Where there two ZR-12s????

[1989ZR1#74]

Ok, I have documented earlier that the Conan ZR-12 at the Museum is 1989 Vin #040, P9Y074. The ZR-12 is Bright Red with a GRAY interior:

http://www.syreal.com/Conan-V12.jpg

Well in my neverending quest for information on the 1989s I came accross the July 1992 Issue of Vette magazine:

http://www.syreal.com/vette792coversm.jpg

The magazine identifies the ZR-12 as EX5664, WHile reading the article I was struck by a couple oddities. The car has side pipes and a SADDLE interior:

http://www.syreal.com/saddle1.jpg

http://www.syreal.com/saddle2.jpg

But the one at the NCM has a Gray interior:

http://www.syreal.com/gray1.jpg

The magazine ZR-12 has sidepipes:

http://www.syreal.com/sidepipe1.jpg

So were there two ZR-12s or did Chevrolet rebuild this, take the side pipes off, and swap out the interior???

[1989ZR1#74]

There are some pretty sophisticated Headers on the magazine car:

http://www.syreal.com/sidepipe3.jpg

The NCM car has under body exhaust:

http://www.syreal.com/sidepipe2.JPG

[ZZZZZR1]

Woah........



Wonder where the other one is!



:cool:


David

[1989ZR1#74]

Woah........
Wonder where the other one is!
:cool:
David

Not sure if there are two yet, could be just the gray looking "saddle" in the mag, but there are some big differences they had to make after the 1992 pictures.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Is that overflow tank a prototype unit or production?

[Corvettes White]

Is that overflow tank a prototype unit or production?


The tank is early '89 Z, late '89 Z were black.

George

[1989ZR1#74]

Is that overflow tank a prototype unit or production?

and the 88 prototypes were white and smooth...

[bdw18_123]

Very interesting! Who knows, maybe there are a lot of secret cars like this one hidden and stashed away that no one knows about.

[limey]

The tank is early '89 Z, late '89 Z were black.

George

I knew George would know the answer to this question, he's been looking for this part for donkeys years. (Did you ever find it?)

[1989ZR1#74]

The tank is early '89 Z, late '89 Z were black.

George

Thanks to George's picture of #055 it appears that the ZR-1s up to #055 had White ones. All ZR-1s I have seen after #074 had black ones.

[Corvettes White]

I knew George would know the answer to this question, he's been looking for this part for donkeys years. (Did you ever find it?)

No never found it. Missed one by about a week before it was distroyed. George

[ZR1KID]

we will probably see the other zr-12 one day at a barret jackson auciton for upwards of a million...or its been destroyed or parted out....only top
execs of gm know...I bet ya Dave Mclelland knows!!! but he will probably
give you some kinda political answer with a big smile on his face...that guy is just too kewl....look at his masterpiece!!! the original zr-1...it holds records that will never be broken again by a vette!!!!!

[1989ZR1#74]

After investigating this further I have determined there is only one ZR-12. The build sheet matches the EX number. It also shows that the interior was originally Saddle Leather. At some point they (GM) changed the color to gray. The SPI is still under the console with the correct VIN. IT has also had several different wheels, side pipes etc. THat aparently is not uncomon for a Chevy Show car.

[Racebred]

To answer everyone's question, there was only one ZR-12 built. It has saddle interior, custom headers, side pipes with modified covers from a '67 Vette. Later, we changed the exhaust to run underneath the car. The real authenticity check will be to look underneath at the U bolts holding the exhaust - the ends of the bolts will be scrubbed down from bottoming out at 130mph at the base of steep hill. And if that doesn't work, I'll use my spare key to start it.

[1989ZR1#74]

Good stuff to know. I new the VIN from the SPI and the EX number from the tag and then found a copy of the build sheet at the archive that tied the two together. The confusion came from the change between the original version:

http://www.syreal.com/conanbefore.jpg

Side pipe saddle interior

and the way it sits today at the museum:

http://www.syreal.com/Conan-V12.jpg

No side pipes and grey interior.

Eric

[1989ZR1#74]

So did you build it?

http://www.syreal.com/conanclamp.jpg

Eric

[Z Factor]

.

Hello and welcome to the forum.:handshak:

:cheers:

[Racebred]

The ZR12 was built at SportsFab Prototype and Development in Wixom, MI, not by Falconer. There was extensive development work to make a V12 production Vette and Falconer's was the best. There was also a V12 4x4 Suburban but I think that was done inside GM. Interesting that the interior is now gray, not sure why. Great picture of the exhaust, it was like titanium strips on a F1 car when it bottomed out at nighttime.

[1989ZR1#74]

I heard there was a V12 Caprice as well. Rumor was that was at the GM Heritage Center. Any photo's of it's (the ZR-12) development lying around? I would love to have a few. Eric

The ZR12 was built at SportsFab Prototype and Development in Wixom, MI, not by Falconer. There was extensive development work to make a V12 production Vette and Falconer's was the best. There was also a V12 4x4 Suburban but I think that was done inside GM. Interesting that the interior is now gray, not sure why. Great picture of the exhaust, it was like titanium strips on a F1 car when it bottomed out at nighttime.

[Racebred]

Hi Eric,
I don't have any pics of the V12 digitally but I'll see what I can find to scan. I never saw a V12 Caprice but did work on a Caprice SS with a 502 BB with DFI that was running around Detroit. It was such a hit that Chevy decided to make some show cars like it.

[1989ZR1#74]

Hi Eric,
I don't have any pics of the V12 digitally but I'll see what I can find to scan. I never saw a V12 Caprice but did work on a Caprice SS with a 502 BB with DFI that was running around Detroit. It was such a hit that Chevy decided to make some show cars like it.

I would love to see them if you get a chance. I think they sold that 502 at Barrett Jackson in 2009. Eric

[1989ZR1#74]

was this it:

http://www.syreal.com/impalassproto.jpg

[Racebred]

That is a different car than the one with the 502 and DFI, but about the same year though. This one had a hood scoop and was owned by a beer distributor in metro Detroit. It laid down rubber with a paint roller.

[LGAFF]

Racebred.....any chance you can disclose your background? You sound like you have an interesting history/role at GM.

[Racebred]

My profile has my work history. I was just fortunate to work on and race many of the Corvettes during the 80s and 90s. Recently I've been working on the new Camaro.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

My profile has my work history. I was just fortunate to work on and race many of the Corvettes during the 80s and 90s. Recently I've been working on the new Camaro.


I hope you stick around here and keep the information coming. You are a very welcomed member.

Brett

[Demps]

I hope you stick around here and keep the information coming. You are a very welcomed member.

Brett

Concur.
Ted

[WB9MCW]

Welcome RB glad to have you aboard and nice to get the inside scoop from you.

[Racebred]

Thanks. It's really encouraging to see the loyal enthusiasts and owners that keep the cars alive - that's the spirit that is breathed into the heart & soul of the Corvette.

[PhillipsLT5]

ZR-1 Brotherhood