Missing ZL-1?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
Missing ZL-1?
I just noticed this pic in Dr. Peter J. Gimenez's book "Corvette Racing Legends, The Story of the L-88 Option Package".
The caption reads, "24 Hours of Le Mans 1970 pre-race in the pits. Henri Greder took delivery of a brand new ZL-1 Corvette from Zora Arkus-Duntov only weeks before the race. The 1969 model still retained its factory yellow paint and vinyl covering on the bolt-on hard top. Greder would codrive this ZL-1 Corvette with Jean-Pierre Rouget"
This apparently is not just referring to a ZL-1 engine but a ZL-1 model car. How come we never hear about this car? Anybody know what became of it?
The caption reads, "24 Hours of Le Mans 1970 pre-race in the pits. Henri Greder took delivery of a brand new ZL-1 Corvette from Zora Arkus-Duntov only weeks before the race. The 1969 model still retained its factory yellow paint and vinyl covering on the bolt-on hard top. Greder would codrive this ZL-1 Corvette with Jean-Pierre Rouget"
This apparently is not just referring to a ZL-1 engine but a ZL-1 model car. How come we never hear about this car? Anybody know what became of it?
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
As far as the paint being original to the car, that would mean GM had installed those flares themselves at the factory.
If they did in fact do so, they did a very crappy job
I wasnt aware of factory installed flares.....
Anyone??
If they did in fact do so, they did a very crappy job
I wasnt aware of factory installed flares.....
Anyone??
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 24
From: Boston MA
I am willing to bet Zora, had a shop in Detroit, or St Louis where he had cars built...the factories still do it to this day. So I can belive that it is indeed a ZL1 delivered by Zora, but not built by Chevrolet.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
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From: Niles, MI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Confusion
THEY APPARENTLY HAD FENDER EXTENSIONS, #3958683/84. LOOKs LIKE THEY SCREWeD ON. (sorry for the caps)
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
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From: Boston MA
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Instructor
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From: michigantown IN.
194679s706401
That car is chassis # 194679s706401 owned and driven by Henri Greder himself in every single LeMans from 1970-75. The car had upgraded powerplants,but was a factory L-88 ,not a zl-1. The car competed @ LeMans in 1970 yellow #2, 1971 white w/ red upper #2, 1972 white w/blue upper #29 , 1973 white w/ red upper #30, 1974 and 75 the car was blue w/ white flares running #s 51 and #42 respectively. Greder was also involved in the campaigning of a very well known 1968 L-88 coupe. All of these paint combinations are avail. in 1:43 scale from Vitesse diecasts. I have a couple ,very well made.
I just noticed this pic in Dr. Peter J. Gimenez's book "Corvette Racing Legends, The Story of the L-88 Option Package".
The caption reads, "24 Hours of Le Mans 1970 pre-race in the pits. Henri Greder took delivery of a brand new ZL-1 Corvette from Zora Arkus-Duntov only weeks before the race. The 1969 model still retained its factory yellow paint and vinyl covering on the bolt-on hard top. Greder would codrive this ZL-1 Corvette with Jean-Pierre Rouget"
This apparently is not just referring to a ZL-1 engine but a ZL-1 model car. How come we never hear about this car? Anybody know what became of it?
The caption reads, "24 Hours of Le Mans 1970 pre-race in the pits. Henri Greder took delivery of a brand new ZL-1 Corvette from Zora Arkus-Duntov only weeks before the race. The 1969 model still retained its factory yellow paint and vinyl covering on the bolt-on hard top. Greder would codrive this ZL-1 Corvette with Jean-Pierre Rouget"
This apparently is not just referring to a ZL-1 engine but a ZL-1 model car. How come we never hear about this car? Anybody know what became of it?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
That car is chassis # 194679s706401 owned and driven by Henri Greder himself in every single LeMans from 1970-75. The car had upgraded powerplants,but was a factory L-88 ,not a zl-1. The car competed @ LeMans in 1970 yellow #2, 1971 white w/ red upper #2, 1972 white w/blue upper #29 , 1973 white w/ red upper #30, 1974 and 75 the car was blue w/ white flares running #s 51 and #42 respectively. Greder was also involved in the campaigning of a very well known 1968 L-88 coupe. All of these paint combinations are avail. in 1:43 scale from Vitesse diecasts. I have a couple ,very well made.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
Just an update. I spoke with Dr. Gimenez at Bloomington Gold. A heck of a nice guy. He said that Greder told him that he received the car from Zora with the ZL-1 installed. He (Dr. Gimenez) feels that Zora probably had the engine installed in an L-88 prior to shipping.
One interesting thing that Dr Gimenez noted was that the L-88s were faster than the Zl-1s. However Greenwood seemed to have pretty good luck with the Zl-1s once he ditched the BF Goodrich radials.
One interesting thing that Dr Gimenez noted was that the L-88s were faster than the Zl-1s. However Greenwood seemed to have pretty good luck with the Zl-1s once he ditched the BF Goodrich radials.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Anderson SC
I'm sure most of you know that GM is producing a limited amout (only 427) ZL-1 crate motors this year. I'll attach the link... sorry if it wraps.
http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/En...6392&engCat=bb
-W
http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/En...6392&engCat=bb
-W
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15
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FWIW, Someone once told me, that the L-88 block dissipated heat better than the ZL-1 and that gave it an edge in power output. Your thoughts?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,102
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From: Forsyth Illinois
Sorry to bounce in.
I'll contribute tho....I recently posted a beautiful Lemans blue 69 convertible w/REAL ZL1 from a Camaro.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,206
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From: Belmar NJ
The rest of the ZL-1's produced started as L88's and were converted, either by race teams or in ZAD's skunk works. Chevy made lots of ZL-1 motors, plenty made it into Camaros, Can Am cars and more were sold over the counter to road/drag/boat racers. /:\