1969 ZL-1 Corvette

[NitrousG35]

The 1969 ZL-1 Corvette, quite simply at the top of the pantheon of muscle cars back in the day.





The ZL-1 motor was conceived by Chevrolet as a lighter weight alternative to the legendary L-88. The L-88 was in itself, a beast of a motor with aluminum, open chamber heads, a 12.5:1 compression ratio, 2.19 intake/1.88 exhaust valves. Chevrolet added the now famous cowl induction L-88 hoodscoop to the 1968 Corvettes for better cold air/ram air effect. In fact, Chevrolet was the first manufacturer to draw cold air in from the base of the windshield where there was a low pressure area, rather than the forward facing hoodscoops of other classic muscle cars.

As Chevrolet power began to dominate Can Am racing, Chevrolet looked for a lighter version of the L-88 motor. They cast the block out of aluminum, rather than iron, which was revolutionary for the time in production cars. They added thicker main bearing webs, thicker cylinder walls and 4 bolt mains with a forged crankshaft, forged steel rods, forged pistons and a provision for dry sump lubrication. The camshaft was a 620 degrees lift/273 degrees duration solid lifter design. Anyone familiar with these lift and duration specs knows how lopey the cam is. The intake manifold was a high riser with dual planes, topped off by a Holley 850 cfm carb with mechanical secondaries.





The motor made its debut in the might Chaparrals of Jim Hall and the McLaren's of Bruce Mclaren. Hall used the ZL-1, both in the 2G and the 2F variants in 1967, while McLaren used in the M8A in 1968.





Zora Arkus Duntov, the godfather of Corvettes, decided to put one in a Corvette in 1969. The Corvette chassis was beefed up with J56 brakes, F41 suspension, J50 power brakes and a K66 transistorized ignition. The transmission was the famous M-22 Muncie "rock crusher", which I had in my 1969 Corvette. That was one stout, strong tranny. There was a G81 positraction rear end. Kustom headers designed special 4 into 1 collectors that swept out to the side of the car with long collector tubes extending back to the rear wheel well area. I had these same headers on my 1969 427 Corvette. While the car sounded mean and nasty, they left terrible burn marks on your leg if you were wearing shorts and were clumsy getting out of the car. Amazingly, Chevrolet listed the car as RPO-Regular Production Option, meaning that is was conceivable, someone could order it right from the factory.

The ZL-1 option was $3,010 in addition to the $1,032.15 L88 race option. Thus, a ZL-1 Corvette would have gone for $9,000, a princely sum back then. [As a footnote, I bought my first Corvette, a 427 tri-power roadster, in 1973 for $2,300.] Only 2 of these beasts were produced. Today, their collector's value is priceless.

Chevrolet decided to allow the car magazines to test Duntov's toy. Equipped with 4.88 gears, a Turbo400 automatic transmission, open headers and 10" drag slicks, which by today's standards, would be like driving on banana peels. [Remember, the rubber compounding and tire construction back then was bias ply and nothing like we have today.] MotorTrend tested the car and got a 10.89 @ 130 mph time. With stock gearing, the car's top speed was close to 200 mph. Quite simply, it was in a league of its own, trumping the mighty Hemi 'Cuda and Boss 429, two legendary King of the Hill musclecars.

I think I will periodically start threads like this to educate some of the younger people here on the forum about cars of yore.

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

thats a mad spoiler..

[chrisfrofro]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

thats a mad spoiler..

i was thinking the same thing.. i think i saw that one on a car in the rice thread

[NitrousG35]

Originally Posted by chrisfrofro

i was thinking the same thing.. i think i saw that one on a car in the rice thread

The Chaparral was no ricer. It debuted the high mounted wing in 1966. The wing has the ability to pivot up and down, thus in the horizontal mode, the car was streamlined, while in the angled mode, it gave maximum downforce. BTW, did you read the article or not? The point of the Chaparral pictures was to show why the ZL-1 Corvette was produced in the first place.

[07mugencivic]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

thats a mad spoiler..

you think if it goes fast .....it can fly

[Sirbelch]

^^^ these kids got no respect for the old cars. Me, I'm a car guy that loves anything that halls serious ass no matter who makes it or when it was made. I just have a soft spot for high revs in pocket rockets. 10.69 on some bias ply tire is effing ridiculous. If you put a modern slick on that car it would pull low 9's easy maybe even high 8's. However, i don't think you could compare it to the hemis and 427's of the day if only 2 were put into street cars. What you can compare it to is all the hard core race versions of the hemis and 427s. Thats more of a fair fight.

