Hello guys, this is my first post in the C3 section. I have a 94 and usually hang out in the C4 tech section.

I work for GM and I'm currently working on a project with one of their senior engineers (Floyd). Floyd was an engineer at the St. Louis Corvette plant in the late 60's. At this time GM would let their salaried employees drive home cars. One of their company drivers at the time was one of two built ZL1 Corvette's. This ZL1 was yellow with a black ZL1 emblem on the hood.The ZL1 could be signed out on overnight drivers and weekend drivers. They also had a special Sunocco gas pump at the plant just to fill the ZL1's and L88's. Floyd thought it was Sunocco 260, not sure on the number. He said the ZL1 was a pain to drive, very tempermental, and easily overheated. It was such a pain that the company drivers needed to have 3000 miles on them before they would be sold at a dealer auction. So, to get rid of it quicker than planned they unhooked the speedometer and spun the gauge so fast with a drill it broke the speed indicator.

Rumor was that this ZL1 Corveete was sold to someone that pulled the engine, and put it in a boat. a short time later, the engine blew.

Does anyone have any current information on this ZL1?

 

I think I found a picture of it:

 

Probably more likely to get an answer over at www.yenko.net

I posted your question over there...

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show...b=5&o=&fpart=1

 

Markus,

I just showed that picture to Floyd, and with a gleam in his eyes, he said "That's it, that's the one". He said they only made 1 yellow ZL1, and they only put that strip on the ZL1. He also said the other ZL1 was blue.

Thanks for the pic.
-Mike

 

Bet he wishes now he had bought the clunker himself way back when.

 

Floyd's brother did buy an L88, which he still has, with very few miles on the odometer.

Floyd watched his brother's L88 being built. First someone on the line stole the braided stainless steel plug wires. Then the engine smoked upon initial startup. Floyd talked them into changing the engine before it left the plant.

 

that pic is probably a clone isn't it? I thought roger owned the authentic yellow zL1.... a lot of info in his website.




The crown jewel in Roger's collection. One of only TWO factory ZL-1 (all aluminum 427) Corvettes ever built. Has undergone a full body-off restoration to NCRS Standards. Click here for more info and photos.

yep, the whole story is there===>>>>

http://www.rogerscorvette.com/spots/feb98/spot.htm

 

Duh, I found the link. Forwarded it to Floyd.


Thanks to all.
-MP

 

Everything I've seen shows the other ZL1 as a white coupe.


other links -- > http://www.corvettelegends.com/legends.htm

http://cars.dozer.com/articles/zl1/

 

Here is a link to the 2nd ZL-1 that has a questionable history. The car is white not blue. I am thinking perhaps there MUST be a 3rd one out there and I know where it is if you want to pay me a finders fee (I also hold title to the Brooklyn Bridge if you want to but that!) The 2nd ZL-1:
http://corvettes-musclecars.com/Corvette/69ZL1/

 

Many of you know my opinion on the 2nd Zl1, bogus!nada! not real! You can read my past threads on this topic. The yelow Zl1 is the authentic one owned by roger and so far that is the only one out there that I am willing to acknowledge. My .02

 

i thought i read somewhere that gm crushed the white zl1....and the yellow one was not supposed to be sold, but somehow slipped through.

chris

 

Duntov on the ZL-1s "2 escaped."

 

Rumor has it that the 'White' one is a fake...

 

I thought I once read an old Motor Trend type magazine where it was stated "7" '69 ZL-1s were built. In the article it shows a '68 White roadster w/hardtop at speed in a corner. There is also an individual from Pittsburgh, Pa that has that Orange "GULF" '69 ZL-1 roadster. I've seen it at Corvette@Carlisle numerous times in the last 10yrs there.

 

Well actualy there were more than 2 Zl's as paul noted , however these were piloted by Zora and his racing program. (some like the 68 white Mule car started out as a 435 and rec/d the zl1 motor)According to Gm only 2 went through as production units to be sold. After the yellow one appeared in vette vues magazine years ago, I have the copy, much was made about the 2 Zl1's. Now while the yellow one owned by roger has factory documentation and a documented history. The white one is suspicious for a lot of reasons. First, after all the publicity on the yellow became known, an article came out in vette vues where dick frenando, the owner of D and A corvettes interviewed the suposed original owner of the White zl1. Shortly after that the white one appeared and was restored. Anyone that knows of D and A corvettes knows they do great work, however they even advertise on their website that they will build you the corvette you want and it will top flight, if you want an l88 you got it! If you know what I mean. Secondly. I have talked to and documented information from numerous plant employes, including George -the plant mgr-who ordered, owned, and drove the Yellow zl1 for over 2K miles. It is a very late car and it was the first Zl1 to be built at the plant. So if Gm built a 2nd Zl1 it would have had to come after the yellow one vin 29xxx. The white one is an early car 7xxxx. Also the paint scheme on the white car is bogus, it would never have left the factory like that. It took a lot of work for the plant to let Jim paint the black stripe on the yelllow one! There was either only 1 built or there is still one out there, or it died long ago.

 

[QUOTE=STL94LT1]He said they only made 1 yellow ZL1, and they only put that strip on the ZL1. He also said the other ZL1 was blue...QUOTE]

The two ZL1s are documented. The first was yellow with a black stripe as described above and shown in the pictures. The second car was white with a blue stripe.

 

There is no second documented Zl1, white w/ a blue stripe? There is a white with a black stripe which I discussed in my earlier post , but it is far from documented!

 

I worked with Floyd in 68,69 and 70. I was a summer student. If you can ask him the name of our boss that ordered the ZL1. Wouldn’t mind talking to Floyd. My email is curt-hertel@psiind.com

 

Curt, I lost touch with Floyd around 2008 when he retired.