The Exclusive Corvette Zora Ever Had Has Just Undergone an Impressive Transformation for Everyone to Admire | Carscoops

      Zora's personal Corvette has been meticulously restored with an emphasis on maintaining its originality.

      This vehicle, a 1974 Corvette, was gifted to Zora Arkus-Duntov by GM as a retirement present. A close friend later repainted the car in a two-tone blue color scheme, and the National Corvette Museum has conducted a thorough restoration of the vehicle.

      Next month, one of the most historically significant Corvettes ever produced will be featured prominently during the 31st anniversary celebration of the National Corvette Museum. It is not a special edition nor does it boast record-breaking horsepower or a unique design. What distinguishes this 1974 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is its owner.

      This Corvette is the only one ever personally owned by Zora Arkus-Duntov, the famed engineer known as the “Father of the Corvette.”

      Zora received this car as a retirement gift from Chevrolet, and it has undergone a complete restoration in recent years. It will be featured in a new Corvette Hall of Fame exhibition and is recognized as one of the most historically valuable Corvettes of its time.

      Currently, the vehicle boasts a striking two-tone blue paint job, but it didn’t always appear this way. Initially, it was given to Zora in silver, followed by a green repaint. Zora then had a friend apply the current two-tone blue finish, which includes his initials ‘ZAD’ on the doors.

      The Collections and Preservation team at the National Corvette Museum has been carefully restoring the car to its original state, thoroughly overhauling it. This process involved detaching the body from the chassis, enabling the frame, suspension, and underbody to be cleaned and restored.

      The original 454 cubic-inch V8 engine has also been disassembled and rebuilt, while the original automatic transmission has been preserved. The museum's team has made significant efforts to maintain the car's authenticity, even keeping the driver’s side armrest, which has been slightly worn down by Zora resting his elbow on it.

      “This car embodies Corvette history in its truest form,” stated Robert Maxhimer from the National Corvette Museum. “Preserving Zora’s personal Corvette is just the beginning of several extensive preservation projects aimed at ensuring our collection endures for future generations.”