The ZL1 engine was as exotic of an engine that could have ever
been developed given the parameters Chevrolet had to work with 30
plus years ago. The all aluminum 427 ZL1 was patterned after the
cast iron 427 L88, but it wasn't merely just a change of the block
casting material. The ZL1 had beefier bearing journal web areas, and
external web braces at places such as the front of the block where
the intake manifold bolts down. There are extra bolt pads inside the
lifter valley under the intake manifold to allow for extra head
bolts. The aluminum block had iron cylinder sleeves, capability for
dry sump oil system and optional gear drive for the camshaft. The
ZL1 camshaft was a higher lift and different duration than the L88.
The ZL1 motor was developed by Chevrolet with the intended
purpose of racing. Therefore it was necessary for Chevrolet to
produce it as a regular production motor to qualify it. But it is
likely that without the efforts of Zora Duntov the engine would
never have made it to production. Chevrolet produced the ZL1 motor
as a RPO (Regular Production Order) option in 1969 only, and only
available as a RPO option on the Corvette. Additionally there were
1969 ZL1 Camaros produced; but only as COPO (Central office
Production Order) orders.
This ZL1 Corvette is one of only two 1969 ZL1's sold to the
public. Why were only two sold when it was such a great engine
option? It was the added cost of approximately $6,000 for the ZL1
option that discouraged sales. This more than doubled the cost of
the Corvette resulting in a total cost over $10,000. It would be a
good guess that prospective buyers opted for the more cost effective
L88 cast iron motor, which appeared to have the same horsepower; for
a lot less than the $6,000 that Chevrolet wanted for the ZL1.
This ZL1 was delivered new to a Chevrolet Dealer in Salt Lake
City Utah, as shown through NCIB Bureau records; which have the
original dealerships to which cars are delivered new. The first
owner of this ZL1 Corvette was Jack Cheskaty. Jack is currently the
US Treasury IRS Director for the Rocky Mountain District of five
states. In phone conversations with Jack Cheskaty, he tells of his
purchase and ownership of this factory original ZL1. Jack remembers
very well the original Chevrolet window sticker on his Corvette with
the ZL1 option. Jack states: "there was no mistaking that
option as it essentially doubled the price of the car". Kevin
has the signed notarized affadavit from Jack Cheskaty, on his
official IRS letterhead, to which he unequivocally states the above.
Jack's regret of course; is having let go of this ZL1 Corvette in
1970, not realizing what a valuable car it was destined to be.
Jack traded his ZL1 late in the year of 1970, after drag racing
it and only owning it for a year and a half. The last time this
Corvette was seen by Jack; it was headed for circle track racing and
was highly modified, flares, fuel cell and all. The car was not seen
again until 1978 when Jack wrote a letter to then Vette Vues editor
Errol McCoy telling of his ZL1; but not knowing where it was, or who
currently owned it. The letter from Jack was published in Vette Vues
in 1978 and set off a nation wide hunt for the car. It was
eventually found by Dick Ferrando by finding the second owner, and
by obtaining the owner history through DMV records. Kevin has this
complete DMV owner history of the car starting from Jack Cheskaty to
the present.
Some of the other history in the file Kevin has of this ZL1, is
the racing contract between Jack Cheskaty and Woody Walcher &
Associates Racing team. Woody has also provided a signed affadavit
of this corvette as being a factory original ZL1. Kevin has a 1970
Race Program from Midway Dragstrip in Grand Junction Colorado with
this Corvette under Cheskaty's name. Also has some original photos
of this ZL1 on the dragstrip, with the name "Predator" on
the side. Another item is the original letter written by Jack
Cheskaty in 1978 to Vette Vues. It is on Jack's personalized
stationary with envelope and 15 cent stamp postmarked 11-15-78 and
was recently given to Kevin. It had been retained by Errol McCoy in
his files, after he had left Vette Vues Magazine.
This ZL1 is now restored to original showroom condition. Along
with its ZL1 option are the J50 power brakes, J56 heavy Duty Brakes,
F41 suspension, K66 Transistor Ignition, G81 Posi Rear Axle, M22
Muncie Four Speed, F70x15 Red Stripe tires, A01 Tinted Glass and
Front Louver Trim. It has been Bloomington Gold certified and
featured in many magazines and numerous books. Through the years in
magazines such as Motor Trend, Corvette Fever, Vette Vues, Classic
Auto Restorer, Corvette Quarterly, Vette, Musclecars, and hard back
books such as Automobile Quarterly, Corvette-The Complete
Illustrated History, Corvette-Americas Sports Car, and American
Muscle to name a few.
