C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

[George R.]

Sorry for bringing up a new model but it is a corvette. Need some help from the newer corvette owner guys. It's a 2006 Z06 built May 20th 2005.I was wondering it's a rare color only 282 made that year in Datytona Sunset Orange or something. All stock with 2,500 miles. Never been titled just in GM's hands. I've got a chance to purchase this car. I have some questions to ask those that are up to date on the new corvettes if you can explain the follwing:

1- Plant #is 165Y, that's gotta be Bowling Green.
2- Order number HTNTST, any idea what that means?
3- Being a 2006 Z06 Vin ending with 100084 is that the 84th Z06 made for 2006?
4- WD1- Pilot Vehicle on the build sheet.
5- Any idea how many of these 06 Z06 Pilot vehicles made in 2006?
6- Why are they so rare to find?
7- Are they more valuable as a surviving Pilot Vehicle?

Merry Christmas
george

[George R.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

Just to add to this search on this Pilot Vehicle I did a Car Fax search as well as ran the Vin by the local Chevy service dept. Nothing to note but a few minor repairs like to the battery connection etc., Serviced by QEK Global Solutions, 713311 Mile Rd.,Warren,MI. each time.

The Car Fax shows on 12/04/2007 Title was issued, sold at auction in Ga. listed as manufacturer vehicle some 15 miles ago. Warranty coverage started then also.

As for the GM Vehicle Inquiry system it had 2764 miles on it which has to be a type-o because Car Fax shows under 2500 miles when sold at auction. The same outfit also changed the right side floor panel carpet-replacement,months earlier same mileage. Finally the battery was replaced in Feb-2007 same miles so I'd guess the type-o is really 2464 since it never seems to have changed.

Site locationof work- 00534 each time too.Selling source is lsited -13-Chevrolet each time.

Thanks
George

[Terry M.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

George,
Some of the guys on the Corvette Forum in the C6 section are trying to track these early Z06 cars also. I haven't followed the action over there too closely, but I don't think they have yet figured out how many early Z06s there were. They are called E code cars -- I think that is because the early Z06s had that engine code.
I don't think the order number will tell you too much. All the build information can be purchased from the Corvette Museum -- if you desire -- but it sounds like you have a lot of it. Betty Hardison is the person who handles those requests. She may have some build numbers if you get in touch with her through their web site. At least it would be worth a try, and maybe she can put you in touch with someone who is leading the research on those cars -- if there is anyone.
Good luck.

[George R.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

Terry:

Thanks. I'm a member of the NCM. Will give it a shot. I have a copy of the build sheet. Seems the car is legit to as a factory only car until the last auction in GA, sold as MFR. vehicle so that tells me it's a real Pilot vehicle.

Just amazed oneis still around. usually scrapped, or colectioned, or GM keeps them in a Museum. I read where in 9183 , yes 1983 Corvette built 42 =/- Pilot corvettes never sodl tothe public. Of course none ever sold to the public tomy knowledge. One known left but I think on dislplay at the NCM? Or the Bowling Green plant? I read it was on display some where like that.

I guess my best bet is to contact Jake Drennan in Merritt Island Fl. he runs the C5-C6 Registry web sight forum or club. Jake used to be my neighbor in Fl. He last road in my 67 coupe with a L71 435hp block. I took him for a short ride after popping the cluth at about 5000 RPM. Sure put him back in his seat while we fish tailed and went up in smoke for a couple gears. He had just sold a then brand new Yellow 2001 Z06. From there he and another guy started that
C5 Registry web or club sight. He's a good guy,car guy to the bone.

george

[john daly]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

george,
As you probaly know the car was a GM company vehicle.QEK is Qual-Effic solutions which is the company GM uses to handle the myriad of administrative and repair issues with its company cars. Another tidbit from VIS is the car may have been a press vehicle since it was shipped originally to:

ENGINEERING MEDIA PREP
3300 GM ROAD BLDG 70 UPPER LEVEL
MILFORD , MI 48380-3726

The other repairs that show up on VIS are the ones you know about.

john

[Roy B.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

286 you'll love the color I do on my 06!

