ZL1 Corvette Info

djunod · #1 09-23-2004, 12:42 AM

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Hello guys, this is my first post in the C3 section. I have a 94 and usually hang out in the C4 tech section.

I work for GM and I'm currently working on a project with one of their senior engineers (Floyd). Floyd was an engineer at the St. Louis Corvette plant in the late 60's. At this time GM would let their salaried employees drive home cars. One of their company drivers at the time was one of two built ZL1 Corvette's. This ZL1 was yellow with a black ZL1 emblem on the hood.The ZL1 could be signed out on overnight drivers and weekend drivers. They also had a special Sunocco gas pump at the plant just to fill the ZL1's and L88's. Floyd thought it was Sunocco 260, not sure on the number. He said the ZL1 was a pain to drive, very tempermental, and easily overheated. It was such a pain that the company drivers needed to have 3000 miles on them before they would be sold at a dealer auction. So, to get rid of it quicker than planned they unhooked the speedometer and spun the gauge so fast with a drill it broke the speed indicator.

Rumor was that this ZL1 Corveete was sold to someone that pulled the engine, and put it in a boat. a short time later, the engine blew.

Does anyone have any current information on this ZL1?

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Source: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=909901

**Mr70** · #2 09-23-2004, 12:57 AM

Last I heard,it was in Florida,in a collection.I have some pretty cool inner GM Documents about this Vette.Seems once it was confiscated and going up for auction in the 1990's,GM was jockeying for position to acquire it again.I have about 12 GM Letters talking candidly back & fourth between the higher ups,with their opinion about how to get this,and what it's true value is.They hired 3 experts to go look at it,and determined it was real.But the final bidding exceeded their wildest dreams,and they let it go.I guess they wanted it for a possible Chevrolet Museum back then.
I also uncovered a 1969 Chevrolet Zone letter,telling all dealers that the St.Louis Ass. Plant has a Low mile 1969 Aluminum block Engineers(George)Corvette for sale,and to contact them if interested.It was in fact,this Yellow ZL-1 Corvette.

Here it is:
ROGER JUDSKI ZL-1

Kim_Howie · #3 09-23-2004, 01:06 AM

Around 1980-83 in hemm. was a zl-1 vette for sale no motor do any of you remember this? I think it was down in vir.

Chris396 · #4 09-23-2004, 12:27 PM

I was told there is a blue one too.

Pantera · #5 09-23-2004, 05:17 PM

I saw the blue one when it was new. Setting in the parking lot of a auto appostery shop with the window sticker still on it. That was about a mile from two different Chev dealers here in Tulsa. Never saw it again. It could have been used by the DX racing division. They were in and out of Tulsa all the time.

**Mr70** · #6 09-23-2004, 05:38 PM

I heard the blue one was destroyed?

Kevin S. has the White one in his collection.

djunod · #7 09-23-2004, 07:54 PM

How come if there where only 2, there is a yellow one, a blue one and a white one?

jfkheat · #8 09-24-2004, 01:23 AM

I had heard that there may have been as many as 6 or 7 actually built. Don't know if there is any truth to that or not.
James

GMH454 · #9 09-24-2004, 02:11 AM

Coupe or convertible, and what stripe pattern was it running?

GMH454 · #10 09-24-2004, 02:16 AM

Vette magazine used to promote the idea there was seven, made up of a couple of press cars a couple of mules and the two that were sold. Press cars and mules were not sold to public as ZL-1s last time I checked, although I have been out of the Vette hobby for around 7 years now.
If you read the article on how hard it was to actually buy Kevin's ZL-1, it reinforces the idea of there only being two.