around looking at the cars. My wife then says, “Oh that’s cute it says ”King of the Hill” on the windshield. My heart jumped and the salesman said, “Yes it is Lou”. I looked at the back and there was the ZR-1 badge, the Vin number had the Z code and the car had all the distinctive features of a ZR-1. It was black on black with the 5 spoke chrome ZR-1 wheels just as I always wanted.
At that time, I had just finished paying off every car I owned. Finally, I had no more car payments. I had left the showroom and on the way home, my wife Ann, and I talked about it in the car. I guess she knew how disappointed I really felt to walk away from my dream car.
Unknown to me, Monday morning she called the salesman and bought the car. She called me at work and said “Congratulations, you are the proud father of a 1990 ZR-1. She said, I hope you don’t mind but I traded in your 1986 I know you really want the ZR-1. As a Christmas present, she gave me the bill of sale in a shirt box.
Since then, I have replaced the fuel injectors and coil packs. Replaced all the Bilstein shocks and rebuilt all actuators. I upgraded the tires to Goodyear Eagle F1s. It has drilled and slotted brake rotors, new pads and brake covers. It has a complete Corsa Exhaust system with black chrome tips. The upper lower control arms are polished to the point that people think they are chrome. Even though the exterior paint was in good condition, the original black paint now has a real show car shine. My 1990 ZR-1 has won countless trophies from New Jersey, Arizona, and California. Even a Best in Show in Arizona! I am so proud to own this special car. It’s a dream come true and it’s a thrill to drive it every time. I call the car Loo Ann because we always shared a love of cars and my wife Ann made
my dream car a reality.
– Louis & Ann Flores
