Rare 1972 ZR1 C3 Auctions off for $154 Grand

teamzr1

Supporting vendor
Mecum rolled in Harrisburg, PA this week and the auction action kicked into high gear on Thursday as vehicle sales got underway.
One of Thursday’s featured Corvettes offered for sale was Lot T86, a 1972 Corvette ZR1 Coupe.

Chevrolet first introduced this limited production radio-delete car for the racing world in 1970. Dubbed the ZR1 based on the name of its RPO package, this successor to the L88 Corvette came equipped with the potent LT1 350 ci 370 hp small block and all the specialty options that were found on the L88s that were retired the previous year.

In addition to the LT1, the ZR1 package included an M22 rockcrusher 4-speed heavy duty transmission, J56 Heavy duty power brakes, transistorized ignition, special aluminum radiator and a suspension that included special springs, shocks and front and rear stabilizer bars.
The cost of this package wasn’t cheap, and it would add $1010.05 to the price of the car.

Production of the ZR1 was limited to 1970-1972, the same three-year time span of the LT1 engine. During that three-year run, only 53 cars were ordered with RPO ZR1: 25 in 1970, 8 in 1971 and 20 in 1972. The ZR1 RPO of the 1970’s is one of the rarest small block Corvettes ever produced.

This 1972 Corvette ZR1 is a very well-known car that was previously part of the Ed Foss Collection.
It had undergone a full frame-off restoration by Kevin Mackay at Corvette Repair, and it was judged extensively in 2007 and awarded with Bloomington Gold certification, and NCRS Top Flight Award (its second), and the Chevy VetteFest Gold Spinner award. Finally, it was picked up the Triple Crown award at MCACN.

Here is the auction video from the sale. The Corvette had reached $140,000 when the reserve was lifted, and it would hammer for the same amount.
With buyer's commission included, the total sales price for this 1 of 20 ’72 Corvette ZR1s would be $154,000.
As Mecum’s commentator John Kraman said, “it brought the money!”

 

Mr. Cricket

Committee Member
Seems to be way cheap for a 2 x Top Flight ZR1. The one we found and had at Corvettes at the Lakes was in need of a full resto and still brought $200k
 
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