One of a kind ZL-1 Corvette convertible up for auction

[rrrr]

The only 1969 ZL-1 convertible built will go on the block at the RM Sotheby's Arizona auction. The car's engine is a derivative of the Chevrolet factory Can-Am racing effort, and is said to produce somewhere around 580 HP.

The catalog listing has fascinating details about the car's provenance, and the estimated sales price is $2.6-$3 million.

1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible | Arizona 2023 | RM Sotheby's

1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible for sale at RM Sotheby's Arizona

rmsothebys.com

 

[SBMech]

Supposedly only 3 Corvettes got that engine, the Orange Convertible, a White Stingray and a Yellow W/Black Stripes Stingray.

Rumors about 3 grand sport race cars with the engine are hard to track down.

The Legendary all aluminum 427 is publicly known to dyno around 550-600+HP with 100lbs less weight then the 302, making it truly an icon.

 

[rrrr]

Supposedly only 3 Corvettes got that engine, the Orange Convertible, a White Stingray and a Yellow W/Black Stripes Stingray.

Rumors about 3 grand sport race cars with the engine are hard to track down.

The Legendary all aluminum 427 is publicly known to dyno around 550-600+HP with 100lbs less weight then the 302, making it truly an icon.

Around 1974 I ran across a guy in a parking lot that was driving a 1970½ (the first split bumper) Camaro with an all aluminum 427. It's the only one I've ever seen.

 

[SBMech]

Around 1974 I ran across a guy in a parking lot that was driving a 1970½ (the first split bumper) Camaro with an all aluminum 427. It's the only one I've ever seen.

They were available for purchase, more than a few went into dozens of racing team efforts for Can Am and NHRA.

It's unknown how many were actually replaced/supplied/installed except for the retail versions that had build sheets and ordered through the COPO.

A well evidenced (casting marks/numbers) ZL1 complete have wildly varying prices, even cobbled together motors can go for 50k+.

Anything out of a real car or race car/team can run over 100k.

 

[TomD]

That car really deserves the 4 speed though.

 

[OC Mike]

Even hardcore Ford, Mopar lovers would have to admit that is one Bad Ass ride!!

 

[DaveC]

Unicorn

 

[Swain]

Its a Automatic ahhh. Would be cooler if it was a 4 speed

 

[HALLETT BOY]

Someone at Barrett -Jackson made a comment that more 427 - TriPower 435HP Corvettes have been sold over auction than ever have been produced .

 

[FreeBird236]

At about 17 years old I didn't know anything about the cars, I just remember looking at the engine on the cover of Hot Rod and thinking wow.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I hope whoever buys it actually drives it. But it'll most likely end up back on display to rot. Awesome car...

 

[spectras only]

Maybe Leno buys it. Then it would be driven occasionally.

 

[EPL]

Unicorn

Kind of like the Speed UTV ! sorry I just had to !

 

[SBMech]

Its a Automatic ahhh. Would be cooler if it was a 4 speed

Out of the 3 vettes it's the only T400 one.

22 of the 69 ZL1 Camaros had T400's, 14 with the M22 (rockcrusher) and the other 33 came with the M21 close ratio Muncie 4 speed.

Funny that you were required to have a 4 speed Muncie in any Z/28 variant, either the M21 or M22; but the ZL1 bypassed that because it was ordered from the COPO.

 

[rrrr]

The Corvette sold yesterday for $3,140,000. That makes it the third most expensive Corvette sold in a public transaction.

The high bid makes it the third classic Corvette to sell for more than $3 million, along with the $3.85 million and $3,424,000 that were previously paid for a 1967 L-88 convertible and coupe.

A 1969 Chevrolet Corvette was just auctioned for $3.14 million. Here's why it's worth so much

The only 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible ZL-1 ever built was auctioned for $3.14 million at the RM Sotheby's event in Arizona.

www.foxnews.com

 

[coolchange]

“But it’s not a real sports car and should have an LS in it”. Lol

 

[hman442]

Someone at Barrett -Jackson made a comment that more 427 - TriPower 435HP Corvettes have been sold over auction than ever have been produced .

I heard the same thing about '69 Z28s also. I don't know if there is any truth to that.

 

[bonesfab]

Wouldn't be surprised if Hendrick bought it. He buys a lot of high end corvettes.

 

[SBMech]

I heard the same thing about '69 Z28s also. I don't know if there is any truth to that.

They were stating that more Z/28 's had been registered/insured than were built! So true, everyone wants a Z/28!

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

There was a ZL1 Camaro at BJ yesterday. Goes up on Saturday so I'm sure it's going to pull pretty big $ too.

 

[robert1050]

Someone at Barrett -Jackson made a comment that more 427 - TriPower 435HP Corvettes have been sold over auction than ever have been produced .

Back In the '70s, when I used to street race, we had a saying in our group, "fender emblems came cheap". People used to swap emblems, to fake out people that didn't Know better. Of course, I did the opposite, I put 'cuda 340 emblems on the shaker of my 440-6 car.....
You wouldn't believe how many races I won.....

 

[playdeep]

Around 1974 I ran across a guy in a parking lot that was driving a 1970½ (the first split bumper) Camaro with an all aluminum 427. It's the only one I've ever seen.

Skaggs Parking lot? lol.
There was always badass iron there.

And here...
Is that you in the Trans Am out at South Eubank?

 

[rrrr]

Skaggs Parking lot? lol.
There was always badass iron there.
View attachment 1193465
And here...
Is that you in the Trans Am out at South Eubank?

No, that's a '71 or '72. Mine was a red '73.

I ran across that Camaro in a church parking lot of all places. It was on Wyoming around Menaul.

 

[Orange Juice]

Around 1974 I ran across a guy in a parking lot that was driving a 1970½ (the first split bumper) Camaro with an all aluminum 427. It's the only one I've ever seen.

I had a 1970 Camaro 396 SS W/ 4sp. It was my high school/College race car. I owned it 22 years. Bought it in 1978 at 16 years old. I think I paid $1850 for it…..with dad pitching in half.

Sold it in 2000 for $15k, but it needed some work. All stock. It later sold at Mecum for $60k. I don’t recall there being a 427 in 1970.

 

[outboard_256]

I had a 1970 Camaro 396 SS W/ 4sp. It was my high school/College race car. I owned it 22 years. Bought it in 1978 at 16 years old. I think I paid $1850 for it…..with dad pitching in half.

Sold it in 2000 for $15k, but it needed some work. All stock. It later sold at Mecum for $60k. I don’t recall there being a 427 in 1970.

How much longer after you sold it did it go for $60k? Did you sell it for dirt cheap or just bad timing?

 

[Orange Juice]

How much longer after you sold it did it go for $60k? Did you sell it for dirt cheap or just bad timing?

I thought I got more than what it’s worth at the time. It sold about 10 years later @ auction.