All of us here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis have amazingly fond memories and favoritism for the Chevy Corvette in general, and this week the staff on duty at GMAuthority.com provided the news story on the exciting fate of a very rare model. This 1971 Corvette ZR2 is dubbed as “Zora’s Racer” for Zora Arkus Durkov, the Belgian lead engineer who was knowledgeable enough at his profession to be dubbed the “Father of the Corvette”.
During the time of its release, it included the optional LS6 454 cubic-inch Big Block rated at 425 horsepower, along with the M22 heavy-duty close-ratio 4-speed manual, heavy-duty power brakes, transistor ignition, metal fan shroud, special aluminum radiator, and F41 Special Suspension featuring front and rear stabilizer bars, special springs, and shocks. It was everything the ZR1 Package is now made up of, but with the rumbling and exciting LS6 Big Block as the powertrain source. Since there were only two built exactly like that, it is one of the rarest Corvette of all time, and is in exceptional condition touting just 8,702 original miles on the odometer.
It has a factory coat of Brands Hatch Green paint over a black leather interior and boasts both hard and soft tops. The famed and illustrious ZR2 has been the recipient of multiple awards including the prestigious 2001 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Triple Diamond Award, the 2011 Bloomington Gold Great Hall Inductee Awards, 2015 Bloomington Gold Benchmark and Certified Survivor awards along with the 2017 National Corvette Restorers Society Top Flight Award. Much like an esteemed “Hot Wheels” model that anyone would love to race down the loops and over the high-banked curves of the awesome late 70’s playsets, the Corvette ZR2 convertible’s Hatch Green paint tint is glossy, retro, and completely age-defying!
Inside, the black leather seats don’t show the least bit of creasing, and the door panels sport the faux wood panel from the Custom Interior Trim, along with the center console. This particular model has the flat radio-delete plate in place where the radio would usually exist, and the dash top has not undergone any of the curling these Stingrays so often show as a sign of wear. What the topic of conversation usually turns to for any amazing car such as this is what’s under the hood, and the Corvette ZR2 houses the one-year-only 454 cube, 425-horsepower, LS6 Big Block.
This model bears extensive documentation with the tank sticker, valid Vehicle Purchase Order, shipping invoice, and all its unique certificates and awards. It will be competitively bid on at the Mecum Auctions Indy Spring classic at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds the week of May 13. Another very impressive classic Corvette collection will be on display during the Lime Rock Park Historic Festival in Connecticut this coming Labor Day weekend, with the goodies on display ranging from the classic essence of the 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer to the track-ready and always-feared 1992 Stingray III.