The most "significant" Chevrolet performance car.

[Verne_Frantz]

Ray,

Excellent post. I appreciate the time you put into it. Permit me to continue our discussion by addressing a few of your points.

You stated, “In evaluating the “completeness” of the package I give little weight to whether or not the individual elements are made available elsewhere.”

Also, “You tell me the Z11 substituted many aluminum body parts for the Impala’s metal parts; I counter that the Corvette is an all-fiberglass –bodied car, designed specifically for its lightweight characteristics. Tell me that the Z11 came with wheels that were .5” wider than what was available on a standard Impala, a positive attribute for adding a bigger racing tire, granted. I counter that the L88 Corvette came with an even wider rim; no points should be lost because other Corvettes could be had with these wheels. The point is that the equipment that was supplied with EVERY L88 order was what Chevrolet thought was necessary for racing (and racing only).”

These points are very true in the context that the L-88 Corvette was an end result of years of refining the car to be more race-ready. Since many of the components of the L-88 “package” were already designed and offered with other engines, the L-88 did not have to be designed from scratch with that new equipment in order to achieve the all-out race car that it was. My point has been that the Z-11 “package” was designed from scratch, all at one point in time, for the specific outcome of producing a race car. Chevrolet didn’t have to design lighter body panels or wider wheels for the Corvette, but they did decide to do that in order to make the Z-11 meet its design intention. I don’t know of Chevrolet ever putting that much effort into another specific-purpose car with so many unique parts.

“You would be hard-pressed to contend that the Z11 was in any way the pinnacle performance achievement of Chevrolet history.”

I would never try to argue that point about the Z-11. It was just what it was at that point in time. It was just the pinnacle of “W” power.

“I chose to instead cast a ballot for what I consider to be the most significant “performer” of the muscle years.”

There is no doubt in my mind that the L-88 is the stronger “performer” of the two. I think our positions are perfect examples of the fact (as stated earlier) that everyone’s definition of “significant” is based on different criteria. I agree with your conclusion, “the RPO-Z11 and RPO-L88/ZL1… both FULL RACE-ENGINED and race packaged cars. Both extremely significant!” 100%

I actually believe that Chevy’s engineers made some mistakes on the Z-11, and didn’t go as far as they could/should have, but that’s another story.

Verne