Black ZTK M7 is home (#2363)
 

My long journey to own a ZR1 is finally complete. I've been on this forum a very long time having owned 5 Vettes since I joined in the year 2000. In November of 2017 I sold my beloved LS7 C5 Z06 after 9 wonderful years of ownership with the hopes of using that money towards my first new Corvette purchase, a 2019 ZR1. I actually placed an order at one point in early 2018, but for numerous reasons ended up buying a 2015 Z06/Z07 instead. I really enjoyed the car, but as good as it was, it didn't have the same raw or special feeling that my old modified C5 always gave me. I always had this voice in the back of my head (he's annoying!) telling me the Z06 was just a compromise and I'd never be happy with it even if I modded it an made it my own. :D

Like a many of us probably do, I like to search AutoTrader for fun and see what's out there. While doing this I ran into a bit of a unicorn; a black 1ZR, ZTK, M7 with black wheels 700 miles away at Joseph Chevrolet in Cincinnati OH. For me, this is the perfect ZR1 configuration. My Z06 had 3LZ and I never really cared about all the extra luxury stuff. I'll miss the homelink and cooled seats a little, but my old C5 had none of that type of stuff and it's the best car I've ever owned, so I knew the more stripped down spec was perfect for me. I do wish it had comp seats and the carbon dash, but those are an easy swap if I want to do them one day. Everyone at Joseph was fantastic and made for a very pleasurable experience; one of the best dealerships I've ever worked with. I've gone through more trouble buying $5000 cars than I had buying this. Once the deal was done I drove my old Z06 700 miles from CT to OH (with my fiancee and our dachshund Molly in the car!), traded for the ZR1 and drove that back home. It was quite an adventure and well worth the trip. I've only broken it in thus far, but the ZR1 is an amazing machine. Ride quality and sound are a nice improvement over the Z06. I'm really looking forward to getting my first oil change next weekend and having an opportunity to really unleash the beast. :reddevil Then at some point later this year hopefully getting some track days in. :cool:

Here are some quick pics I took after I got home and detailed it. The paint on this 2019 is excellent, quite a bit less orange peel than my 2015, I'm impressed with the new BG paint shop!!. :yesnod: The dealership also did a nice job prepping the car and was cautious not to scratch it up through improper washing, which was a rare and unexpected treat! :yesnod: I really only had to wash, clay, and do one pass over the car with a light compound/orange pad to get it flawless. Now that it's perfect I'm dropping it off with Automobilia to Xpel, tint and ceramic coat it. The week without my new car will be utter torture, but the worry free miles while still keeping it perfect will be worth it. I plan to drive this car a lot, so I'll get my money's worth out of it, especially with a black car. :cool:

I taped the nose with black painter's tape for the 700 journey home... I DO NOT recommend this. The tape did not want to stick and in some areas caused some light marring as little rocks stuck to the flappy tape. I was luckily able to buff out all the marks, however, it was very time consuming and stressful. For anyone doing a similar journey, just buy the novi stretch bra. It would've saved me a ton of hassle and I'm sure I could've just sold it when I got home for 75% of what I paid. Live and learn. :D
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Looks awesome.
Congrats....

amazing

Congrats on that beautiful ride! :thumbs:

Looks great!! More pics of the log house please. :cool: I've been thinking about a log home for a few years..

:cheers:

It’s beautiful! Congrats!!!!

M7 :steering:

Congratulations on a beautiful car . That homelink is a easy fix just go to your local Chevy dealer and order a 3lz visor it’s simple to change and has homelink built into it . Plug n play your car is already wired to do the swap. Hope this helps .jm

Congrats on your new car and I hope it treats you well. :)

Beautiful setting and Vette. Happy for ya.

Fantastic shine for a black car in bright sunlight. Usually a black car looks better with a little diffused light from an overcast day. Looks like you have a keeper! :cheers:

Here's the best one I can find right now. It's definitely unique, totally stumbled upon it by accident, but we like it.

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Thank you, really appreciate the tip. There are some cheap ones on eBay, I think I'll pick one up! I don't just use it for my garage door, I also really like it for the Mild 2 Wild, much easier than changing the exhaust mode 4-screens deep into the infotainment. :D

Agreed, direct sunlight is typically brutal on a black car, but this car is really good. No issues with panels having different shades of black either which I was concerned about after some posts here. Very pleased I got a nice one. :cheers:

Looks like you got a really nice one. So many have had issues with hood paint and panel gaps etc. etc. Yours looks great in that regard. I prefer the base trim cars too. Clean and simple. Enjoy!

Beautiful home + ZR1! Miss my C6 Z06 w/ stick; I'll live with the auto...
Agree with the prior advice - seems like you'd like to keep it looking like that as long as possible...
I recall someone else on this forum mentioning "black isn't a car color, it's a way of life."

I'd highly recommend rock guards for the trailing edges of your F + R wheel wells to keep gravel/rocks from marring the sides of your beast, these are avail in CF + carbon flash metallic, large + XL, and are hardly noticeable (especially on a darker vehicle (I've got a SGM; the XLs blend right in):

https://acscomposite.com/products/xl...n-start-up-kit

You'll get all kinds of debris through the grill, settling in front of the radiators (especially in fall + on gravel/asphalt roads): I modified some flexible clear plastic tubes (from Lowe's plumbing dept) to fit through the grill slots + vacuum the stuff out before washing the car. Was going to remove the front + attach finer mesh behind the grill, but it gets hot sometimes in the summer, and I didn't want to compromise air flow + risk overheating.

Hope this helps.

Enjoy them in good health!

Congratulations !! Beautiful looking Ride !!

Enjoy it to the MAX :cheers:

Remember to "Save the Wave"
Take care
Shawn :canadaflag:

Hot.....very hot!

Very nice, congrats!

Beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!