MOTV8 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 That's right, Greenwood's Stars & Stripes BFG L88/ZL-1 racer is available, you got a million bucks? Stars and Stripes Racing Corvette Headlines RM Monterey Auction MONTEREY, California — A historic 1969 Chevrolet Corvette, converted to GT racing specs and campaigned under BF Goodrich sponsorship in the early 1970s, will go on the block at RM Auctions' upcoming event next month in Monterey, where it is expected to fetch between $750,000 and $950,000. The Vette, originally an L88 production model, is one of three "Stars & Stripes" racecars sponsored by BFG in 1971-'73. Fitted with a Traco-built ZL-1 motor, the car was driven by some of the top names in road racing, notably Don Yenko, John Greenwood, Bob Johnson and Dick Smothers. This particular model, #49, competed in 1973 in the three major endurance events — the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where in qualifying it set the GT speed record of 215 mph on the Mulsanne straight. The award-winning car received a concours-quality restoration in 2008. Linkski to ole #49's page at Greenwood Corvettes. A glorious example from the golden era of American road racing. Drool. That is all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChadC Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Drool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F22trainer Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I have a tingle in my "happy sack"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buccaneer Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Of course its a lot...It's a C3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92ZR1Wannabe Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 The ZL1 was a all alum. 427 was it not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Poppa Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Seems to me as though that car at 215mph is a bad idea. Not safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve@LPM Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I think Ill inquire and ask if it has Nav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share Posted July 7, 2011 The ZL1 was a all alum. 427 was it not? Yes. Teh "whole" story: 1969 Chevrolet BFG "Stars & Stripes" Factory L88 "ZL-1" Greenwood Racing Corvette Chassis No. 194379S722205 Est. 750 hp @ 6,500 rpm, Traco-built 427 CID aluminum block original ZL-1 engine, Muncie four-speed close ratio transmission, Greenwood Racing front and rear suspension, trailing arms, anti-sway bars, Minilite wheels with period NOS BFG radial tires, bodywork modified with Factory L-88 flares and molded plexi-head lamp covers. Wheelbase: 98" - Delivered new as a factory L88 Corvette Coupe, finished in white over blue - The #49 “Stars & Stripes” BFG team car raced in the trifecta of FIA events: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona - Driven by John Greenwood, Dick Smothers, Bob Johnson and Don Yenko, this big-block beast went 215 mph at Le Mans - Major show awards in 2008 – 2010: the Quail, Petersen Museum, Amelia Island, Bloomington Gold and NCRS - Restored by Corvette Repair of New York (owned by Kevin Mackay) AMERICA’S STAR-SPANGLED SPORTS CAR For nearly four decades, the Chevrolet Corvette was the only sports car designed and built in North America. Capable of taking on and beating the world’s best GT cars on the international circuit, Corvettes roared on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans, flew on the high banks at Daytona and blazed their lights around the Sebring airport. On amateur SCCA circuits, Corvettes won 14 “A Production” and 15 “B Production” divisional titles in the 1962 to 1976 period. SCCA Nationals saw Corvettes capturing no less than 25 Run-Off Championships in A, B and C Production in the same time frame. THE JOHN GREENWOOD BFG “STARS & STRIPES” RACING CORVETTES In 1971 John Greenwood contracted with the BF Goodrich Tire Company to run two “BFG Corvettes” in FIA-sanctioned racing on the company’s new radial tires for the 1972-1973 seasons. Greenwood, an excellent race driver with a creative engineering mind, knew that his Corvettes running on street tires would be at a disadvantage against the competition on racing slicks. So every aspect of his BFG team cars – engines, suspensions, running gear, aero, brakes and even the appearance – had to be cutting edge and maxed-out to the limit of the rules. John’s brother, Bert Greenwood, a superb designer in his own right, sketched the “Stars & Stripes” graphics, and an American Corvette racing icon was born. The race cars were numbered #48 and #50 with a third “Stars & Stripes” car, #49, slated for use by BFG for promotions and shows. When the #50 car was damaged in a 1972 crash, Greenwood quickly converted the immaculate #49 show car, an actual factory L-88 T-top coupe with a ZL-1 engine, to racing specification, since the lucrative BFG contract called for running two Corvettes in the specified races. All three of the BFG “Stars & Stripes” cars are intact and restored: #48 in the possession of Cincinnati-based enthusiast Harry Yeaggy and #50 raced on the west coast by John Goodman. The #49 BFG Corvette, the car here on offer, is now with a well-known California sports car enthusiast. THE BFG #49 ZL-1 CORVETTE Our 1969 Corvette was one of three team cars sponsored by BF Goodrich during the 1971-1973 seasons to showcase their new line of T/A radials. The #49 car was driven by top road course drivers of the