Car Life: 1969 Corvette Road Test: Every Model, Every Engine
The WILDEST Corvette Test yet!
To download the FREE Car Life article about Zora’s 1969 427 ZL1 Racer, CLICK HERE.
Greetings,
I began collecting car magazines in 1965 and saved nearly every issue with Corvette content. Instead of letting them sit on a shelf, I’ve been scanning my favorite stories and turning them into easy-to-read PDF files.
One of the best is the July 1969 issue of Car Life Magazine. It featured one of the most complete Corvette road tests ever published. The editors gathered every available Corvette engine option from 1965–1974—small-blocks and big-blocks ranging from mild to absolutely wild, including the legendary 427 L88.
The issue also included a surprising bonus: a side story on Zora Arkus-Duntov’s race-prepared 1969 L88 R&D Corvette. For young Corvette fans like me, it was an unforgettable summer reading.
Gib Hufstader & Tom Langdon’s “Saturday Night Special”
One thing that is missing from the story is the “Saturday Night Special” LT2 454 all-aluminum drag Corvette that Gib Hufstader and Tom Langdon built to the 1970 cars Long Lead event in the summer of 1969. The Saturday Night Special was built as a drag racing Super Stocker. At the Proving Grounds, a 1/4-imle start and finish line, with Chrondex Timers was set up for the magazine guys. This is unbelievable and would never happen today. The magazine journalists were allowed to make passes on the 1320 with the Saturday Night Special drag Vette!
You can read all about this unique event, as reported in the October 1969 issue of Motor Trend Magazine.
And, be sure to check out the story of Dave Miller’s re-creation of the Saturday Night Special.
To download the FREE Zora 1969 427 ZL1 Racer PDF E-Book, CLICK HERE.
If you enjoy classic automotive media, our Etsy store features more than 55 posters of vintage car magazine covers showcasing Corvettes and other iconic race cars. Check them out HERE.
To download the full Car Life article as a PDF, CLICK HERE! – Scott
Corvette Generational History
Our 1953–1962 C1 Corvette Review: Engineering, Styling, Sales, and Legacy Story is now available.
The 1962–1967 C2 Corvette Review: Engineering, Styling, Sales, and Legacy Story is now available.
Also, 1968–1982 C3 Corvette Review: Engineering, Styling, Sales, and Legacy Story is now available.
Click Below for Corvette Model Cars, C1 to C8 Generations
