Third ZL-1 ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
According to Corvette Fever, yes, a third one exists. It's an automatic, red with black vinyl top, still dressed in Drag Race decals and the like. They did an article on the car within the last year and a half I beleive. I'll have to see if I can dig it up to tell you the exact issue.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 6
From: Nevada City California
Two for sure are verified with factory docs. Third is questionable. Factory paperwork indicates originally equipped as L-88. Some of Corvette crowd has accepted its provenance as real, others have not.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
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Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
Why is the white ZL-1 questionable? No supporting docs? I was under the impression that this car was legit.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
I read on NCRS earlier today that there might have been 8 ZL-1's and that most of them were changed to an L88 car before they left the factory and some bought from racers (where the documentatiion would have been thrown out the window).
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,473
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 6
From: Nevada City California
427-390,
The factory documents this car has, show it to have been built as a L-88. The dealership docs show it as a new car and ZL-1 engine and the price supports it.
There have been several indepth articles written about this car back in the late seventies, early eighties. A very interesting read.
The factory documents this car has, show it to have been built as a L-88. The dealership docs show it as a new car and ZL-1 engine and the price supports it.
There have been several indepth articles written about this car back in the late seventies, early eighties. A very interesting read.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 6
From: Nevada City California
A well known and respected NCRS judge once asked Zora about those cars. Zora replied, that he had signed the destruct order for those two test mules, however the look on Zora's face while he said it, gave the impression to the questioner that maybe there was more to it than what was said.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
From: Henrico VA
Originally 7 ZL-1 engines were sent from Tonawanda engine plant to Chevrolet engineering in Warren, MI. I believe the 2 test mules that Zora had, the white convertible and orange coupe that were used with various drivetrains and given to car magazines to test and write about the ZL-1 option had 2 of the 7 engines from engineering. The remaining 5 engines were sent back to Tonawanda.
A well known and respected NCRS judge once asked Zora about those cars. Zora replied, that he had signed the destruct order for those two test mules, however the look on Zora's face while he said it, gave the impression to the questioner that maybe there was more to it than what was said.
A well known and respected NCRS judge once asked Zora about those cars. Zora replied, that he had signed the destruct order for those two test mules, however the look on Zora's face while he said it, gave the impression to the questioner that maybe there was more to it than what was said.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,944
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Just curious. Why does anybody care? These things are just glorified paperweights, available only to the wealthy collector. You'll never see them on the road or track. Show me one that is actually out there wearing out tires and brake pads, and then you'll get my attention. Until then, WGAS?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally 7 ZL-1 engines were sent from Tonawanda engine plant to Chevrolet engineering in Warren, MI. I believe the 2 test mules that Zora had, the white convertible and orange coupe that were used with various drivetrains and given to car magazines to test and write about the ZL-1 option had 2 of the 7 engines from engineering. The remaining 5 engines were sent back to Tonawanda.
A well known and respected NCRS judge once asked Zora about those cars. Zora replied, that he had signed the destruct order for those two test mules, however the look on Zora's face while he said it, gave the impression to the questioner that maybe there was more to it than what was said.
A well known and respected NCRS judge once asked Zora about those cars. Zora replied, that he had signed the destruct order for those two test mules, however the look on Zora's face while he said it, gave the impression to the questioner that maybe there was more to it than what was said.
And there have been a lot of things that GM officially destroyed that later turned up unscathed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 6
From: Nevada City California
Those engines were supposedly returned to the Tonawanda engine facility. They were just part of the overall production of the ZL-1 engines. Fran Preve who worked at Tonawanda researched the number of coded ZL-1 engines produced there. I forgot the exact number, but thought it was approximately 161 engines coded either as manual or automatic.