[Rob M.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

I know one of these pilot cars is in the Dutch Corvette Collection (picture showing Allan Foster and museum owner Andre Boer):

[George R.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

Rob:

Thank you for the reply. From what all I've gathered the options codes WM1-Pilot Vehicle may have only been around 100 built. I read something before they were released to the public the 2006 Z06 corvette was building 100 Pilot Vehicles. Not for sale to the public used for photo ops, car shows, performance tests, strickly GM use.

Very rare to see one for sale or even publicly owned.I guess a new Z06 with a history like the older corvettes can draw attention to collectors.

Options code MAE for the 2006 Z06 was Export other then Canada = 362 units.

If you ever see that Dutch Corvette Collction again check out the VIN and see what the last 3 digits read and the build sheet.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
George #33570

[Erik S.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

George - Andre is our Judging Chairman of the Dutch Chapter so we see him on a regular basis.

If you go to his website (yes, it is in Dutch but I will guide you) http://www.autobedrijfandreboer.nl you see on the top right corner a section that says "laatste nieuws", which is latest news.

These are the newest additions to Andre's 100+ car collection. If you click on "C6 Z06" you see more detailed pics of the car AND the VIN - it is number 00052.

One of the pictures show that the car was used for the Lemans Parade and was driven by Dave Hill himself. I believe Andre bought the car with pilot engine still in the car and a correct z06 production engine that should have gone into the car. Obviously Andre still has the pilot engine in the car. The car is documented with GM proof.

Erik

http://www.autobedrijfandreboer.nl

[Erik S.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

According to the info on Andre's website it is the first Z06 built for Europe - it also did all the major European car shows (Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt etc) when the car was just introduced. "pre-production' translates very nicely....

Erik

[Tom H.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

I have sold several of these pilot cars. They are interesting due to their low VIN numbers. They were used in all sorts of applications from ads, brochure photos, national car shows, engineering test cars, sales schools, etc. Many were used in Arizona when we went out for our dealer training when the cars were released. I would not put a much greater value to one, but i would give it a thumbs up for interesting history. As we say in the Corvette world....... A Corvette is a just a Corvette, without a story !!! Best of luck !!

[George R.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

Erik:

Thanks the car is really interesting and isn't just a regular 2006 Z06 it has some history or a story to tell. His 06 must have been a May 2005 also
because the one I'm looking at is 00084. Built 05/20/2005.

george

[George R.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

Tom:

Thats what makes having these cars so great. New or old. Documentation and history or as you say a story to go with the car. When these cars have a story to tell it sure makes them interesting as hell.

Like my L71 67 Coupe. I tracked it back to Alcona Motors in Lincoln MI. back in 1999 while restoring it. Found out the car was owned by a young Air Force guy who hung out with the Chevy dealers now owner son. He USAF guy bought the L71 new from his dads dealership and he(present dealership owner)drove a new Chevelle as well. I got a letter from him after showing the resoration to him which he helped me with to make the car back correct. He was a lot of help.

He used to cruise with the guy who owned the 67 and remembered him and the car well as being the only BB corvette his dad sold that year. Goodwood Green/White Stinger Blk/V interior, 4.11's, M21,Trans/Ign. with factory side pipes and red line tires. I was really happy as well as he about the return of the 67 and it's history and his memories of the car new coming back 360 degrees and been restored not scrapped.

He often wondered what ever happen to the car and the owner because the USAF guy got transferred or sent probably like most of us to Vietnam back then. So from 1967 until 1999 he just had a memory of the car. The rest is as you say history now and all documented. Even got a letter from the salesman who sold the car. Lots of burger stand/cruising stories as well.

george

[Clem Z.]

Re: C6 Z06 Pilot Vehicle

the early test ZO-6s were refurbished with new drive lines and sold at GM dealer auctions. the GM dealer website should have all the info if the dealer plugs in the VIN