69'-ZL-1's

[Robert C.]

Met a guy at a Corvette show last weekend that was showing a 69 Conv.race-car with ZL-1 motor. I said that he "did a good making the car" and he said, quickly correcting me, that it was an original CO-PO ZL-1, One of 5 race cars that were built by GM and that he was the original owner!
Is this guy full of it or what?

[Clem Z.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

was this in texas,if so the car is owned by a friend john maher and it is the only ZL-1 build with a auto trans and he has the tank sticker. john also owned several new L-88s back in those days as i did the engine work for him when he was drag racing the corvettes

[Joe L.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

Bob-----

If he has IRREFUTABLE DOCUMENTATION that confirms its originality, then it's original. If not, then it isn't. It's as simple as that. I find it strange that most of these sort of cars seem to have "lost" their original documentation. In this case, if the guy is the original owner, then he ought to have some original paperwork. I'll bet he doesn't, though.

[Michael M.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

I talked to John at a Chevy VetteFest recently ... he was showing the car ... I have pictures here somewhere ... anyway, he IS the original owner and said that he DOES have the paperwork ( including tank sheet ) ... I remeber him saying that the original engine is long gone ...

[Clem Z.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

the orignal engine block needed repairs as it was burned down between cylinders from what i remember

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

John has said many times that he has the paperwork, but he's never yet shown anyone. There are lots of people who have asked, but none who have witnessed. The car has been written about a few times, and the article writers ask about it too, but nothing ever shows up.

I'm not saying he doesn't have it, I'm just saying he hasn't proven anything to the rest of us.

Patrick

[William V.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

I understand not carry the origional paperwork around. but I don't understand why he isn't showing off copies. A good friend keeps a copie of his Super Bird's documentation in the car.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

Of course you understand why he doesn't keep copies in the car.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

john just left here but i found this post too late for him to answer.

[mike mccagh]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

clem: reminder for you and john---we'll be running at the cumberland airport on fri sat and sunday june3, 4 and 5. hope to see you all,mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

Patrick-----

With all of the questions that this sort of car and claims would undoubtedly cause, you'd think that COPIES of the documentation would long ago have been placed in the car PERMANENTLY.

For a person to make claims that the car has such a rare option, be the original owner, and yet not carry copies of the documentation with the car or ever have shown them to anyone is VERY suspicious. On top of all that, the original engine is, apparently, not with the car. So, that would raise even more questions since there is no engine with the car that might, in some way, "verify" its originality.

[Mark #28455]

rumor has it...

There were 7 ZL1 engines delivered from Tonawanda to St.Louis in the 1969 model year. Supposedly the cars were built but the first two had a lot of problems and the option was canned. The first two were reportedly sold as ZL1's and the remaining 5 were supposed to be converted to L88's (the replacement L88 engines were sent from Tonawanda but the ZL1's were never returned). So, were the remaining ZL1's slipped out with the aluminum engines or with the cast iron blocks? Either way, the tank stickers were likely left intact (who really cared at that time) so you could potentially win the lotto and find an unrestored L88 that really was a ZL1!

Mark

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

Joe,

My point exactly.

An article in Vette Magazine several years ago showed a copy of an old newspaper John had from the mid 70s that called the car a "one of 7" ZL-1. I'm not sure anyone would have faked an early 70s newspaper article, especially when it showed John and his kids, but...

Either way, I think the car is cool. It sounds neat and looks awesome.
You'd hate it, though. Gill trim and aftermarket black side exhaust.

Patrick

[Joe L.]

Re: 69'-ZL-1's

Patrick-----

I'm sure that no one faked a 1970's newspaper article. However, how do we know that the article was ACCURATE. There are a lot of things found in the newspaper that aren't accurate. What was the source of the newspaper's information? The owner's representation? If so, we're back to the same old thing.

[Joe L.]

Re: rumor has it...

Mark-----

There are all sorts of rumors around. Some say that the government has captured intergalactic aliens and is holding them. Some say that Elvis is alive and has been spotted. And, so on. However, no one's come up with any HARD EVIDENCE to support any of these rumors. Without HARD EVIDENCE, they remain just rumors.

"Lucia's Law": The longer that rumors persist without the appearance of HARD EVIDENCE, the less likely it is that there's any substance to the rumors.