Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort.

Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort.

      National Corvette Museum

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      The Chevrolet Corvette has a history filled with notable figures. From longtime chief engineer Tadge Juechter to the NASA Apollo Program astronauts, many individuals are closely associated with this iconic American sports car. However, none have been as pivotal as Zora Arkus-Duntov. Renowned as the Father of the Corvette, he played a significant role in some of the car’s most important developments. His personal 1974 Stingray has now been preserved by the National Corvette Museum after a lengthy preservation effort.

      Arkus-Duntov bought the C3 new, just one year prior to his departure from General Motors. It features a three-speed automatic transmission, a 454 engine, power steering, power brakes, aluminum wheels, and air conditioning. While the original color was silver, it was subsequently repainted green, before finally being refinished in its current two-tone blue. Notable personal touches include the initials “ZAD” hand-painted on the doors.

      The Collections and Preservation team at the National Corvette Museum undertook a significant project to maintain the car in its current condition. Instead of a traditional restoration, they carefully removed the body from the chassis to clean, stabilize, and preserve every component, ensuring that the Corvette's character remained intact, including the worn leather armrest on the driver’s door, which bears the mark of Arkus-Duntov's left arm.

      Upon closer examination, you’ll notice a few other unique features of this specific Corvette. The wheels currently on the car were not available to the public until 1976; at the time Arkus-Duntov bought the Stingray, they were still prototypes. Additionally, there is a Holley controller mounted on the console that allows the driver to adjust the fuel mixture from rich to lean.

      Remarkably, this is the only Corvette that Arkus-Duntov ever owned. He drove it for several years before selling it in 1989, and after his passing in 1996, the car was donated to the National Corvette Museum in his honor. (An interesting detail: his remains were also interred at the museum.)

      This vehicle will be the centerpiece of the Corvette Hall of Fame exhibition gallery, set to open on August 28 to commemorate the museum’s 31st anniversary. It also marks the beginning of a series of similar preservation projects by the NCM, aimed at maintaining the finest Corvettes for future generations. This is a significant undertaking, given the extensive effort that went into restoring the Zora car.

      Here’s a comprehensive gallery for you to explore. What a stunning vehicle.

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Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort. Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort. Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort. Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort. Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort. Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort. Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort. Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort.

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Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Corvette preserved following years of meticulous effort.

"The Father of the Corvette" owned just one Corvette himself: this Stingray equipped with a 454-cubic-inch V8 and prototype aluminum wheels.