Early Cars in Magazines??

[vettebrett]

Ok, quick question from the new guy here. Most of the cars from the 89 and early 90 magazines. Are most of these photos of the 89 production ZR-1's or are any of these photos of the earlier cars like Tyler's or Jeal's??

[1989ZR1#74]

Originally Posted by vettebrett

Ok, quick question from the new guy here. Most of the cars from the 89 and early 90 magazines. Are most of these photos of the 89 production ZR-1's or are any of these photos of the earlier cars like Tyler's or Jeal's??

You can break the cars down into two areas before 6/89 and after.

The before 6/89 were almost exclusively 1989 Pilot ZR-1s. The pilots were built from 3/88 to 5/88. As described earlier there were 4 "Media" Photo cars. they were seen for the first time after the Riverside long lead press introduction in 6/88. The long lead press into no journalist were allowed to drive the cars. they had 2 on site a Red/Red believed to be #003 and a yellow/black.





Corvette Quarterly, being an official Chevrolet magazine, had access to different cars. They used 2 white cars. 1 white/red and 1 white/black the white/red car was tested by Rick Mears and had a P number of: P9Y034. This is the lowest 1989 P numbered ZR-1 I have seen so it was probably #001 or #002.

White/black


P9Y034:



After 6/89 there were many magazine cars, but most of them came from the Geneva/France introduction. They brought around 15 ZR-1s over. there were at least 4 Bright Red, 4 Dark Red Metallic, and 4 Dark Blue Metallic (ironically a color not available in 1990). These cars where white tank Phase IV 1989 "Production ZR-1s" They were more than likely in the #40 to #60 range. These cars were shipped back to the US after the press unveiling. Lead time for a magazine in 1989 was as long as 3 months. From 8/89 to 3/90 there were articles still featuring 89s but the 90 pilots started to arrive.

I do not believe that any 88 prototypes were ever officially photographed. They may have been seen in "spy" photos. The Phase III Lt-5 was not in production until 1/1988. I believe all of the 88 Protos like Tyler's had Phase II Lt5s. Phase IIs are an entirely different looking animal. Eric

[vettebrett]

Thanks for the detailed answer, I love finally getting into something new dealing with corvettes and learning about something that I did not know before. Kinda reinvents my interest in the corvette scene.

[1989ZR1#74]

Originally Posted by vettebrett

Thanks for the detailed answer, I love finally getting into something new dealing with corvettes and learning about something that I did not know before. Kinda reinvents my interest in the corvette scene.

I agree, it is fun and suprisingly the lexicon of early ZR-1 info is full of a lot of Myth and BS.

[scholtmj]

Interesting, I'm looking at Road & Track June 1989 and there is a white ZR-1 on the cover with a Countach and a Testarossa. If there was a 3 month waiting period for magazine this must have been a shot done in Europe?

The ZR-1 tested inside is the Red/Red 89'.

Brett,
Still looking for the other R&T, getting closer to that challenge article. 20+years of old magazines to go through!

[1989ZR1#74]

There were no white ZR-1s for the Geneva show. I have the mag, I will look, but it is probably one of the media pilots seen above. Is it a Phase III?

Originally Posted by scholtmj

Interesting, I'm looking at Road & Track June 1989 and there is a white ZR-1 on the cover with a Countach and a Testarossa. If there was a 3 month waiting period for magazine this must have been a shot done in Europe?

The ZR-1 tested inside is the Red/Red 89'.

Brett,
Still looking for the other R&T, getting closer to that challenge article. 20+years of old magazines to go through!

[Tyler Townsley]

Do you have the spy shot taken in Aug of 87. It was a shot of a blue ? 88 Prototype from the rear on the Milford test track.

Thanks

Tyler

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Originally Posted by Tyler Townsley

Do you have the spy shot taken in Aug of 87. It was a shot of a blue ? 88 Prototype from the rear on the Milford test track.

Thanks

Tyler

I have it. Taken from "The Heart Of The Beast" book.

[LGAFF]

Automobile Magazine has a good article from 11/88. Yellow Z with a white overflow tank.....its interesting to see what the plan was vs the actual final product/production Dave M discusses the plan to produce 4-5K ZR-1s each year. He also mentions that there is no better car you can buy for less than $50K(apparently the cost changed alittle). I also wonder if the final engine was toned down, they stated the QTR Mile trap speed was nearly 116MPH.

During the interview they are speaking to Dave M and Doug Robinson.....they ask what the next phase of the motor was and Dave answered higher compression....Doug then mentions if you pull the cats off you can get 425hp...Dave quickly recants Doug's statement and states you really should not do that as it screws with the calibration.

Good reading

[Z51JEFF]

Originally Posted by Blue Flame Restorations

I have it. Taken from "The Heart Of The Beast" book.

Ive got a Corvette magazine that has this same car,maybe the same photographer but a different picture.This is interesting to see everybody pulling out books,magazines form 20+ years ago.That car looks silver too me.