GM Prototype ZR1 Body....
04-17-2016, 12:16 AM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
GM Prototype ZR1 Body Panels?
Bought these today!!! The guy I bought them from got them from Jim Van Dorn about 13 years ago, supposedly these panels were on the same Kim Baker Zr1 in the museum.
From what I've been able to find its rumored that these were GM prototypes given to Kim Baker for testing and reportedly when they ask for them back he told them they were destroyed in a crash. Found a pic of them attached being run in the world challenge series Mobil 1 #9 car.
They are full carbon fiber parts, I've never seen the doors split at the molding like this. I'll get them cleaned up and some better pictures posted.
Any additional pictures or information you guys can share would be appreciated.
I bought them just for the cool factor, if they are of any significance that's just a bonus!
From what I've been able to find its rumored that these were GM prototypes given to Kim Baker for testing and reportedly when they ask for them back he told them they were destroyed in a crash. Found a pic of them attached being run in the world challenge series Mobil 1 #9 car.
They are full carbon fiber parts, I've never seen the doors split at the molding like this. I'll get them cleaned up and some better pictures posted.
Any additional pictures or information you guys can share would be appreciated.
I bought them just for the cool factor, if they are of any significance that's just a bonus!
Last edited by Not Red Rob; 04-17-2016 at 11:23 AM.
04-17-2016, 09:36 AM
#2
Race Director
Member Since: Feb 2002
Location: Compound in the Grove, Ga.
Posts: 11,329
Received 910 Likes
on
583 Posts
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C4 of Year Finalist
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '16
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
04-17-2016, 10:32 AM
#3
Pro Mechanic
Pro Mechanic
First...they are likely not "GM Prototype body panels" in the sense that General Motors made them.
As Van Dorn is dead the only two people who likely know the story behind those panels are Jim Van Dorn Jr. and Kim Baker.
The racecar that's in the Museum is the late Jim Van Dorn's "Pirate Racing" World Challenge car. It is true that he bought the car from Kim Baker. Perhaps, when Baker raced the car, it had those CF panels on it. Then, Van Dorn may have rebodied it with production pieces to run it in the WC.
It may be possible to contact JVD Jr. for more information. I'll look into it.
As Van Dorn is dead the only two people who likely know the story behind those panels are Jim Van Dorn Jr. and Kim Baker.
The racecar that's in the Museum is the late Jim Van Dorn's "Pirate Racing" World Challenge car. It is true that he bought the car from Kim Baker. Perhaps, when Baker raced the car, it had those CF panels on it. Then, Van Dorn may have rebodied it with production pieces to run it in the WC.
It may be possible to contact JVD Jr. for more information. I'll look into it.
Last edited by Hib Halverson; 04-17-2016 at 10:32 AM.
04-17-2016, 11:16 AM
#4
Drifting
Thread Starter
First...they are likely not "GM Prototype body panels" in the sense that General Motors made them.
As Van Dorn is dead the only two people who likely know the story behind those panels are Jim Van Dorn Jr. and Kim Baker.
The racecar that's in the Museum is the late Jim Van Dorn's "Pirate Racing" World Challenge car. It is true that he bought the car from Kim Baker. Perhaps, when Baker raced the car, it had those CF panels on it. Then, Van Dorn may have rebodied it with production pieces to run it in the WC.
It may be possible to contact JVD Jr. for more information. I'll look into it.
As Van Dorn is dead the only two people who likely know the story behind those panels are Jim Van Dorn Jr. and Kim Baker.
The racecar that's in the Museum is the late Jim Van Dorn's "Pirate Racing" World Challenge car. It is true that he bought the car from Kim Baker. Perhaps, when Baker raced the car, it had those CF panels on it. Then, Van Dorn may have rebodied it with production pieces to run it in the WC.
It may be possible to contact JVD Jr. for more information. I'll look into it.
Thank you for the input, I know very little about them, what little I know came from the seller, and his discussion with Jim Van Dorn & a couple online articles I found. I bought them for the cool factor, to display in my shop, if they are of any significance, that's just a bonus.
I do know with the vast amount of knowledge on the forum, someone will be able to shed some light on them.
Thanks for the help!
Rob
Last edited by Not Red Rob; 04-17-2016 at 04:26 PM.
04-17-2016, 05:32 PM
#6
Drifting
Thread Starter
Here are a few more pics of the parts cleaned up....
[URL=http://s268.photobucket.com/user/02corvetterob/media/Baker%20Racing/49B2F7DD-3BF7-4F02-84E1-250CE7FE7E97_zpsti0eftol.jpg.html]
[/URL
[URL=http://s268.photobucket.com/user/02corvetterob/media/Baker%20Racing/49B2F7DD-3BF7-4F02-84E1-250CE7FE7E97_zpsti0eftol.jpg.html]
[/URL
The following users liked this post:
Vette Daddy (04-19-2016)
04-18-2016, 01:33 PM
#10
NCM Lifetime # 982
Tommy Morrison Motorsports is located in Albany Georgia. Google it and contact Tommy he may know more about these body parts etc.
Good luck
Good luck
04-28-2016, 11:19 PM
#11
Drifting
Thread Starter
I've searched everywhere and have found little to no information about the panels. Any other suggestions?
Thanks for the help!
Rob
Thanks for the help!
Rob
04-30-2016, 07:55 PM
#13
Team Owner
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: Florida
Posts: 23,841
Received 522 Likes
on
342 Posts
St. Jude Donor '10
05-01-2016, 01:04 PM
#14
Drifting
Thread Starter
05-02-2016, 09:31 AM
#15
Drifting
Thread Starter
Got an email from Kim Baker last night, he asked me to send some pictures and he would see what he could remember. I emailed them to him last night, when I hear back I'll update the thread.
05-04-2016, 09:59 PM
#16
Drifting
Thread Starter
I also had sent a message to Jeff Nowicki who raced the car in the World Challenge Series in 1995. Jeff replied and solved the mystery, he fabricated all of the panels. He built a clay model, made molds and produced the carbon panels.
He also confirmed they on the famous #75 Pirate Racing ZR1 that's in the NCM. Jeff is going to see if he can find some pictures of the parts and the race car.
I'll post up the pics when I get them.
He also confirmed they on the famous #75 Pirate Racing ZR1 that's in the NCM. Jeff is going to see if he can find some pictures of the parts and the race car.
I'll post up the pics when I get them.
The following users liked this post:
SurfnSun (05-05-2016)