This pre-production '89 ZR-1...
This pre-production '89 ZR-1 (EX5669) broke a 50-year-old 24-hour speed record on March 2, 1990. The Morrison Motorsports team averaged 175.885 mph to set a new mark that stood for 12 years.
Heinricy worked closely with the GM design studio, engineering team, and Bowling Green Assembly Plant to produce 1,000 specially serial-numbered Grand Sports. Total production was 190 convertibles and 810 coupes. Each car was fitted with special paint (Admiral Blue with a white stripe), along with the one-year-only, 330hp LT4 engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Heinricy also told the story of how he was able to purchase Grand Sport #001 from a Michigan dealer. He even brought this historic Corvette to the Gathering and autocrossed it on Saturday. (Not surprisingly, he won.)
The museum also hosted scenic tours, track events, and other fun-filled diversions throughout the weekend, much to the delight of the participants. If, like us, you have an abiding appreciation for the fourth-generation Corvette and its many contributions the marque's history, we heartily recommend attending next year's C4 Gathering.
Saturday's autocross was held...
Saturday's autocross was held at the nearby Trace Die Cast parking lot. This low-speed event was well attended and proved a real hit with the drivers who participated.
When the record became official,...
When the record became official, all of the team members signed the underside of the red ZR-1's hood. A second ZR-1 was built and used to tour the U.S., but only the NCM car bears the team signatures.
The legendary Tommy Morrison...
The legendary Tommy Morrison owned the team that actively raced Mobil 1 Corvettes through the '80s and '90s. Morrison was happy to be reunited with two of his old race cars, which are now owned by Robert Pfeffer.
This 345-mile ZR-1 pilot car...
This 345-mile ZR-1 pilot car was the fourth unit built in 1989. Notice the cloth interior, which wasn't available on production models. This car was used by GM's ad agency to promote the new supercar and was later donated to a school, where it sat unused for many years. GM recovered it, refurbished it, and sold it at a Barrett-Jackson auction.
The new owner of the car in...
The new owner of the car in the preceding photo left in place the original GM warning sticker. The company was serious about preventing non-production vehicles from being driven on public roads.
Former Lotus engineer Graham...
Former Lotus engineer Graham Behan (left) and retired GM Powertrain engineer Gib Hufstader shared their insights on the ZR-1's development during the "Heart of the Beast" seminar.
GM Powertrain Engineer Jim...
GM Powertrain Engineer Jim Minneker stands in front of one of his projects: the V-12, 660hp Falconer-powered ZR-1. The engine produced 782 lb-ft of torque and earned the car the nickname "Conan the Corvette." This ZR-1 was another of the early '89 pilot cars.
Many special C4 Corvettes...
Many special C4 Corvettes were on display in the main museum hall throughout the weekend, including this Doug Rippie-built "Black Widow" ZR-1.
This '86 Corvette was fitted...
This '86 Corvette was fitted with an early prototype ZR-1 engine and used for testing by Lotus in Europe. The car was found crushed in an English junkyard by Keith Beschi and brought back to life as an important part of the ZR-1's development history. Thanks, Keith!
Here's a look at the "Phase...
Here's a look at the "Phase 1" LT-5 engine in Beschi's prototype. Most of the parts on this engine were hand fabricated by Lotus engineers.