Topic: corvette road racing
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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Australia
Joined: 10/27/2010
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Vette(s): Second-month production Shark, this 1968E was built up by original owner into 1969 ZR1 (L88 body with LT1 engine) for Club Racing. Body styling is from Maglioli's 1968 L88 "Le Mans" racer
I'm a bit slow, I've only just worked out that the Vette I bought mid-last year has been built up by its previous owner for some form of road racing! My car is still not here in Oz from USA ($$ issues, of course) and this knowledge will help me understand to what spec the motor has been 'built', as claimed by intermediary seller (original owner too ill to contact directly) and perhaps brakes, suspension, etc. that I presumed were stockers.
theycallmered 2011-02-06 17:50:25
Would someone know what rules it would have been built to? Though my first clue was a pic of a period 1969 ZL1 built for racing:
there would be current rules, too, because I'm finding pics of current cars with identical externals (L88 hood, rear bumper delete, rollbar, sidewinder pipes, ZL1 fender flares with wide wheels, convertible hardtop)
Mine's different to the ZL1 spec because it's a 68 equipped with a 350 SBC and 78 4-bolt block; although it does have the Hooker headers (the sidewinders had been removed and replaced with a street system, likely for noise reasons). Originally it had a removable rollbar and 'racing' seats and mirrors, and only the hard top (no soft top). In my naivete I have replaced the mirrors with stockers, installed a soft top, and tossed the rollbar (wasn't fastened in, anyway).
My car looks like this now and still has the hardtop that had no headliner:
Your assistance would be appreciated!
1968E (2nd month production) convertible first registered California 1967 and a retired SCCA race car. It is still race prepped and built up as a '69 ZR1 (announced '69 but not built until '70); i.e., the L88 car with LT1 motor.
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Wow you do have a different car there..you ask as to what spec it was built to..well that is a tough one without really digging in..the ZL1 technically wasn't offered untill 69 but who knows what it was..it does have the hood from what I can see..dare I ask about a tank sticker..fender flares and offset trailing arms are a pretty comon mod..do you know the name of the original owner..if so google it and see if he was some sort of racer..try to get a copy of the past titles for the car..it would show some trail as to who and when it may have been raced..that may point you in the direction of how it was built..
Rich
Rich
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Former Member
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Australia
Joined: 10/27/2010
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Vette(s): Second-month production Shark, this 1968E was built up by original owner into 1969 ZR1 (L88 body with LT1 engine) for Club Racing. Body styling is from Maglioli's 1968 L88 "Le Mans" racer
Mmmm, I'm not suggesting that it was built by GM this way; but then again, someday I'll get to find out if it has a tank sticker still! The VIN tag and body tag only tell me that it was a 68 V8 convertible that was built in the first month and 1,000 units of the 1968 m/y. Being that it has a 350 motor, and the shift console is from a 70 LT1, I always assumed the owner wanted to make an LT1 replica. Now I'm really wondering, because the bodyworks are ZL1 racer.
theycallmered 2011-02-06 19:30:01
The following site was the first to tell me much about the ZL1 as a racer (other references only mention the two sold commercially): http://www.corvettelegends.com/zl1.htm ; and it has a link to a book about John Greenwood's racing ZL-1 Corvettes. I'm seeing in one of my pics above the sticker "SCCA Club Racing"; but remain unclear on which "category" of Club Racing from the SCCA GCM; and therefore the rules the car/drivetrain/suspension are subject to.
I might have to find help over on an SCCA site.
Cheers!
1968E (2nd month production) convertible first registered California 1967 and a retired SCCA race car. It is still race prepped and built up as a '69 ZR1 (announced '69 but not built until '70); i.e., the L88 car with LT1 motor.
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That's an L-88 hood, which was also used on the ZL1.
Hard to determine what class/rules it raced under without a log book, or verifiable information from past owners.
A lot of guys took their Corvette's racing back then. Some were more serious than others, and had cars(and drivers) that actually made names for themselves, if only on a local level. If you can find out where the car was during that time period, then it might make the search a little easier. Old racers seem to remember certain cars forever. I can remember some drag cars from back in the day, and even the owner's/driver's names. They were never much more than locally famous, but some of them did make it to the big-time.
Hard to determine what class/rules it raced under without a log book, or verifiable information from past owners.
A lot of guys took their Corvette's racing back then. Some were more serious than others, and had cars(and drivers) that actually made names for themselves, if only on a local level. If you can find out where the car was during that time period, then it might make the search a little easier. Old racers seem to remember certain cars forever. I can remember some drag cars from back in the day, and even the owner's/driver's names. They were never much more than locally famous, but some of them did make it to the big-time.
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Former Member
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Australia
Joined: 10/27/2010
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Vette(s): Second-month production Shark, this 1968E was built up by original owner into 1969 ZR1 (L88 body with LT1 engine) for Club Racing. Body styling is from Maglioli's 1968 L88 "Le Mans" racer
I did post over on the SCCA forum, and got back a definitive reply that this car would have been in SCCA's B Production (B class is no more) and IMSA's GT category. The former explains why I couldn't find a production class for it in a current rulebook. Cheers!
1968E (2nd month production) convertible first registered California 1967 and a retired SCCA race car. It is still race prepped and built up as a '69 ZR1 (announced '69 but not built until '70); i.e., the L88 car with LT1 motor.
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Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Very cool and historical looking ride. Is the engine a production piece?
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Former Member
Send PM
Australia
Joined: 10/27/2010
Posts: 54
Vette(s): Second-month production Shark, this 1968E was built up by original owner into 1969 ZR1 (L88 body with LT1 engine) for Club Racing. Body styling is from Maglioli's 1968 L88 "Le Mans" racer
Thanks for that, and for your military service. 
According to SCCA's GCR, in B Production category the bore and stroke must be standard, but most everything else (camshaft, compression ratio) is unrestricted. So we'll see what's inside it, when it arrives here in Oz. Idle was not 'lumpy' when I inspected it at purchase. I'd expect the builder would've taken advantage of unrestricted camshaft and c.r., given that race gas would've been available to him. Fortunately high octane petrol is readily available here, at the bowser (pump).
1968E (2nd month production) convertible first registered California 1967 and a retired SCCA race car. It is still race prepped and built up as a '69 ZR1 (announced '69 but not built until '70); i.e., the L88 car with LT1 motor.
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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