1969 ZL-1 Previous Owner Story.....
10-04-2015, 08:12 PM
#41
Race Director
Here are pics from Bloomington Gold 2005. I was there early when they were taking a break from setting up. I sat in it. The keys were in it. The doors to the outside were open. I so wanted to steal it but the angel on one shoulder beat out the devil on the other.
10-04-2015, 11:07 PM
#42
Safety Car
I was one of the owner's of the ZL1 in Richmond, VA from June 73 to June 74. I also worked at Hechler Chevrolet in Richmond when the ZL 1 was sold and did set for a few months because "no car is worth more than $10,000" they said. The MSRP was a little over 10 grand and sold for around $7800 AS IS, yes, no warranty. And they were relieved to get it. John Zagos blew the engine the same weekend he bought it but the factory rep came to Richmond and agreed to replace the engine even though it was sold without a warranty. I can remember Zagos spending hours with the GM at Hechler bitching about the motor. I can tell you some tales about the car if anyone is interested.
What a great car, history and story. Would love to hear more stories.
10-04-2015, 11:20 PM
#43
More on the ZL1
Speaking of that I myself was petrified when I let a well known NASCAR driver try the car out in 1973 when the driver's came to Richmond. They stayed at the then Holiday Inn across from my Dad's garage. At any rate, Bobby Allison saw the car and came over to take a closer look. I asked him if he wanted to take it for a spin and he said sure. We jumped in and away we went. I only think we touched the ground twice, once when he floored it and the second time when he stopped! Man could he drive. I still remember that ride like it was yesterday. I ended up being an honorary pit crew member for that race. Great times.
I've attached an old pic so you can see what the car used to look like.
Ok, I seem to be a little long winded. I hope yall don't mind.
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mooncricket (10-05-2015)
10-05-2015, 08:39 AM
#44
10-05-2015, 01:05 PM
#45
Team Owner
The way the car is restored is not the way the car was sold. The side pipes on it now are stock Corvette side pipes from that year. The ZL1 had bright shiny chrome pipes. The wheels were not stock Corvette wells but bright chrome mag wheels. The car was deadly fast. I drove it before it was sold just to test it. (As a side note, I also test drove the first 454/450 horse Chevelle that arrived at Hechler Chev. It would turn 11's right outta the box.) When I owned the ZL1 the all aluminum engine was gone and so was Grandma's caprice 454 that the initial owner had installed. In it's place was a 427/435 engine. Way fast, but not the ZL1 engine. Aside from that the suspension on the car was unbelievable. It would take corners like you were driving a go cart. And the brakes, wow, they were twice the size of stock Corvette brakes and they could stop you as fast as the engine propelled you. You can ask any of my old friends that got a joy ride with me. Let's just say they were a little petrified.
Speaking of that I myself was petrified when I let a well known NASCAR driver try the car out in 1973 when the driver's came to Richmond. They stayed at the then Holiday Inn across from my Dad's garage. At any rate, Bobby Allison saw the car and came over to take a closer look. I asked him if he wanted to take it for a spin and he said sure. We jumped in and away we went. I only think we touched the ground twice, once when he floored it and the second time when he stopped! Man could he drive. I still remember that ride like it was yesterday. I ended up being an honorary pit crew member for that race. Great times.
I've attached an old pic so you can see what the car used to look like.
Ok, I seem to be a little long winded. I hope yall don't mind.
Speaking of that I myself was petrified when I let a well known NASCAR driver try the car out in 1973 when the driver's came to Richmond. They stayed at the then Holiday Inn across from my Dad's garage. At any rate, Bobby Allison saw the car and came over to take a closer look. I asked him if he wanted to take it for a spin and he said sure. We jumped in and away we went. I only think we touched the ground twice, once when he floored it and the second time when he stopped! Man could he drive. I still remember that ride like it was yesterday. I ended up being an honorary pit crew member for that race. Great times.
I've attached an old pic so you can see what the car used to look like.
Ok, I seem to be a little long winded. I hope yall don't mind.
10-06-2015, 12:39 AM
#46
Melting Slicks
10-06-2015, 08:23 AM
#47
I paid $3500 for the car and sold it a year later for $3400 and was so happy I did. The car was great looking and fast but not reliable. It was broke half the time I owned it. It overheated constantly, had electrical gremlins (it would cut off while you were driving it) and basically couldn't be trusted on the road.
