69 Zl1 Corvette

[PLATINUM6BBL]

Originally Posted by rynoshark

I posted this on CorvetteForum, but since this thread sent me an update alert today, I figured I'd cross post this here as well.
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The following internal GM reports summarize production totals through September 1969. The Daytona Yellow ZL1 was ordered September 7, 1969 and completed assembly per the trim tag on September 11, 1969 (N11). I don't have a reference as to what GM's official production date was for the Daytona Yellow ZL1 (presumably either September 11 or September 12, 1969).

Here is a copy of the two documents and my analysis of these two documents:

So what are your thoughts on the Maher MO roadster automatic and his 1st hand account of seeing 7 alongside his car at Gulf Research?

[firstgenaddict]

I would like to know which carb was on the MAHER ZL1 Corvette seeing as the Camaro assembly plant did not have the correct carbs at the end of December.

Is there any information as to when the FIRST ZL1 engine assembly was built at Tonawanda?

Given that even under the direction of ESTES and his HOT ORDER for the Camaros it took a couple of weeks, am I off base in believing that Scheduling for the Corvette ZL1 build would take a couple weeks at best?
Meaning that the earliest would be approx the same time frame as the Camaros were built... end of December given the Dec 9th ECL change?

[LT1vette]

So.... Lets throw a wrench in the works. Do you think Duntov didn't have enough "pull" to get an engine (s) built "out the back door" installed in a car for top racers?? We are talking at a time in history when counting was done by a human not a computer, also not as traceable.....
Didn't one manufacturer run one car out the front door and the same car back down the assembly line to meet homolgation numbers for NASCAR?

PS... I'm a firm BELIEVER there was only two (2) ZL1's built. But the L88 # are a little vague...

[JoeC]

Many special Hi Po cars were built to meet the racing requirements

NHRA required 50 cars for Super Stock class

SCCA required 100 cars for some classes and some like Trans Am was 1000

NASCAR required 200 cars for some and 6000 for others and had other rules

FIA and SCCA had some rules for parts that had to be pre-approved before racing

When FIA and SCCA approved the ZL1 engine for competition in the Corvette, it did not require a minimum number of cars built

[JoeC]

here are pics to go with this thread

I think the yellow and white ZL1 Corvettes are acceped by most as production cars but seems to be some questions on the orange car

article on the orange car

http://www.superchevy.com/features/c...y-corvette-zl1

[EZ Nova]

Need to add this about '69 ZL-1 Vettes.

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=147328

A lot of info there.

Larry Cain post:

"I can remember so vividly seeing a Blue '69 cpe. with a window sticker showing the ZL-1 motor setting at a bodyshop here in Tulsa OK. back in the spring of '69. It had a blue interior too. I tried to find out who owned it but nobody knew for sure. Wish I had took pic of it so everybody would believe me. It didn't have any stripes on it but perhaps they were installed by the dealer when it got to the final destination."

[markinnaples]

I've seen John Maher's '69 ZL-1 in person in the 80's at a car show in Pittsburgh. Interesting car. He said it was a Gulf Research vehicle. Hard to think that it wasn't an original ZL-1, but what do experts say about it?

[PLATINUM6BBL]

Originally Posted by JoeC

here are pics to go with this thread

I think the yellow and white ZL1 Corvettes are acceped by most as production cars but seems to be some questions on the orange car

article on the orange car

http://www.superchevy.com/features/c...y-corvette-zl1

That Super Chevy article is the same thing John told me in the early to mid 90's. I'll have to find the pics I took of it back then. He also told me he had 13 engines in storage as he raced dirt track V8 late model cars. He'd pull the engine out of the vette, freshen it, install it in the dirt track car and purchase (given?) a new engine for the vette. His friend Burr Corbett is still alive and can back up everything John has said. Burr has known the car since day 1 (having mounted its' 1st set of slicks). Burr was also the lead Corvette judge for our local Autumn Leaf Festival (it attracted 15-20 vette's for judging).

[rynoshark]

Per annotations on Chevrolet's internal NPC "Notice of Production Change C69-39" documentation, the first date that a ZL1 engine assembly was available for production installation at the St. Louis Corvette assembly plant for a Corvette with option RPO ZL1 was December 9, 1968.

Further, the separate internal Chevrolet document "Notice of Production Change C69-39, Supplement 1" indicates with annotations that the first day parts were available for building a Corvette with a M40 automatic option for RPO ZL1 was also December 9, 1968.

In the absence of any other internal Chevrolet documentation, the data from these NPC documents indicate it appears that on—or within days—of December 9th, 1968 the first Corvette with option "RPO ZL1" was built. Further, based on this documentation, any Corvette built prior to that date which may have had an aluminum ZL1 type engine installed would not have been with the "RPO ZL1" option code. Given the Daytona Yellow ZL1 is well documented to have been built in September 1969, these would be the two bookend RPO ZL1s.

NOTE: All internal Chevrolet documents referenced above have been uncovered at GM's Heritage Center within the last two years.

[lycan]

Originally Posted by rynoshark

Per annotations on Chevrolet's internal NPC "Notice of Production Change C69-39" documentation, the first date that a ZL1 engine assembly was available for production installation at the St. Louis Corvette assembly plant for a Corvette with option RPO ZL1 was December 9, 1968.

Further, the separate internal Chevrolet document "Notice of Production Change C69-39, Supplement 1" indicates with annotations that the first day parts were available for building a Corvette with a M40 automatic option for RPO ZL1 was also December 9, 1968.

In the absence of any other internal Chevrolet documentation, the data from these NPC documents indicate it appears that on—or within days—of December 9th, 1968 the first Corvette with option "RPO ZL1" was built. Further, based on this documentation, any Corvette built prior to that date which may have had an aluminum ZL1 type engine installed would not have been with the "RPO ZL1" option code. Given the Daytona Yellow ZL1 is well documented to have been built in September 1969, these would be the two bookend RPO ZL1s.

NOTE: All internal Chevrolet documents referenced above have been uncovered at GM's Heritage Center within the last two years.

Thank you, rynoshark!


If i understand you correctly, internal GM documents show that:


- Only two (2) 1969 Corvettes were built with "RPO ZL1" option code, correct?


- The two (2) cars must have been built between 12/9/68 and September 69, correct?




Couple other questions for the forum, if i may:


- Is there a surviving copy of the window sticker, or dealer invoice, for the white car?


- Is there a surviving "tank sticker" or "Corvette Order Copy" (factory assembly sheet) for the white car?


Thank you, one and all!