The wild, low-production 427 CI L88 Corvette may have bowed out after 1969, but Chevrolet wasn’t through with racing yet. In 1970, a new RPO code was available: ZR1. A lighter-weight Corvette powered by the new 350/370 HP LT1 engine, the ZR1 delivered sharpened reflexes, with the weight-adding, power-robbing features and options unavailable, including A31 Power Windows, C50 Rear Window Defroster, C60 Air Conditioning, N40 Power Steering, P02 Deluxe Wheel Covers, the UA6 Alarm System, and U69 or U79 radios. What was included in the $968.95 ZR1 package, however, was the aforementioned LT1 V-8 engine, an M22 Rock Crusher close-ratio manual transmission, heavy-duty power brakes, transistorized ignition, a special aluminum radiator with metal fan shroud and special springs, shocks and stabilizer bars. Just 25 of these special cars were produced for 1970, followed by eight small-block ZR1s and 12 big-block ZR2 Corvettes for 1971, plus a final run of 20 ZR1s in 1972. While lowered compression ratios brought the gross LT1 horsepower rating down to 330 HP by 1971 and 255 HP (SAE Net) for 1972, performance remained intact. Just 1,741 of 27,004 Corvettes left the factory with the $483.45 LT1 option for 1972, plus the 20 special, “off road” ZR1s, with that option code to remain dormant until 1990. One of the 20 ZR1 Corvettes produced for 1972, this example was sold new at Hallman’s Central Chevrolet Co. in Rochester, New York. It was previously a part of the Ed Foss Collection. Top-level awards include Bloomington Gold Certification in 2019, a year this Corvette rarity was also part of the Bloomington Gold “The Sharks 1968-1972” Gold Collection. Powered by the original 350/255 HP LT1 V-8 engine, paired with an M22 heavy-duty, close-ratio, 4-speed manual transmission, the Corvette sports a Bryar Blue exterior finish and T-tops, plus a black leather interior. Characteristic ZR1 features include heavy-duty shocks, springs and stabilizers, heavy-duty power brakes, a performance axle ratio, the special Harrison aluminum radiator (without fan shroud), transistorized ignition and Rally wheels mounting period-style Firestone Wide Oval tires. A document binder accompanies this rare Corvette ZR1, including the Protect- O-Plate and warranty booklet.