10-07-2015, 10:26 AM
#50
Safety Car
The way the car is restored is not the way the car was sold. The side pipes on it now are stock Corvette side pipes from that year. The ZL1 had bright shiny chrome pipes. The wheels were not stock Corvette wells but bright chrome mag wheels. The car was deadly fast. I drove it before it was sold just to test it. (As a side note, I also test drove the first 454/450 horse Chevelle that arrived at Hechler Chev. It would turn 11's right outta the box.) When I owned the ZL1 the all aluminum engine was gone and so was Grandma's caprice 454 that the initial owner had installed. In it's place was a 427/435 engine. Way fast, but not the ZL1 engine. Aside from that the suspension on the car was unbelievable. It would take corners like you were driving a go cart. And the brakes, wow, they were twice the size of stock Corvette brakes and they could stop you as fast as the engine propelled you. You can ask any of my old friends that got a joy ride with me. Let's just say they were a little petrified.
Speaking of that I myself was petrified when I let a well known NASCAR driver try the car out in 1973 when the driver's came to Richmond. They stayed at the then Holiday Inn across from my Dad's garage. At any rate, Bobby Allison saw the car and came over to take a closer look. I asked him if he wanted to take it for a spin and he said sure. We jumped in and away we went. I only think we touched the ground twice, once when he floored it and the second time when he stopped! Man could he drive. I still remember that ride like it was yesterday. I ended up being an honorary pit crew member for that race. Great times.
I've attached an old pic so you can see what the car used to look like.
Ok, I seem to be a little long winded. I hope yall don't mind.
Speaking of that I myself was petrified when I let a well known NASCAR driver try the car out in 1973 when the driver's came to Richmond. They stayed at the then Holiday Inn across from my Dad's garage. At any rate, Bobby Allison saw the car and came over to take a closer look. I asked him if he wanted to take it for a spin and he said sure. We jumped in and away we went. I only think we touched the ground twice, once when he floored it and the second time when he stopped! Man could he drive. I still remember that ride like it was yesterday. I ended up being an honorary pit crew member for that race. Great times.
I've attached an old pic so you can see what the car used to look like.
Ok, I seem to be a little long winded. I hope yall don't mind.
10-07-2015, 03:55 PM
#51
Dr. Detroit
Member Since: Mar 2012
Location: New Braunfels Texas
Posts: 9,962
Received 3,891 Likes
on
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The way the car is restored is not the way the car was sold. The side pipes on it now are stock Corvette side pipes from that year. The ZL1 had bright shiny chrome pipes. The wheels were not stock Corvette wells but bright chrome mag wheels. The car was deadly fast. I drove it before it was sold just to test it. (As a side note, I also test drove the first 454/450 horse Chevelle that arrived at Hechler Chev. It would turn 11's right outta the box.) When I owned the ZL1 the all aluminum engine was gone and so was Grandma's caprice 454 that the initial owner had installed. In it's place was a 427/435 engine. Way fast, but not the ZL1 engine. Aside from that the suspension on the car was unbelievable. It would take corners like you were driving a go cart. And the brakes, wow, they were twice the size of stock Corvette brakes and they could stop you as fast as the engine propelled you. You can ask any of my old friends that got a joy ride with me. Let's just say they were a little petrified.
Speaking of that I myself was petrified when I let a well known NASCAR driver try the car out in 1973 when the driver's came to Richmond. They stayed at the then Holiday Inn across from my Dad's garage. At any rate, Bobby Allison saw the car and came over to take a closer look. I asked him if he wanted to take it for a spin and he said sure. We jumped in and away we went. I only think we touched the ground twice, once when he floored it and the second time when he stopped! Man could he drive. I still remember that ride like it was yesterday. I ended up being an honorary pit crew member for that race. Great times.
I've attached an old pic so you can see what the car used to look like.
Ok, I seem to be a little long winded. I hope yall don't mind.
Speaking of that I myself was petrified when I let a well known NASCAR driver try the car out in 1973 when the driver's came to Richmond. They stayed at the then Holiday Inn across from my Dad's garage. At any rate, Bobby Allison saw the car and came over to take a closer look. I asked him if he wanted to take it for a spin and he said sure. We jumped in and away we went. I only think we touched the ground twice, once when he floored it and the second time when he stopped! Man could he drive. I still remember that ride like it was yesterday. I ended up being an honorary pit crew member for that race. Great times.
I've attached an old pic so you can see what the car used to look like.
Ok, I seem to be a little long winded. I hope yall don't mind.
Jebby
10-19-2015, 07:05 PM
#52
Just thought I'd bring this up for anyone wanting to read a little more about the 69 ZL-1.There's an interesting article in the 1980 March issue of Vette Vues Magazine(vol 8,#9).The serial# was 29219,also tells about the diff between the l-88 and ZL-1 engine components(aside from aluminum and iron block,plus a little history and pics.It was written by W. Walker.It also has a pic of the order copy with options so you should be able to figure out the cost.It also shows on the order copy the hand written # which matches the serial #
