BREAKING NEWS 1989 #004 is the oldest surviving production VIN'd ZR-1

[1989ZR1#74]

Well good news came in the mail today. In order to better understand the early 89 Pilots I have now obtained the build sheets from 1989 ZR-1 VIN #001 through #006. It turns out that even though #003 has a lower VIN than #004, #004 was produced 36 Corvettes ahead of #003. Making it the oldest known surviving 1G1YZ ZR-1 Corvette.

#001's Sequence# Y0002419
#002's Sequence# Y0002420
#003's Sequence# Y0002857
#004's Sequence# Y0002821
#005's Sequence# Y0002810
#006's Sequence# Y0002614

Last month Dick Balsley had told me that #004 was the oldest surviving ZR-1, but until today I did not have any proof. There was a lot of strange VIN order back then. #001 and #002 were built almost 400 corvettes before #004. #006 was built 200 Corvette's before #004

[ZZZZZR1]

Woah!


Congrats! We had better not see this go back for sale @ BG next year!!!




David

[1989ZR1#74]

If you look closely at this GM press photo of #003, you can also see #004 the DRM in front of it and a black ZR-1 minus lug nut covers.

[Hammer]

WOW, I would say you got a screamin deal on this car. I have followed all your posts with envy. Sounds like you are having a hoot with this car and all the knowledge about ZR-1's you are getting.

I must thanks for sharing this info with everyone freely. Not all would be so generous.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Pretty neat stuff, Eric! Congrats on a great buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, tell me if I have this right????

The two-three 1986 cars were "mule" cars for engine development and not really ZR1 protoypes.
The two 1988's Tyler's (EX5014) and Geoff's (EX5023) are "prototype" ZR1's. The oldest two true ZR1's in existence (as far as we know).
1989 #004 is the oldest surviving "production" ZR1 in existence.

[Tyler Townsley]

Originally Posted by Blue Flame Restorations

Pretty neat stuff, Eric! Congrats on a great buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, tell me if I have this right????

The two-three 1986 cars were "mule" cars for engine development and not really ZR1 protoypes.
The two 1988's Tyler's (EX5014) and Geoff's (EX5023) are "prototype" ZR1's. The oldest two true ZR1's in existence (as far as we know).
1989 #004 is the oldest surviving "production" ZR1 in existence.

All 88-89 ZR-1s came down a production line as a ZR-1, 88s are classified as 'prototype' builds and 89s are classified as 'pilot' build.

Tyler

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Are the 86's considered "mules" or test beds for development work? Did they have EX numbers as well?


Are you ready to do that body drop tomorrow?

I spent 13 hrs today putting on a top.

[1989ZR1#74]

Originally Posted by Blue Flame Restorations

Pretty neat stuff, Eric! Congrats on a great buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, tell me if I have this right????

The two-three 1986 cars were "mule" cars for engine development and not really ZR1 protoypes.
The two 1988's Tyler's (EX5014) and Geoff's (EX5023) are "prototype" ZR1's. The oldest two true ZR1's in existence (as far as we know).
1989 #004 is the oldest surviving "production" ZR1 in existence.

Although it is semantics. Here goes my explanation:

Production ZR-1s have their own VIN sequence. they Start with 1G1YZ, they have a "J" in the 8th digit for the LT5 and they start at 800001 (90 Active ZR-1s start at 700001). They also include RPO ZR1 in their build sheets and SPI stickers.

L98s have their own VIN sequence. They start with 1G1YY, they have an 8 in the 8th digit for the L98 and they start with 100001. This applies to both 88 and 89 model years.

Now the 88 Prototypes (including EX5014 and EX5023) are arguably Prototype ZR-1s, but they lack the aforementioned VIN sequence codes and the ZR1 RPO code. They are built on L98 VIN number sequences, but were assigned EX VINs from the plant (EX5014 was/is 1G1YY2180J5100043 EX2023 was/is 1G1YY218XJ5100048) They do have all of the expected modifications done to ZR-1s wide bodies, LT5 engines etc. And include most options associated with production ZR-1s. Tyler has every right (as of this writing) to claim his Queenie is the oldest prototype "widebody" ZR-1 in existence. I am not claiming anything that would in anyway undermine any of the narrow bodies or prototypes, but #004 is the oldest (as of this writing) existing "Production" Vin'd ZR-1 in existence.

Now whoever owns the oldest surviving 1990 ZR-1 (probably Rick Mears) can claim he has the oldest "Retail" ZR-1

Oh yeah there are a bunch of C3 guys that have us all beat with the real first ZR1s so I guess we need to add "C4" before all of our ZR-1 claims.

To put it in "Blue Flame" terms, this is similar to the "claim" that EX122 is the Oldest Corvette (I have many thoughts on that) and 53 #003 is the oldest "Production" Corvette.

[1989ZR1#74]

Originally Posted by Hammer

WOW, I would say you got a screamin deal on this car. I have followed all your posts with envy. Sounds like you are having a hoot with this car and all the knowledge about ZR-1's you are getting.

I must thanks for sharing this info with everyone freely. Not all would be so generous.

John Thanks, Most fun I have had in a long time. Eric

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Thanks for the clarification of the differences between the 86-89's, Eric. Good documentation to keep.