Wette Vette Found.... - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Ccmano · 05-20-2018

Or at least part of it. The LT5 engine just surfaced (no pun intended) on eBay.
Anyone know if this is the real deal?
H

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F282973344459

Hog · 05-20-2018

That's a cool piece of history if legit. Too bad it was pulled from the boat.

Meanmyz · 05-20-2018

My bet is that someone bought it from Rick Kirk's estate and is now trying to make some money on them. This was in his collection.

WARP TEN · 05-20-2018

So, why isn't it in the boat? Where is the boat? --Bob

A26B · 05-21-2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by WARP TEN

So, why isn't it in the boat? Where is the boat? --Bob

The engine was removed by MerCruiser a long time ago & the boat sold. Story goes that a big block was installed in the boat & the new owner was killed when the boat crashed (I recall the boat hit the dock @ high speed). Boat was probably destroyed, but not 100% verified. Rick tried to locate the boat but was never able to confirm its existence.

A26B · 05-21-2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meanmyz

My bet is that someone bought it from Rick Kirk's estate and is now trying to make some money on them. This was in his collection.

Bingo!!

Meanmyz · 05-21-2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by A26B

The engine was removed by MerCruiser a long time ago & the boat sold. Story goes that a big block was installed in the boat & the new owner was killed when the boat crashed (I recall the boat hit the dock @ high speed). Boat was probably destroyed, but not 100% verified. Rick tried to locate the boat but was never able to confirm its existence.

Hi Jerry. This is what I remember hearing. I might even go so far as to say I think that I heard the owner was decapitated in the accident.

I say "them" when describing the motor in my earlier post, because I think there might have been a second LT5 modified for boat duty, as well.

Rick had ALOT of collectibles. I hope the family knew/knows what to ask for all of this stuff.

Meanmyz · 05-21-2018

I think we all know this... How awesome it would have been to own the Wette Vette as it was in 1991. I wonder why the motor was separated from the boat?

Can any of you imagine what this boat would have been like as a 415?

WARP TEN · 05-21-2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by A26B

The engine was removed by MerCruiser a long time ago & the boat sold. Story goes that a big block was installed in the boat & the new owner was killed when the boat crashed (I recall the boat hit the dock @ high speed). Boat was probably destroyed, but not 100% verified. Rick tried to locate the boat but was never able to confirm its existence.

Thanks Jerry. It might be fun for someone (not me) to find a similar boat from the era (a 1991 24 foot Baja 223 Bandit) and make a replica using the actual engine and stern drive. There is a 1991 for sale for $15,000 -- here's a link to its ad: https://boats-from-usa.com/baja/baja-223-bandit-132075. Sounds like a project for Brett Henderson! Here is a link to a video of the Wette Vette running on a lake. --Bob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=v0YsfogqYLo

A26B · 05-21-2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meanmyz

.........I say "them" when describing the motor in my earlier post, because I think there might have been a second LT5 modified for boat duty, as well............

The second one you are referring to is a “show display” unit, mock-up without internals.

Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

05-20-2018	#1
Ccmano Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,843	Wette Vette Found.... Or at least part of it. The LT5 engine just surfaced (no pun intended) on eBay. Anyone know if this is the real deal? H https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F282973344459

05-20-2018	#2
Hog Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,271	Re: Wette Vette Found.... That's a cool piece of history if legit. Too bad it was pulled from the boat.

05-20-2018	#3
Meanmyz Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Springfield, Minnesota Posts: 444	Re: Wette Vette Found.... My bet is that someone bought it from Rick Kirk's estate and is now trying to make some money on them. This was in his collection.

05-20-2018	#4
WARP TEN Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lake Bluff, IL Posts: 2,141	Re: Wette Vette Found.... So, why isn't it in the boat? Where is the boat? --Bob __________________ 2016 Long Beach Red Z06 #10281 "POPS Z" 1995 Polo Green #409 "WARP TEN"--Haibeck 350/510 package, 4.10s, Hurst, Stock Exhaust with QTP Cutouts --Sold but still running strong 1993 Quasar Blue #161 "HIL KING" --Sold but still running strong, now with more than 120,000 miles 1967 Marlboro Maroon/Saddle Corvette Coupe 300 hp/4-spd --Sold a long time ago ZR-1 Net Registry Founding Member #95 NCM Lifetime Member Favorite Quote--Attributed to Mickey Thompson: "Too Much Horsepower is Almost Enough"

05-21-2018	#8
Meanmyz Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Springfield, Minnesota Posts: 444	Re: Wette Vette Found.... I think we all know this... How awesome it would have been to own the Wette Vette as it was in 1991. I wonder why the motor was separated from the boat? Can any of you imagine what this boat would have been like as a 415?