There have been numerous special edition or limited Corvettes since the nameplate was created some seven decades ago, but among the ‘Vette faithful, some stand head-and-shoulders above the rest for exclusivity and raw performance. The 1969 ZL-1 certainly fits into that camp. The ZL-1, an optional package that cost more than the car itself, defied belief and boggled the mind while demolishing everything in its path. In 1969, just two models of these hyper-quick Corvettes ever left the factory, and one of them will soon hit the auction block at RM Sotheby’s.
The OG Monster Corvette Is A Result Of ’60s Detroit Lunacy
For starters, there were only two factory aluminum Corvette ZL-1s ever made, and this is the only convertible. Adding to this mystique, the original price was insane. A 1969 corvette convertible cost $4,438 (about $36,000 adjusted for inflation). However, the ZL-1 package cost an extra $4,718 ($38,272), more than doubling the price. What made the ZL-1 truly special is the monster that lives under the hood; a street-legal version of the 7.0-liter (427 cubic inch) V-8 that was used in the now defunct CanAm racing series. Technically it was used as a homologation experiment, but this is not an official homologation car. That, coupled with just two in existence, may be why you have never heard of the ZL-1 name on a Corvette.
The engine is based on the L88 V-8, which was capable of about 430 horsepower. However, the engine in the ZL-1 featured an all-aluminum block, stouter connecting rods, redesigned crankshaft and pistons, larger exhaust valves, a high-lift camshaft, and an upgraded “open chamber” aluminum cylinder-head design with four additional head bolts. All those changes led to the max output of 560 horsepower sent to the rear wheels through an M40 automatic transmission. However, the upgrades were not just for the benefit of power. The ZL-1 also came with heavy-duty brakes and suspension, a Positraction rear axle, and a transistorized ignition system. You also lost a lot of creature comforts with the ZL-1 package. The radio, heater, air conditioning, power windows, and power steering were all deleted from the car, presumably for weight reduction.
This ZL-1 Was Not A Garage Queen And Had Its Engine Blown
In December 1968, the original owner, John W. Maher, traded in his 1968 model year L88 Corvette convertible for the only ZL-1 that was ever sold at a dealership. Maher had gotten word about such a car from his close friend and General Motors, racing legend Don Yenko, RM Sotheby’s reports. Another friend, Grady Davis, a two-time SCCA national champion and senior vice president at Gulf Research, then a secret partner to GM’s clandestine racing operations, helped secure Maher’s order.
After delivery, Maher lived out his reign of motorsport terror and decimated hill climbs, autocross events, and drag strips all over western Pennsylvania. Original documents detail the installation of side pipes, a 4.11:1 rear end, and a new fan shroud to aid the overheating issue brought on by pairing an L88 engine with the M40 gearbox. By September 1969, the original engine had been blown and replaced under warranty. It stayed with Maher until 2007 when it was sold to the consignee and has since been fully restored to showroom condition. Finished in Monaco Orange over a black vinyl interior with chrome wheels, it looks just as flamboyant and attention-grabbing as a 560-horsepower C3 Corvette should.