How to tell ZR1 prototype
12-20-2010, 07:53 AM
#21
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One other comment too, this past year, Chevy sold a handful of 'prototypes' and factory mules at Barrett Jackson. NONE of those cars had a legit VIN and were sold with the stipulation that they could not be registered for the street IIRC.
To me, this alone tells me that this car in NV is not a real prototype and even if we do see a picture of the LT5, it could be a swap.
To me, this alone tells me that this car in NV is not a real prototype and even if we do see a picture of the LT5, it could be a swap.
12-20-2010, 09:36 AM
#22
Melting Slicks
It is a 1989 pilot (non ZR-1) with L98 as defined in the document I linked to a previous posting. A pilot can be sold if the mfg decides it meets EPA specs and has not been modified in some way that precludes its use in a consumer environment.
'NONE of those cars had a legit VIN and were sold with the stipulation that they could not be registered for the street IIRC.'
Not entirely true. Most of the ZR-1s had legit vins ie were not EXXXX cars, the EXXXX cars were the active suspension cars. ALL had P numbers but did in fact meet EPA regulations. The P numbers were GM only control numbers used to document information within GM.
The sale of 1989 ZR-1s from the Heritage Collection (BJ) included several ZR-1s with MSOs which enables the owner to register the car for use on the street. Eric has one (s/n 74). One was sold on a bill of sale (s/n 4 also belongs to Eric) and that one was also registered for street use.
Unless the mfg goes to the trouble of entering the vin in the national database as a Certificate of Destruction most states will issue a title on a bill of sale. Something GM did not do on all the cars sold in the auctions.
Tyler
'NONE of those cars had a legit VIN and were sold with the stipulation that they could not be registered for the street IIRC.'
Not entirely true. Most of the ZR-1s had legit vins ie were not EXXXX cars, the EXXXX cars were the active suspension cars. ALL had P numbers but did in fact meet EPA regulations. The P numbers were GM only control numbers used to document information within GM.
The sale of 1989 ZR-1s from the Heritage Collection (BJ) included several ZR-1s with MSOs which enables the owner to register the car for use on the street. Eric has one (s/n 74). One was sold on a bill of sale (s/n 4 also belongs to Eric) and that one was also registered for street use.
Unless the mfg goes to the trouble of entering the vin in the national database as a Certificate of Destruction most states will issue a title on a bill of sale. Something GM did not do on all the cars sold in the auctions.
Tyler
Last edited by Tyler Townsley; 12-20-2010 at 09:53 AM.
12-20-2010, 03:37 PM
#23
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This is not a bogus thread, I apologize for wasting your time. I am simply not educated when it comes to Corvettes. I am working off of a memory of what I was told years ago, and what I saw one time years ago. I got the VIN and am working on getting pictures. It is not super important to me, I am just curious and thought this site looked like it had alot of good information. I do appreciate the info I have gotten so far from the other members, but if this is dragging out too long for you I do apologize.
Thanks,
John
12-20-2010, 03:59 PM
#24
Safety Car
12-20-2010, 06:23 PM
#26
Race Director
One other comment too, this past year, Chevy sold a handful of 'prototypes' and factory mules at Barrett Jackson. NONE of those cars had a legit VIN and were sold with the stipulation that they could not be registered for the street IIRC.
To me, this alone tells me that this car in NV is not a real prototype and even if we do see a picture of the LT5, it could be a swap.
To me, this alone tells me that this car in NV is not a real prototype and even if we do see a picture of the LT5, it could be a swap.
12-20-2010, 06:25 PM
#27
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Who knows it's origin. I HOPE it's something special! Then someone on here - or the OP - can spiff it up and have a piece of C4 history!
12-21-2010, 11:15 PM
#28
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It is a 1989 pilot (non ZR-1) with L98 as defined in the document I linked to a previous posting. A pilot can be sold if the mfg decides it meets EPA specs and has not been modified in some way that precludes its use in a consumer environment.
'NONE of those cars had a legit VIN and were sold with the stipulation that they could not be registered for the street IIRC.'
