1969 ZL-1 convertible

[Bert L.]

ARIZONA

26 JANUARY 2023

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/AZ23/Arizona/lots/r0084-1969-Chevrolet-Corvette-Stingray-ZL-1-Convertible/1317662

"Merry Christmas & Happy New Year"

Sincerely hope I haven't broken any cardinal posting rules with this...

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

One has to hope that the documentation that is touted in the ad but not shown really supports the fantastical story of this car. I wonder whether it started out as an L-88 and gained a dealer installed aluminum block thru the intervention of luminaries. I say this because this car would have been built before any of the ZL-1 Camaros and seems very suspicious. The origin story of the ZL-1 engine is that a Chevy dealer ordered 50 cars with aluminum blocks to homologate ZL-1 Camaros for drag racing and the process was so rushed and sloppy that the price was not even determined until the cars began arriving to the dealer in January. When the price determined to be $4000 instead of the $1000 he expected, the dealer had to be let out of his contract to avoid bankruptcy and most of the cars were sent to other dealers who had a hard time selling them. I think the first ZL-1 Camaros were built in late December 68 and early January 69. It does not make sense that a Corvette was built prior to the Camaros that caused the engine to be offered and that the price was known for the single Corvette but not the 50 Camaro order. The other yellow ZL-1 Corvette coupe had good documentation and was a late 69, built around September when the last of the ZL-1 Camaros were being built which makes more sense.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

pat: u have a PM. regards, mike mccagh

[Roy S.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

pat: u have a PM. regards, mike mccagh

<br />
<br />
Send me a copy😀

[Roy S.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

One has to hope that the documentation that is touted in the ad but not shown really supports the fantastical story of this car. I wonder whether it started out as an L-88 and gained a dealer installed aluminum block thru the intervention of luminaries. I say this because this car would have been built before any of the ZL-1 Camaros and seems very suspicious. The origin story of the ZL-1 engine is that a Chevy dealer ordered 50 cars with aluminum blocks to homologate ZL-1 Camaros for drag racing and the process was so rushed and sloppy that the price was not even determined until the cars began arriving to the dealer in January. When the price determined to be $4000 instead of the $1000 he expected, the dealer had to be let out of his contract to avoid bankruptcy and most of the cars were sent to other dealers who had a hard time selling them. I think the first ZL-1 Camaros were built in late December 68 and early January 69. It does not make sense that a Corvette was built prior to the Camaros that caused the engine to be offered and that the price was known for the single Corvette but not the 50 Camaro order. The other yellow ZL-1 Corvette coupe had good documentation and was a late 69, built around September when the last of the ZL-1 Camaros were being built which makes more sense.

They have trouble posting document photos because there are no less than three different tank sheets and two different dealer invoices that I know of.

[Kevin G.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

They have trouble posting document photos because there are no less than three different tank sheets and two different dealer invoices that I know of.

But, I thought this car was restored by the Master?

[Jon H.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

The yellow car owned by Roger is the only factory documented 1969 ZL1 to date. I have a lot of history on the yellow car including details from the plant when it went through production through delivery etc. The orange car in this auction does not have any verified factory documentation or the original motor. There is an active thread over in the corvette forum general section on this car. Here is a link to the auction documents: https://ws.onehub.com/folders/65ybsij7 Roy, you are correct there are two invoices signed that are not consistent as well as multiple tank stickers. I have a pretty large database of factory documentation, engine stampings and trim tags as I am sure you do and there has been no documentation presented to date that would sway my opinion that the orange car was a factory delivered ZL1. My opinion is that it was delivered as an L88 M40 car and a ZL1 engine was installed.

[Jon H.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

Here are the two invoices that have been presented for the car over the years:
Orange ZL1 West Penn Garage.jpg

69 orange ZL1 ivoice 2.jpg

[Rick G.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

Interesting one invoice list the automatic transmission as an option where the other does not. The purchaser signatures definitely do not appear to be from the same signer.

[Patrick B.]

[Roy S.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

When you have to fake documents to support a car, then fake so many different documents that nothing appears real, it begins to make you think why?

Simple trying to support something that is not what it is claimed to be.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

Wow. So this thread is saying that a respected auction house and seller are misrepresenting a car they hope will bring $3 million... Or they believe it's legitimate but are mistaken?

Serious accusation.

[Roy S.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

Wow. So this thread is saying that a respected auction house and seller are misrepresenting a car they hope will bring $3 million... Or they believe it's legitimate but are mistaken?

Serious accusation.

Just obvious proof of forged documents. What conclusion would you draw. Other discussion boards all have similar comments.

[Michael J.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

Yes, very interesting situation here, and not the first time something like this has happened with an allegedly "rare" car, caveat emptor.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 ZL-1 convertible

Road and Track, Hagerty's and Fox News are all reporting the upcoming auction of this rare ZL-1. I didn't find any Google hits questioning its authenticity.