Ok, i'm looking for someone who really knows their stuff for a definitive answer to a question that i recently posted, a question that i at the time didn't fully know how to ask. Here it is. The local engine shop, Roses of Dover, De, has a 68-69 vette, wide body, 427 ci engine, convertable, and side pipes. The 427 isn't a Zl-1 engine, it has a cast block. The owner of the shop believes that this may be a ZL-1, as he said that there was a single convertable ZL-1 built, accompanying the more well known ZL-1 coupes. I've never heard of such a car, but i won't doubt him, at least not before getting some more opinions on the matter.... that and get my car back.... Was there a ZL-1 convertable made that accompanied the coupes, and if so, is it well documented..... or did this invaluable piece of auto history slip under the carpet somewhere... lol? Tks

Brandon

According to M. F. Dobbins' book, there were only two (2) ZL-1s built, period, in 1969. The one pictured in his book is a coupe, I believe the other one was too. If this car is a '68 it is not a ZL-1. If it is a '69 it maybe(?) could have been an L88 car. Does it have aluminum heads? Chances of it being a ZL-1 are slim to less than zero, and Slim just left town.

LOL... good reply
I suppose your right, just checking for him. Who knows... maybe it was a car that had a ZL-1 installed in it, as you could buy the engines out of box. Personally, i'm with you, an l88 that just lost its way:)

Brandon

Here is what I can tell you about the ZL1, I'm not sure it will answer your question but, who knows.

According to the black book the following options were required with the ZL1;
K66 Transistor ignition
F41 Heavy duty suspension (7 leaf spring?)
J56 Heavy duty brakes
G81 Positraction rear axle

Also, it would have been a radio delete model so if the blank to cover the radio opening is there its a good sign. There also would have been no anteana and no ignition shielding. Of course A/C would not have been available. Then there are the obvious questions; Does it still have the 103 research octane warning sticker on the console? Does the console tag say ZL1? Is there a tag at all? Does this car have a VIN number? When was it produced?

All the information that I have seen indicates that there were only 2 ZL1's ever ordered. One is a yellow coupe owned by Roger Judski in Maitland FL. I don't know about the other one but I believe it too is a coupe.

HOWEVER, legend has it that as many as 5 test mules were built. Some have even claimed as many as 12. Chevrolet's official shipping papers show that 94 ZL1 427's crate motors were built. Another researcher claims there were 154 crate motors (based on chevrolet production records).

In July 1968, Duntov brought 2 1969 ZL1's to a press conference to scare the pants off of the journalists. One was an orange coupe that had silver coated fiberglass bumpers and was later refitted with a '70 LT2 motor. The other one was a white convertible with large fender flares. It was fitted with race style side exhaust (like Hooker side pipes) and not the stock side pipes. Motor Trend magazine has photos of this car.

It will probably be impossible to prove that it is a ZL1 (chances are against it). However it may be possible to find enough things to be nearly positive that it isn't.

Good luck!!

|UPDATED|11/10/2003 9:04:17 PM|/UPDATED|

I've read that there was a coupe and a convertable sold to the public before sales were cut off. There were also 69 Camaros with the ZL-1 engines sold in 1969.

There is currently only one of the two produced ZL-1 Corvettes left. I read some time ago the other was destroyed in an accident. THere were a number of ZL-1 motors installed in some Corvettes by tuners of the time like Baldwin.

My two cents.



Alex

I thought there was only a pair of coupes. Roger has one and the other is in a private collection.

The other ZL1 corvette was featured in past issue of VETTE magazine awhile back. It is a Can am white coupe with a wide blue stripe over the body. I believe it belonged to Dick Ferrando at that time. It has some paperwork as to it's origin, however on the original "tank sticker" it states L88 in place of aluminum cylinder case. The story is that it was purchased new with 100 miles on it from dealer and considered new with the correct ZL1 motor. The story is quite interesting and should be read. Is it the the real McCoy, I don't know.