Even I have trouble with this one

[ECMnut at aol.com]

The ZL1 . .  Common as hen's fangs... Original ones aren't cheap..
I'm pretty sure it was an all aluminum "427" option for the 1969 Corvette..
12.5 to 1 compression, rowdy solid cam, yada,.....  Rumor was, these
"competition inspired" vehicles came with no warranty or heater... They needed
something to throw at the AC Cobras of the day..
I believe a few dealers also offered the ZL1, tranplanted into 69 Camaros.
(Penske or Yenko Chevy?), but not positive on that point...  Some dealers
would sell you anything, as long as you came to the showroom with enough
money.. 
Mike V
Let's see. Mr. Jones, you want the 8-track player and 
   the aluminum 427..    The 8 track is a timeless value, 
   but don't you think that aluminum engine
   is just a costly oddball that will make your car hard to sell in the
future??

>e dated 10/7/98 3:29:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mtk at tmc.astm.cmri.cmu.edu
writes:
> 
>  The one you're thinking of was the ZL1, which was EXTREMELY
>  rare and came with a 380hp all-aluminum 454 big block in 1969.  
>  But the 1969 LS6 454 made 460hp, you say?  Well, the ZL1 made
>  380hp at 3800rpm or so (as it was rated), but it also made 580hp
>  at 5800rpm or something like that, but to discourage people from 
>  ordering it (as if it's $5000 price tag wasn't enough) the package 
>  was intentionally rated below it's power peak.  The ZL1 engine also 
>  weighed less than the 327 base engine. I believe only 2 or 3 were built.
>