ZL1 Red test coupe
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: cambridgeshire
ZL1 Red test coupe
OK before any poeple say "same old ,same old"
has it ever been found ?
what was the build month?
and finally did it really get crushed? or could it have slipped out of the gate on a back door sale??
please no ranting at me as this is a old sudject has some importance to me??????????????
mick
has it ever been found ?
what was the build month?
and finally did it really get crushed? or could it have slipped out of the gate on a back door sale??
please no ranting at me as this is a old sudject has some importance to me??????????????
mick
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Honestly, why does anybody care? The two or three examples out there are just trailer queens traded about by guys with tons of money and probably questionable driving talent. Most any member of this forum has a Corvette that will do a faster lap time than those ZL1s do because you'll never see one out on a track having fun with any of us.
Really, I just don't understand what the interest in those cars is all about.
Really, I just don't understand what the interest in those cars is all about.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
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From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
From an older corvette forum post:
Here is what Hib Halverson wrote about the ZL1:
Quote
In the summer of 1968, the press sampled two special, ’69 ZL1s.
The first was a partially-gutted, 3000lb, white convertible fitted with the optional hardtop and set up by Chief Engineer, the late Zora Duntov, himself with road racing suspension, open headers and race tires–hardly production trim. It ran the quarter in 12.1 at 115mph.
The second was red coupe built for drag racing by development engineer Gib Hufstader (who today, though semi-retired, still consults to GM Racing) with a 4.88:1 rear end, open headers, a race-prepared Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic and 9-in. slicks–again, hardly production equipment. That car usually ran low 11s and dipped into the 10.9s at 132mph when launched with a neutral start.
I was unable to find tests of one of the three production ZL1s sold but tests of stock 1969s with L88 engines (116 of these were built with an iron-block, aluminum-head 427 about 15hp shy of the ZL1) ran low-13s. Figure 15 more horses and 100 less pounds worth of ZL1 might have gotten you a 12.9. Close Quote
Quote
In the summer of 1968, the press sampled two special, ’69 ZL1s.
The first was a partially-gutted, 3000lb, white convertible fitted with the optional hardtop and set up by Chief Engineer, the late Zora Duntov, himself with road racing suspension, open headers and race tires–hardly production trim. It ran the quarter in 12.1 at 115mph.
The second was red coupe built for drag racing by development engineer Gib Hufstader (who today, though semi-retired, still consults to GM Racing) with a 4.88:1 rear end, open headers, a race-prepared Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic and 9-in. slicks–again, hardly production equipment. That car usually ran low 11s and dipped into the 10.9s at 132mph when launched with a neutral start.
I was unable to find tests of one of the three production ZL1s sold but tests of stock 1969s with L88 engines (116 of these were built with an iron-block, aluminum-head 427 about 15hp shy of the ZL1) ran low-13s. Figure 15 more horses and 100 less pounds worth of ZL1 might have gotten you a 12.9. Close Quote
Last edited by LeMans Pete; Feb 18, 2013 at 09:16 AM.
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From: Southbound
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I had a hunch that might be the one. The year previously, it had shown up at the long lead press review with an L-88. Based on what I've read, with the ZL-1, this car was parked behind a building at the Proving Grounds, remained there for a while, then disappeared.
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From: cambridgeshire
The interest from myself came from the fact of an old time racer used the ZL1 in his race
and this was circa 71/2/3,what was wondering of the roughly build month on this coupe????
Now before any body says they could be brought over the counter yes it my have and then installed in the 69 that came to the UK BUT stranger things may have happened? will update when i go and see coupe this week.
Who knows it could be another L88 heheheheheheh made up to a ZL1.
and this was circa 71/2/3,what was wondering of the roughly build month on this coupe????
Now before any body says they could be brought over the counter yes it my have and then installed in the 69 that came to the UK BUT stranger things may have happened? will update when i go and see coupe this week.
Who knows it could be another L88 heheheheheheh made up to a ZL1.
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From: Shamong, NJ
Either way, I don't believe that the red car was a production ZL1, but instead a car built up by Chevrolet Engineering.
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From: Shamong, NJ
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From: Royal Oak Michigan
I have it on good authority that the ORANGE Long Leat Press Event Stingray was "crushed" ( dismantled piecemeal and destroyed) as GM Engineering would frequently do with test / demonstration vehicles . According to my source , the " Saturday Night Special " as many have called it years later, was just a test mule. The engineers were working steadily at that time on various incarnations of similar drive-trains, and chassis , etc. However , I will now give you some "inside" info on who actually put it together . Tom Langdon : engine and related components ; Dan Crawford :Suspension ; Bob Wheaton: transmission
I also have several pics of this car from when it was being built. It started the process a couple of years ago as a BEAT 68 donor.
