Thank you Stan. I passed it on@bluefury361
Will worked on it's developement and documentation. He da man on this one.
Dave Mellon joined General Motors Proving Ground Noise and Vibration Lab after graduating from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His assignments had him working on the dynamics of cars, trucks, military tanks, and then manager of the newly-completed Vehicle Dynamics Test Area (Black Lake).
Dave's career then took him to Chevrolet where he led the team that finished the 70 1/2 Camaro development, then to the GM Technical Center to manage John Delorean's unsuccessful attempt to marry the Camaro and the Corvette platforms. In 1973, he was picked to attend MIT as a Sloan Fellow. On his return he was assigned to work with Zora Arkus-Duntov and on Zora’s retirement at the end of 1974, Dave was appointed Corvette Chief Engineer. Dave would be indelibly linked with the Corvette for the next 17 plus years. The all-new 1984 Corvette continued to be developed with advanced electronics and culminated in the 405 hp ZR-1.
In what turned out to be his last development of the Corvette, Dave challenged an R&D team to design a next generation Corvette capable of ZR-1 performance, but at standard Corvette prices. Charged with the impossible task of making the Corvette faster, lighter, roomier and more rigid as a convertible, the team adopted the backbone architecture that would be the hallmark of the C5 and C6 Corvettes. Dave retired from General Motors in the fall of 1992.
His recent consultant activity includes: Intermap Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Mosler Automotive, BAE, TACOM, ERIM, Rosen Motors, Tel Tech, Bose, Intermag Technologies, Technologies M4 and Porsche Engineering Services.
He is the author of a recent book, “Corvette from the Inside, the 50 Year Development History” which includes the 17 years during which he and his team made history.
Dave has a website where he podcasts about the Corvette and other subjects interesting to him. Visit: www.corvettechief.com
Assembly was done by Mercury Marine, I believe.I thought I heard that they are hand built
Actually, it's Dave McKellan.@bluefury361
Will worked on it's developement and documentation. He da man on this one.
Dave Mellon joined General Motors Proving Ground Noise and Vibration Lab after graduating from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His assignments had him working on the dynamics of cars, trucks, military tanks, and then manager of the newly-completed Vehicle Dynamics Test Area (Black Lake).
Dave's career then took him to Chevrolet where he led the team that finished the 70 1/2 Camaro development, then to the GM Technical Center to manage John Delorean's unsuccessful attempt to marry the Camaro and the Corvette platforms. In 1973, he was picked to attend MIT as a Sloan Fellow. On his return he was assigned to work with Zora Arkus-Duntov and on Zora’s retirement at the end of 1974, Dave was appointed Corvette Chief Engineer. Dave would be indelibly linked with the Corvette for the next 17 plus years. The all-new 1984 Corvette continued to be developed with advanced electronics and culminated in the 405 hp ZR-1.
In what turned out to be his last development of the Corvette, Dave challenged an R&D team to design a next generation Corvette capable of ZR-1 performance, but at standard Corvette prices. Charged with the impossible task of making the Corvette faster, lighter, roomier and more rigid as a convertible, the team adopted the backbone architecture that would be the hallmark of the C5 and C6 Corvettes. Dave retired from General Motors in the fall of 1992.
His recent consultant activity includes: Intermap Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Mosler Automotive, BAE, TACOM, ERIM, Rosen Motors, Tel Tech, Bose, Intermag Technologies, Technologies M4 and Porsche Engineering Services.
He is the author of a recent book, “Corvette from the Inside, the 50 Year Development History” which includes the 17 years during which he and his team made history.
Dave has a website where he podcasts about the Corvette and other subjects interesting to him. Visit: www.corvettechief.com
Fixed.Actually, it's Dave McLellan.
Of course....I owned every year
The performance of the ZR1 will disappoint you then.He sad he wanted me to drive it. We’ll see. I’ve driven a Viper & several Porsche’s. And several drag cars. If I get to drive it I’ll give you my 2 cents.
Haha, several years ago I had an 04 Rumble Bee 5.7 Hemi. I enjoyed picking on the C4 Vettes with it. Then one day a guy in a Kia SUV wanted some. STAY AWAY FROM KIA SUV’s I’ve learnedThe performance of the ZR1 will disappoint you then.
Don't forget the ZR1 was introduced when performance of any car was at an all time miserable low. There are Kias that would keep up with it now.
But I would still kill to drive one....
I had just bought my new '05 Vette and I thought I was the baddest *** around. One day a new Subie WRX Sti ate my lunch.Haha, several years ago I had an 04 Rumble Bee 5.7 Hemi. I enjoyed picking on the C4 Vettes with it. Then one day a guy in a Kia SUV wanted some. STAY AWAY FROM KIA SUV’s I’ve learned
I had just bought my new '05 Vette and I thought I was the baddest *** around. One day a new Subie WRX Sti ate my lunch.
I remain forever humbled.
Don't forget the ZR1 was introduced when performance of any car was at an all time miserable low. There are Kias that would keep up with it now.
The engines were built solely by Mercury Marine in OK. If an engine cratered, it could be returned to Mercury Marine for a complete rebuild, keeping the original "numbers" and such. If it needed replacement, I believe there was some official documentation of that fact for future owners. Normal Chevrolet/GM engine plants were NOT involved in the ZR-1 engine production, period. Quite a bit of additional steps to ensure the future collectability of a "numbers match" ZR-1.
The ZR-1s had TWO keys. One for the ignition and another one for a cylinder in the console, to allow the engine to produce full power.