Only two ZL-1 Corvettes were produced during the 1969 model year.

That makes it one of the rarest and most legendary Corvettes ever made.

While it’s unlikely that you will ever have the privilege of owning one of them, this tribute ZL-1 is the next best thing, and it’s for sale on Bring a Trailer. With three days left in the auction, it’s attracted a high bid of just $38,000.

The original ZL-1 was a monster, and an expensive one at that – the option cost $4,718.35, just shy of the base MSRP of $4,781.

Chevy designed it specifically for drag racing, with no intentions of offering it to the mass market. Hence, it required mandatory race-spec upgrades like heavy-duty brakes, special suspension, and Positraction – minus creature comforts like air conditioning, radio, and power steering.

This tribute car pays homage to the original.

Fabulous Restorations — the shop of builder George Haddad — selected this Corvette specifically for its clean bones, then executed a comprehensive mechanical rebuild and exterior refresh to transform it into a ZL-1 tribute worthy of the nameplate. The result earned an 8-out-of-10 overall rating from the seller. Minor concessions to reality include a small scratch on the hood and slight imperfections near the door edges.

Underneath the L88-specific hood, the engine tells the real story. The aluminum block was honed at a NASCAR shop in North Carolina before being shipped to assembler Mike Fierelli, who fitted it with GM aluminum open-chamber heads, Manley valves, a Comp Cams hydraulic roller camshaft, Wesco forged pistons at a stout 12.5:1 compression ratio, and a GM steel crank turning a 3.760-inch stroke through 6.135-inch GM rods. The M22 rock-crusher four-speed backs it up. The J56 heavy-duty brake package completes the factory-spec mechanical picture.

One thoughtful modern concession was made to the cooling system. The original L88 was engineered to run at 150 mph on a race circuit, where airflow kept temperatures in check. For street and show use, a big-block AC radiator setup with an upgraded cooling fan replaced the race-only original — a practical upgrade that keeps the engine happy in traffic without compromising the car’s character.

Inside, the cockpit is all business: original vinyl, a proper M22 shifter, a full gauge cluster, and the unmistakable 427 ZL-1 placard on the dash. A warning sticker on the firewall demands a minimum of 103 research octane.

Check out the car in the YouTube video, where you can get a feel of what it’s like to be behind the wheel of a ZL-1 during a driving video.

Source:
Bring a Trailer

Related:
Corvettes for Sale: 1969 Corvette Presented as a Possible ZL-1 Has Reached $151K in Bidding
1969 Corvette ZL-1 Convertible Sells for $3.14 Million at RM Sothebys
[VIDEO] 700 Sounds – A Fan Film About a 1969 Corvette ZL-1

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