Not entirely true. Most of the ZR-1s had legit vins ie were not EXXXX cars, the EXXXX cars were the active suspension cars. ALL had P numbers but did in fact meet EPA regulations. The P numbers were GM only control numbers used to document information within GM.
The sale of 1989 ZR-1s from the Heritage Collection (BJ) included several ZR-1s with MSOs which enables the owner to register the car for use on the street. Eric has one (s/n 74). One was sold on a bill of sale (s/n 4 also belongs to Eric) and that one was also registered for street use.
Unless the mfg goes to the trouble of entering the vin in the national database as a Certificate of Destruction most states will issue a title on a bill of sale. Something GM did not do on all the cars sold in the auctions.
Tyler
'NONE of those cars had a legit VIN and were sold with the stipulation that they could not be registered for the street IIRC.'
Not entirely true. Most of the ZR-1s had legit vins ie were not EXXXX cars, the EXXXX cars were the active suspension cars. ALL had P numbers but did in fact meet EPA regulations. The P numbers were GM only control numbers used to document information within GM.
The sale of 1989 ZR-1s from the Heritage Collection (BJ) included several ZR-1s with MSOs which enables the owner to register the car for use on the street. Eric has one (s/n 74). One was sold on a bill of sale (s/n 4 also belongs to Eric) and that one was also registered for street use.
Unless the mfg goes to the trouble of entering the vin in the national database as a Certificate of Destruction most states will issue a title on a bill of sale. Something GM did not do on all the cars sold in the auctions.
Tyler
Thank You for all the great info you have provided. Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly in a Pilot car??
I know for a fact that this car has never had a motor swap, when I finally get pictures they will be exactly as it was when it was purchased.
Thanks Again for the help,
John
12-22-2010, 12:44 AM
#29
Melting Slicks
Tyler,
Thank You for all the great info you have provided. Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly in a Pilot car??
I know for a fact that this car has never had a motor swap, when I finally get pictures they will be exactly as it was when it was purchased.
Thanks Again for the help,
John
Thank You for all the great info you have provided. Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly in a Pilot car??
I know for a fact that this car has never had a motor swap, when I finally get pictures they will be exactly as it was when it was purchased.
Thanks Again for the help,
John
In the lingo:
Prototype: This is a car with an EX in the vin number. These are cars built on the production line for engineering and test purposes and not intended for public release.
Mules: This is a car with mixed equipment built to test components in normal driving. These usually look like a normal production car but have new/different equipment installed by engineering AFTER being produced on the production line. They usually have production vins but are not intended public release.
Pilot Line car: These are cars assembled on the production line and are usually in final trim. They are then assigned to various GM divisions for testing, photo ops, training, executive drivers etc. Initially these units meet all safety and emission specs, have a production vin and can be sold to the public. Eric has 89 ZR-1 s/n 74 that was assigned to be used for promotion activites. These units usually have a GM decal with a PXXXX on the tag. Its color designates who it is assigned to and the P number was used by GM for control purposes. When you were assigned a car you were given a key with that number on the key chain so you could find the car in the lot.
Note the above was how it was done in 88-89-90 and may have changed.
Current prototypes have a full production vin with EX added to the end where as my 88 has a metal tag with EX5014 for a vin tag.
Tyler
12-22-2010, 08:32 AM
#30
Le Mans Master
I guess I don't understand how to read that sheet? For 1989, it looks like all the L98 cars listed are below VIN 0060. But his is 9018.
12-22-2010, 08:29 PM
#31
Melting Slicks
Tyler
03-16-2011, 01:01 PM
#36
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[QUOTE=Petro141;1575850093]I have always wondered if my Uncle is full of it or not.
As I suspected my uncle is full of it. I just got a picture of the engine from my brother, and it is a L98. I can text the picture to someone if they want to post it. If not, thank you all for the input and for satisfying my curiosity.
Thanks Again,
John
As I suspected my uncle is full of it. I just got a picture of the engine from my brother, and it is a L98. I can text the picture to someone if they want to post it. If not, thank you all for the input and for satisfying my curiosity.
Thanks Again,
John
03-16-2011, 06:12 PM
#39
Race Director
