Hey

I don't know if anyone can advise? My Father-in-law was a classic car dealer and enthusiast but sadly passed away last month. Over his life he had 15-20000 cars pass through his hands including many classic American cars as this was his passion - although we are based in the UK.

Under his personal ownership, rather than his business ownership he had three amazing cars including a ZR2. The car was originally purchased by racing driver Toly Arutonoff to enter the Targa Florio race alongside the driver Charles P Lucas but wasn't able to enter due to something to do with the roof/roll bar not being adequate. We have a really nice letter from Charles with the documentation going into more details. We are hoping to get all the info together to add to the LS6 Engine Survey - but the car is currently in a 4 car garage and it's difficult to get access to get all the part numbers - although we have used the purchase copy documents to get a lot of these.

I was after some advice that I can give to my wife as we are looking to sell or auction the car. It has largely been sat for many years and we weren't sure if it would be worth reconditioning everything in the car before selling? Would this increase the value of the car or is it best to just leave it?

Here are some of the original photos that we found in all the paperwork alongside some engine shots I took the other day plus a copy of a classic car mag in the UK with my father-in-law driving the car.













On top of this car, he's (we are) also selling this lovely looking Stingray

 

So the rumour looks to be true then? With the recent no sale of the ZR2 convertible I mentioned the possibility of a ZR2 in a collection in a small City in Yorkshire (I know it but will keep that to myself) on the UK Corvette club site. Please drop me a message.

Stuart

 

That's a cool story! I would love to see original factory docs and the engine stamp pad and transmission stamping when you get it. Also, looks to have a radiator shroud and and a radio/antennae. Was that added by the past owner?

 

I imagine the radio part was added by the previous owner as he was a DJ.

Here's a letter from one of the racing drivers talking about it

 

I believe it was added by the DJ that owned it in Sunderland. I was speaking to Tom Falconer who it turns out worked on the car only yesterday and he mentioned it was only the second corvette that he had worked on and he sent me some snippets that he had included in one of his books. I can't remember if Tom mentioned that he had added the radio for him or not, but it doesn't sound like the chap that owned it knew how important a car it was.

 

Wow! One of the "Holy Grail" Corvettes for sure, thanks for sharing

 

Very interesting story, thanks for sharing.

 

Oh and these were some photos I took last week for anyone interested in how it looks now. As you can see, it needs a good valet

 

That's good having input from Tom

The scoops on the front part of the ZR2 pack then or ?? Never seen those before

 

Contact Kevin MacKay at corvetterepair.com

 

I'm not trying to be unkind here, but at this point, all there is on this car is hearsay. No documentation, no pictures of significant numbers on the engine pad, etc. Air cleaner sticker certainly doesn't qualify as any kind of documentation. We don't know the VIN, so we don't know whether it legitimately falls in the acceptable category for when LS6/ZR2 cars were made. It's potentially a really special car, but I have run across a number of "supposed" LS6's that were not, so I have to be skeptical about this one. I, for one, would love to see real evidence that this is what it is said to be! Thanks

 

I'm a little skeptical too. That engine bay, ugh.

 

That's fine. It's okay to be sceptical. Already had it confirmed that it would have been produced around the right dates (I think they said march or may). I never know what I can safely show on here,

 

the car has pretty much been stored since the mid 70's! I'd kind of expect it to look like that

 

Engine pad stamping looks legit. That car got no love, but it appears to be a diamond in the rough.

I would drop the tank and hope the tank sticker is still there.

 

Yeah, they got the tank sticker about 20 odd years ago. They sent it off to a place to be digitally read and got some part numbers off it.

The Vin/Engine pad has been confirmed to be around the dates that ZR2's were built too according to NCRS. We are just trying to find the best way to confirm it "officially".

Seems to be very hard to get it authenticated easily

 

Call Ken Nabors in Houston at (713) 664-5018. He is very helpful and knows as much as anyone with regards to this stuff.

 

Always want to see a pad in person, but I would agree that there is a lot to like about that stamp/pad.

Regards,

Stan Falenski

 

Thank you Stan. Yeah everything is pointing to it being legit, especially what Tom Falconer mentioned about with the brakes and gears that he hadn't seen on a car before.

We are just looking at next steps to get it authenticated, being in the UK makes it a much tougher job - but the car will be coming back to the States soon to be sold.

 

I'd certainly approach Kevin MacKay or Tim Thorpe if it was an L-88, but it's not.

For some expert advice/opinions on LS-6/ZR-2 information, I'd talk to Jim Wallace (frequents this board), Mike Ernst (frequents this board), Gary Bosselman (frequents this board, but not often), or Warren Friedrich (don't think Warren is involved with Corvettes any more). ANY of those four gentlemen can give you a very informed opinion about what you may or may not have. I'd certainly take their advice before Kevin or Tim (nothing against either person... Just not their forte).

The pad looks good in the photos and the VIN is in a good range as well, but the problem is that all of that is equally true for a regular LS-6 as well. What about the heavy duty brake equipment? The calipers often go missing, but the front reinforcements usually stay. Would be curiousto see what bellhousing/starter you have as well. A better shot of the top of the radiator would be helpful (original or repro) as would the radiator date if it's original. Photo of underside of the rear deck might be useful as well (antenna drilled in a different location than factory fill for antenna hole). Verifying some of these items might help support what you believe to be true.

Regards,

Stan Falenski