08
Roger Judski’s ZL1 had an infamous past, having once
been owned by a drug dealer. When the dealer was
busted, the DEA seized his property that included the ZL1. For-
mer owner Craig Preist didn’t know that he had sold the car to a
criminal and informed the DEA of the car’s value. Judski bought
the car at a government auction for $300,000 in 1991.
PHOTO: ROGER JUDSKI ARCHIVES
09
Being Corvette Chief Engineer had its perks. To
make sure that the L88/ZL1 program would deliver
the goods, Duntov built a ’69 Corvette ZL1 mule as if it was
being prepared for A/Production competition. Car maga-
zine writers got the ride of their lives at the Milford Proving
Grounds with Zora at the wheel.10
McLaren cars were so good that racers lined up to buy
the used McLaren Can-Am cars at the end of each sea-
son. Within a few years, the Can-Am series was heavily popu-
lated with McLaren cars because they were fast and depend-
able. Chevrolet sold a lot of Can-Am aluminum blocks.
11
No one was squeezing more power from a naturally aspi-
rated ZL1 than John Greenwood. Sometimes his engines
pushed 800 horsepower. PHOTO: CORVETTELEGENDS.COM12
Jim Hall’s working relationship with Chevrolet started in
1962 with help from Chevrolet engineer Frank Winchell.
Hall got one of the first Can-Am aluminum blocks in 1967 for his
Chaparral 2F, his second winged car.
PHOTO: AUTOMOBILESPORT MAGAZINE
13
Bill Jenkins felt that for 9-second racing at full-out stress,
the Can-Am aluminum block was superior to the ZL1 block.
By the mid-’70s, Grumpy was building his 494ci “Mountain
Motor” match race engines with the Can-Am blocks.
PHOTO: HOT ROD14
The 1969 ZL1
COPO Camaro
#1 of 69 was made
into a drag car upon
delivery to Fred Gibb
Chevrolet. In 2012,
the car sold at auction
for $400,000.
PHOTO: HOT ROD34 VETTE 19.09
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