Wow, hold up here fellas. I know nothing of the festival Z11 #18 car that was on ebay other than that it was interesting. I don't recall ever speaking with Rick Straub who owned the car and did not bid on or buy it on ebay nor do I own it now or know where it is. I don't own a restoration shop but do have a pole barn with a lift that I "play cars" in as my children call it
The Greg Wilson name mentioned earlier in the thread is a another local Z11 owner here in town. He doesn't have it either? I do now own an L34 Z11 and a L35 0-1 IPC among others including the sweet 68 corvette bronze L35 RS/SS that Van sold me a few years ago (pictures soon Van). I did have a second L35 Z11 that I've been driving the past three years that I bought from Danny Baylis and that's the car I hired my friend Jim at Pacecarcorral to sell for me recently. I should have the L34 Z11 finished up here in the next month or so....didn't really need two. Although you guys with four or six of the same model, at;s cool too. Hope that clears things up a bit? If I hear any news on the whereabouts of #18 I'll certainly pass it on Tom.
On the subject as an interesting note, I believe that car #18 (designated as a celebrity car) was very likely assigned to none other than the notorious O.J. Simpson. I had posted a photo of the "J" boys, A.J. & O.J awhile back but will stick it on again. I wonder if he kept a pair of gloves in the glove compartment hmmmm?
As for the #17 car that several Z11 owners think might be the festival number of their car. From what I have found it seems that a group of Z11 cars that can be traced back to Indianapolis during the month of May of 1969 have the #17 painted on the heater core cover in the engine compartment. I don't know why several cars would have the same number in the same location but it was most likely a tracking mark for speedway officials to return unattended loaner vehicles to the proper location?