Happy Birthday to Corvette Godfather Zora Arkus-Duntov
Happy Birthday to Corvette Godfather Zora Arkus-Duntov
Zora used to joke that he had the “birthday-Christmas curse”, which means you won’t get double the number of gifts. That’s funny, coming from him because he was Jewish. The man had an awesome sense of humor! Regardless, Zora Arkus-Duntov’s part in the Corvette story is just as important as the original design of the car.
When Zora went to work for GM on May 1, 1953
In 1953, not many inside GM knew anything about serious sports car racing. If it hadn’t been for this gray-haired, wild Russian with more passion for racing than anyone inside GM had ever seen before, surely the Corvette would have floundered and never made it out of the 1960s.
Along the way, Zora’s antics were legendary: His volcanic clash with VP of Design, Bill Mitchell, and Zora’s numerous Milford Proving Grounds speed records. A series of mid-engine Corvette proposals. Then there was his answer to Shelby’s Cobra, the 1963 Grand Sport. Zora was on many covers of car magazines. Then there was his legendary Racer Kit options, such as the RPO 684 “Big Brake” option, the 1963 RPO Z06, and the fearsome 1967-1969 RPO L88.
Zora was featured in Part 4 of my series, Corvette Founding Fathers, HERE.
Here’s why we remember Zora Arkus-Duntov so fondly
Duntov mostly wanted to do two things: 1. Build racing Corvettes, and 2. Make sure HIS customers enjoyed their Corvette. I’d say that Mr. Duntov was a raging success!
Since we are talking about Zora, be sure to visit our new Corvette Free Public Library. We have over 30 old magazine articles about Corvettes that you can download and read for FREE. Best of all, many are about the Godfather of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov.
Looking for a great gift for your favorite Corvette person?
Shirts, Mugs, Caps, Hoodies & More
So if you own a Corvette, this Christmas Day or any day, go out to your Vette and raise a glass for a birthday toast to Zora, then go BURN SOME RUBBER! – Scott
Looking for great art for a Corvette Cave or Room?
Posters and Canvas Wraps from K. Scott Teeters.
Zora got a SHOUT OUT on Saturday Night Live
PS – Remember the funny routine that Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd used to do on Saturday Night Live, “The Wild and a’CRAZY GUYS!!!”?
In one of the bits, Aykroyd made reference to “Zora Arkus-Duntov”. I’m sure that most of the viewers didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, but I sure didn’t miss it!
So, Duntov is also part of the history of the original Saturday Night Live! (by far the best of the many SNL groups!) Thanks, Dan!
Here’s your “Corvette FREE Public Library Downloadable PDF Articles” Library Card! NO LATE FEES! Click your Corvette Library Card and start downloading today!
PS – You should go to the Corvette Report FREE Public Library! We have stacks of PDF documents of old car magazine articles about Corvettes. There are never any Library Late Fees because you don’t have to return the PDFs! I add new PDFs weekly! CLICK HERE!
Check out our Corvette art and swag in our Etsy store, HERE!
Check out our Corvette art and swag in our Etsy store, HERE!
We also have Zip Hoodies with C1 to C8 Corvette art in our Car Guy Merch Etsy store, HERE.
PS – Additionally, be sure to check out our new line of Corvette Entine T-Shirts, “I Still Play With Blocks” in our Etsy store, HERE.
And, we have a very cool collection of old, defunct car magazine covers, featuring Corvettes, as posters and art prints in our Etsy store, HERE!
We have over 55 Corvette magazine covers available as art prints and posters in our Etsy store, HERE.
We have over 55 Corvette magazine covers available as art prints and posters in our Etsy store, HERE.
Our Etsy store has over 95 Corvette engine art prints and posters in our Etsy store, HERE.
