1969 Corvette ZL1

We often give Corvettes variants the epithet rare when only a handful were produced, e.g. the 1963 Z06 where less than 200 cars were manufactured. The 116 Corvette Challenge race cars from 1988 and 1989 is another example of a Corvette that is considered truly rare and much sought after by car collectors. All these “rare cars” do however seem like mass produced Soviet Ladas in comparison to the 1969 Corvette ZL1. Of the 38,762 1969 Corvettes, only two (2!) were 1969 Corvette ZL1.

The 1969 Corvette ZL1 featured an all aluminum version of the L88 427 cu in 430 hp engine. This meant that both motor block and cylinder heads were made out of aluminum. The ZL1 engine cost a whopping $4,718, which was actually more than the price for an entire Corvette Convertible. If you settled for a base 1969 Corvette Convertible, you could get it for $4,438. A base 1969 Corvette Sport Coupe cost 4,781. In the base models, the motor was a 350 cu. in. engine capable of 300 hp.

Since the ZL1 engine was an all aluminum block variant of the L88 427 cu in engine, it was capable of 430 hp. A standard L88 427 cu in engine cost considerably less than the ZL1, $1,032, and the standard L88 was installed in 116 cars. The 1969 Corvette ZL1 was actually not the model with the most horsepower. While the 1969 Corvette ZL1 and the standard L88 both offered 430 hp, the L71 427 cu in engine would provide you with 435 hp. The L71 was relatively inexpensive, at least compared to the L88 and ZL1, and cost $437. While the 1969 Corvette ZL1 and L88 were produced in no more than two and 116 units respectively, the L71 engine was included in 2,722 Corvettes.

In addition to the engines mentioned above, the buyer of a 1969 Corvette had three other options to choose among. The L46 350 cu in 350 hp engine, the L36 427 cu in 390 hp engine, and the L68 427 cu in 400 hp engine. The 400 hp variant was used for slightly more than 2,000 cars while the two other engines were used in over 10,000 cars respectively.

The fearsome ZL1 engine was not only used for the 1969 Corvette ZL1; you could also find it in a few dozens of Camaros from 1969. A majority of these Camaros where ordered by drag racers. A few hundreds ZL1 engines were also sold directly to racing teams. The ZL1 engine was for instance used for the McLarens who performed excellent in the old Can Am series during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was also included in many of the Greenwood wide-body Corvette cars that raced in the IMSA series from the early 1970s to the early 1980s-.