Those wings where the shit back in the day. Where do you think all the ricers and real racers of today got the idea of a big wing for producing down force. The wing on the Chaparrals was variable. So when going down the back straight at Sebring the wing would level itself out to produce a minimal amout of drag and a maximum amout of speed. However, when the time came to turn, the will would change to a more agressive angle of attack to produce maximum down force and maximum apex speed. Variable wings aren't even allowed in Formula One these days.

[NitrousG35]

Originally Posted by Sirbelch

^^^ these kids got no respect for the old cars. Me, I'm a car guy that loves anything that halls serious ass no matter who makes it or when it was made. I just have a soft spot for high revs in pocket rockets. 10.69 on some bias ply tire is effing ridiculous. If you put a modern slick on that car it would pull low 9's easy maybe even high 8's. However, i don't think you could compare it to the hemis and 427's of the day if only 2 were put into street cars. What you can compare it to is all the hard core race versions of the hemis and 427s. Thats more of a fair fight.

Those wings where the shit back in the day. Where do you think all the ricers and real racers of today got the idea of a big wing for producing down force. The wing on the Chaparrals was variable. So when going down the back straight at Sebring the wing would level itself out to produce a minimal amout of drag and a maximum amout of speed. However, when the time came to turn, the will would change to a more agressive angle of attack to produce maximum down force and maximum apex speed. Variable wings aren't even allowed in Formula One these days.

Paul, as an afficianado, you understand these things. Others here seem to have tunnel vision and can't appreciate anything outside their little boxes. Glad to see that you know about the Chaparral and the contributions Jim Hall and Chevrolet made to aerodynamics. Great post bro!

[NitrousG35]

Originally Posted by Sirbelch

^^^ these kids got no respect for the old cars. Me, I'm a car guy that loves anything that halls serious ass no matter who makes it or when it was made. I just have a soft spot for high revs in pocket rockets. 10.69 on some bias ply tire is effing ridiculous. If you put a modern slick on that car it would pull low 9's easy maybe even high 8's. However, i don't think you could compare it to the hemis and 427's of the day if only 2 were put into street cars. What you can compare it to is all the hard core race versions of the hemis and 427s. Thats more of a fair fight.

Those wings where the shit back in the day. Where do you think all the ricers and real racers of today got the idea of a big wing for producing down force. The wing on the Chaparrals was variable. So when going down the back straight at Sebring the wing would level itself out to produce a minimal amout of drag and a maximum amout of speed. However, when the time came to turn, the will would change to a more agressive angle of attack to produce maximum down force and maximum apex speed. Variable wings aren't even allowed in Formula One these days.

Paul, thanks for the support. I should have known that something like this was over the heads of most of the people here on 8th Gen. Glad to see there is someone who not only knows what a Chaparral is, but understands the high mounted wing and why it was so revolutionary. This will definitely be my last thread about cars like these.

I really have enjoyed reading your posts in the F1 section. Glad to see that there are a few enlightened souls here on 8th Gen. -Bill

[Snake-eyes]

I have to disagree with you..
the corvette is not the best muscle car!!!

because its a sports car

[NitrousG35]

Originally Posted by Snake-eyes

I have to disagree with you..
the corvette is not the best muscle car!!!

because its a sports car

And I have to disagree with you.!!! In the 60's it was seen in the genre of the muscle cars, not typical sports cars like the MG, Austin Healey, Jaguar etc.
The same could be said for the Ford AC Cobra. Yes, it was a sports car, but really, it was a muscle sports car if you want to call it that.

The ZL-1 motor was found in both the Camaro and the Corvette in 1969. On the street, the Corvette's competition was not woosy British sports cars, but rather American muscle.

BTW, I lived back in the day. In fact, I was a teenager then. I remember well the times and I owned both a Camaro and 2 Corvettes.

[shipo]

I found this thread very interesting and timely to say the very least. My 13 year old is working his way through the Grand Turismo 4 game and just last weekend he was asking me what pre-1970 car he should "buy" that would allow him to beat a 427 Cobra in a 1,000 mile endurance race (he did manage to place second to a Cobra with a 454 Chevelle, go figure). I thought for a minute and suggested the 1969 ZL-1 Vette or any Chapparal that would be allowed in that race (turns out none of them).

IIRC he is now running a heavily breathed on 1963 "Split Window" Corvette, and while he hasn't beaten the Cobra yet, he's competitive.

[NitrousG35]

Originally Posted by shipo

I found this thread very interesting and timely to say the very least. My 13 year old is working his way through the Grand Turismo 4 game and just last weekend he was asking me what pre-1970 car he should "buy" that would allow him to beat a 427 Cobra in a 1,000 mile endurance race (he did manage to place second to a Cobra with a 454 Chevelle, go figure). I thought for a minute and suggested the 1969 ZL-1 Vette or any Chapparal that would be allowed in that race (turns out none of them).