period, including John Greenwood, Bob Johnson, Dick Smothers and Don Yenko. The car’s initial major win was a first place in GT class in 1972 at the Watkins Glen six-hour race driven by Greenwood and Smothers. In 1973 it was campaigned at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Daytona 24 Hours and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This car set the GT speed record of 215 mph on the Mulsanne straight in qualifying! When it was converted, the #49 BFG Corvette benefitted from all the signature Greenwood innovations: notched rear arms, rapid replacement radiator, quick camber adjustment and a new Chevrolet ZL-1 all-aluminum 427-cubic inch engine producing over 750 hp @ 6,500 rpm. It was restored to concours condition in 2008 by Corvette Repair of Valley Stream, New York, which is owned by noted Corvette expert Kevin Mackay. It then debuted at The Quail Motorsports 2008 event where it received “Best in Class” against a strong field of Sebring race cars. Later in 2008 it was invited as a center display car for the Corvette Racing Legends event at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. The car also received the prestigious Amelia Award at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and was selected for Bloomington Gold Grand Finale in 2009. The car was awarded the American Heritage Award in 2009, the highest award for non-street Corvettes by the National Corvette Restorers Society. It was a feature display at the National Corvette Museum for the Corvette Hall of Fame in 2009. Most recently it was invited to celebrate Corvette’s first Le Mans win at the Laguna Seca ALMS race in 2010. #49 comes with a complete ownership history, John Greenwood’s letter of authenticity, original bill of sale, Le Mans registration and tech inspection sheets. This car is probably the most original of the three team cars, retaining its rear clip, frame, steering wheel, gauges, mirrors, dash, t-tops, removable radiator brackets, Minilite wheels, trailing arms, camber adjustment screws, NOS BFG tires, etc. According to Mr. Mackay, the car is fitted with the last ZL-1 engine from Traco, the historic builder of race engines for Roger Penske and Jim Hall, and comes with a vintage DVD from Le Mans and a detailed video with John and Burt Greenwood validating the car’s unique features. Kevin MacKay recently commented that this BFG Stingray is his most meticulous and correct work to date. Since the other two BFG cars are in important collections for the long-term, the #49 car is not only likely the best Greenwood “Stars & Stripes” Corvette available but also the only one! Roster of Keepers 1970-1973: John Greenwood Racing, Florida 1973: Sold to Bruce Morton & Phil Currin, Florida 1995: Sold to Ed Mueller, Hawthorne, New Jersey 2000: Sold to Chip Miller, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 2006: Sold to current owner from the Chip Miller Estate Addendum Please note that this lot is offered on Bill of Sale only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F22trainer Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 "...The #49 BFG Corvette, the car here on offer, is now with a well-known California sports car enthusiast." Jay Leno maybe??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share Posted July 7, 2011 "...The #49 BFG Corvette, the car here on offer, is now with a well-known California sports car enthusiast." Jay Leno maybe??? My snooping says it is John Thompson of Atherton, CA, who might be the CEO of Symantec. He also owns the ’68 Owens/Corning Corvette, if I got the right John Thompson...who else would own another priceless piece of Corvette racing heritage? Edit: stoopid common names. Dood could be a bigwig at Heidrick & Struggles International, not the Symantec guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest badbobs95 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 The ZL1 was a all alum. 427 was it not? The ZL1 was a 427 all aluminum with well over 600 HP from the factory. It was a $4,000 engine option also available for one year (1969) in the camaro. Arguably the most durable and fastest engine of its time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grape Ape Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Seems to me as though that car at 215mph is a bad idea. Not safe. At the time it probably had all the safety features they thought it needed. Maybe I'll sell Grape and bid on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
az57chevy Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Well it "only" sold to Pro Team Corvette for $580,000 so I guess we're still in a recession. Pro Team's Terry Michaelis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted August 27, 2011 Author Share Posted August 27, 2011 Well it "only" sold to Pro Team Corvette for $580,000 so I guess we're still in a recession. Pro Team's Terry Michaelis If the S&P breaks below 1120 next week we might just be. But I think he made a good investment, there'll be another "boom" cycle for vettes and that BFG may bring him 750K++ Thanks for the $$ update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvette Kid Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 If you would like to build a clone I have every mold to build every fiberglass part on that car LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 Michaelis got the #49 back to Pro Team and posted a vid so you can hear the ZL1: BFG #49 ZL-1 Corvette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now