'70 Corvette LT1 Debut?

[mockingbird812]

What month did production start? When did they hit the dealerships? I understand that a UAW strike delayed the '70 Camaro debut and therefore the Camaro LT1 (Z28), but am not sure if the Corvette LT1 model was delayed too. Thanks! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[napa68]

I believe it was. I'll see what I can pull from the NCRS website. My car is #5694 produced in the 1st week of March.

[LS6 RAT]

The 1970 LT-1 Corvette along with all other optioned Corvettes began in January 1970. I just looked at one with a trim tag date of January 17.

[mockingbird812]

What held them up? Was there a UAW strike affecting them as well or was it the development of the new LT1 engine, or something else? What about the LS5 Corvette? Jan debut too? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[napa68]

[ QUOTE ]
The 1970 LT-1 Corvette along with all other optioned Corvettes began in January 1970. I just looked at one with a trim tag date of January 17.

[/ QUOTE ]

x2

[71-LS6]

I don't think any 70' model Corvettes were produced before Jan. 1970. FWIW, LS5's were being built by VIN # 2730 for sure (I used to own that one), which I think corresponds to the first week in Feb.

[mockingbird812]

Was doing some research on Deuces and came across in Bob McClurg's new book that Don ordered the first order of Deuces on 16 Dec 1969. So I had assumed he had SEEN the Corvette LT1 and was inspired to use it in the Deuce. So I guess he was privy to the fact that the LT1 would be debuting in the Camaro and Corvette in or around January '70.

[Mr70]

The seperately released 1970 Camaro/Corvette Press kit,as well as at least one salesmans Communication film/record kit released near the end of '69 stated when these 2 cars were coming out & what to expect in the way of available engines/options.
February 13th I believe..

[Bill Pritchard]

Sam,

I don't think the 70 Camaro debut was delayed due to a UAW strike. I think it was just production issues related to the new body style. I believe the 69 style Camaros were produced into either November or December of 69. That's why the new models were usually referred to as ' '70 1/2 Camaros'. I will most certainly defer to Corvette experts on the intro dates of that model http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[LS6 RAT]

Delorean had become GM of Chevrolet division, because of the spring strike, Chevrolet had a lot of unfilled orders for Corvettes and Delorean decided to fill those orders rather than send them back, so he ran the '69 model(which normally changes over beginning in the month of August)production another 5 months thru December of '69, causing the 1970 model to start 5 months later than usual.

[Bill Pritchard]

You're saying there was a strike in the spring of 69 which affected 69 model year Corvette production? Was the Corvette the only car affected by the strike? Not being argumentative, just trying to understand....

[StealthBird]

The 1969 Camaro and Firebird extension run to November/December 1969 was not due to a strike, it was because of tooling issues (specifically, the failure by Fisher Body to create the rear 1/4 panel dies for the 1970 model). I think the "strike" reference may be in regards to the Van Nuys plant strike, but that didn't have anything to do with extending the 1969 model year.

Now back to the Corvette LT-1. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[LS6 RAT]

[ QUOTE ]
You're saying there was a strike in the spring of 69 which affected 69 model year Corvette production? Was the Corvette the only car affected by the strike? Not being argumentative, just trying to understand....

[/ QUOTE ]

The strike in May 1969 delayed a lot of orders for the Corvette at the St. Louis plant, John Delorean decided to extend Corvette production beyond the normal model year run in order to full fill those orders, rather than return them to the dealers. '69 Corvette production continued thru December of 1969, long into the normal changeover model run.

[mockingbird812]

Good history lesson guys. THanks! Can anyone provide info on when the LT1 engine development was completed? Any idea who oversaw this development (engineer)? And - to summarize, both the '70 Camaro & Corvette were delayed for the same reason - May '69 Strike. Corporate decision was made to extend the model year to fulfill dealer orders?

[Bill Pritchard]

[ QUOTE ]
And - to summarize, both the '70 Camaro & Corvette were delayed for the same reason - May '69 Strike.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sam,

Nope http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif ....apparently only the Corvette was delayed due to a strike. Per StealthBird's response, above,...

"The 1969 Camaro and Firebird extension run to November/December 1969 was not due to a strike, it was because of tooling issues (specifically, the failure by Fisher Body to create the rear 1/4 panel dies for the 1970 model). I think the "strike" reference may be in regards to the Van Nuys plant strike, but that didn't have anything to do with extending the 1969 model year."

Evidently just a coincidence that production of the '69 models of the two different vehicles was extended several months.

[olredalert]

-----Yup, Sam,,,,The January date is correct and I can give you first hand info on that as I bought an LT1 Vette vert brand new. It was ordered on spec by a dealer in Mass. and came in in late January of 1970. I think Ive mentioned the car before more than once. I was back in Mass that January to take my physical and head out to the front (so to speak). I would be lying if I said I wasnt depressed, and then I flunked that physical. Went back to my Moms to get ready to go back to Florida and saw all these new Corvettes getting unloaded off the truck. Ended up putting a deposit on that one that day! GMAC was my friend back in those days. The dealer was a holding yard of sorts for new Vettes that were ordered by other area dealers and I had quite a number to choose from but they were the first anywhere in New England for sure......Bill S

[mockingbird812]

Thanks Bill. that the same 'vette that you used to tangle with a certain red mopar 'vert? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

I'd be interested in what Marlin has to say wrt Don Yenko's knowledge of the LT1 as he made his 1st order of Deuces mid December 1969. I don't have Marlin's email at work so i can't email this link to him. Anyone http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif.................thanks! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[king_midas]

The LT-1 was ready to go before the end of '69 Corvette production, and I think I remember reading somewhere that emissions decals and engine suffixes were made available for '69 Corvettes before the '70 production run began.

Interestingly, the L-46 was available in '70 also, which means that this mixture of engines does seem theoretically possible for '69 production (same reciprocating assy.).

Based on this, were any '69 Corvettes produced with the LT-1?

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

To my knowledge, there is no documentation from Don Yenko and his thoughts on the 'vette LT1. The prevailing thought was that Yenko was simply following his previous model by putting the highest performing 'vette engine in a non-vette automobile - in '70 he chose the Nova to avoid the insurance scrutiny. I'm not convinced that Don did a lot of due diligence on the LT1, he saw 370HP in a 3180 lb car and knew he had a winner - so he submitted the combo for COPO approval. The kick was getting the 4.10 rear, as it was not an RPO in '70.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Just had a chance to read the whole post here. Rick is correct, the initial 'mule' of putting an LT1 into the Nova was available for the press day sometime in mid-late '69. The Mule Nova was actually a '69 version, and the press kit noted that 'neat Nova powered by an LT1 - not available to the public'. Perhaps Don keyed off of that, but most of us think what I typed above. The Mule was the COPO test version of Don's request.

[olredalert]

-----I can give Y'all an unsubstantiated story from a Ft.Lauderdale postman that I knew back around 1975/6. He said he bought a new 69 Corvette (red with saddle vinyl) coupe that he said was an LT1 (delivered, new). I never saw it around back then. He bought it new at Slaton Chevrolet. He sold it in 72 or so and had no idea where it went, but he had a bunch of detail stories about small stuff that led me to believe that he wasnt a "bull$hit" artist.......Bill S