IIRC he is now running a heavily breathed on 1963 "Split Window" Corvette, and while he hasn't beaten the Cobra yet, he's competitive.

I love it. Careful though, some of the jackboots in this thread will not tolerate either an American car such as the Corvette, or to refer to the Corvette or Cobra as "muscle cars" even though it is an inclusive term.

Too funny that your son finished second to a Cobra with a 454 Chevelle, a wildly understeering car if there ever was one. The intermediate body designs from GM, Ford and Chrysler were not known for their handling characteristics, although both the Chevelle and 442 handled better than their peers.

[RaskyR1]

...and I agree that the older big block vetts WERE muscle cars! The cars of today are great in there own way but there is nothing like getting behind the wheel of a 60's big block muscle car!

[rmfa]

I love those cars! The current models are my favorite but these started it all. I know where the roots came from :)

[NitrousG35]

Originally Posted by RaskyR1

...and I agree that the older big block vetts WERE muscle cars! The cars of today are great in there own way but there is nothing like getting behind the wheel of a 60's big block muscle car!

Thanks Rasky. It is refreshing to read an informed and educated opinion. As you said, the torque of a big block muscle car whether a 426 Hemi, 440 Magnum, 428 Cobra Jet or 454 or 455 is something other worldly. The sound, the fury, the rush of speed, Oh what a feeling!

[shipo]

As much as I used to enjoy the absolute rush of the big block motors (you know, the kind where it's illegal to flex your right foot, even for a moment), back in the day I was more of a fan of the small block mills. Case in point, I MUCH prefered my 340 4-Speed 1970 Challenger to the 383 4-bbl Automatic 1970 Challenger owned by a friend of mine. Another friend had a 440 6-Pack in a 1969 Charger (Automatic also ) that was a blast to drive, even still, the 340 kept calling me back.

[NitrousG35]

Originally Posted by shipo

As much as I used to enjoy the absolute rush of the big block motors (you know, the kind where it's illegal to flex your right foot, even for a moment), back in the day I was more of a fan of the small block mills. Case in point, I MUCH prefered my 340 4-Speed 1970 Challenger to the 383 4-bbl Automatic 1970 Challenger owned by a friend of mine. Another friend had a 440 6-Pack in a 1969 Charger (Automatic also ) that was a blast to drive, even still, the 340 kept calling me back.

Absolutely. The small blocks were a blast to drive. Note the Boss 302, Z/28 and the 340 Challenger and 'Cuda. They often were as quick as their bigger block counterparts. They certainly handled and braked better.

I had a '69 427/390 hp Corvette roadster. My friend had a '69 Z/28. We were dead even up to about 75 mph when the greater horsepower and torque took over. I always loved the sound of that solid lifter 302 with the cowl induction hood.

[Sirbelch]

The only muscle car i have ever ridden was a 72 Nova with a 454 in it. Jesus titty ******* christ that thing was a beast. It roasted the tires in 1st and 2nd and continued to spin them through 3rd. It had 5" duel exhaust. You could hear if from a mile away.

I like the trans am special cars like the boss 302 and Z/28. I'm a handling junkie (hence owning an Si) and turing left and right never gets old unlike driving in a straight line.

[NitrousG35]

Originally Posted by Sirbelch

The only muscle car i have ever ridden was a 72 Nova with a 454 in it. Jesus titty ******* christ that thing was a beast. It roasted the tires in 1st and 2nd and continued to spin them through 3rd. It had 5" duel exhaust. You could hear if from a mile away.

I like the trans am special cars like the boss 302 and Z/28. I'm a handling junkie (hence owning an Si) and turing left and right never gets old unlike driving in a straight line.

Paul, I totally agree. Back in the day, I was into road racing. Hence, I was in love with Corvettes, Cobras, Boss 302's and Z/28's and Trans Am's. I remember a friend having a '68 Hemi Road Runner. Fast in a straight line, but oh so scary when braking and going into the turns. It had 4 drum brakes and took forever to stop and would wash out horribly in the turns.

I agree about the Si. I love the handling, braking and overall balance of the car. Wouldn't mind a little more muscle though as you can never have too much horsepower.

[Chevelle]

God, that vette is incredible. I have a book on classic american muscle cars and those pics are in it. These type of threads make me miss my chevelle. To those that have never driven, or ridden in a classic 60's/early 70's muscle car, there really is nothing that comes close to mimicing that rush when you mash the gas and the car squats, feels like it's going to push you into the back seat and just explodes down the highway (like a slug from a 45) sorry had to throw a Zombie reference in there.