Zr1*********

[Marc R.]

According to "Corvette Quarterly," the clear coat on the new ZR1 costs $60,000 a gallon. That should make for some interesting restoration projects in the future. Wonder if a future Joe Lucia will have a gallon stashed?

[Lyndon S.]

Re: Zr1*********

Yeah Joe will have two gallons, of course none for sale.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Zr1*********

According to "Corvette Quarterly," the clear coat on the new ZR1 costs $60,000 a gallon. That should make for some interesting restoration projects in the future. Wonder if a future Joe Lucia will have a gallon stashed?

I learned on another forum that it was only applied to the raw carbon fiber parts, so not much of it is actually required. I didn't read the Corvette Quarterly article yet.

We think it's hard to match the old lacquer colors now...Unless raw carbon fiber becomes a lot more prevalent in automotive styling (don't see a trend blooming), restorers will be lucky to find it at any price; they'll probably have to compromise on a "modern alternative".

I can't see Joe Lucia getting too excited about a Corvette with a transparent, supercharger watching window in the hood. But...If Joe DID own a ZR1, I do believe he WOULD have a gallon of the stuff ready and waiting for the day it was needed.

[Mike M.]

Re: Zr1*********

I think that paint is only for the clear hood area. If I read it correctly. They only use a few oz. per hood.

[Mike G.]

Re: Zr1*********

when they sold that blue zr-1 at barrett jackson for one million, it was a special blue color. the only one to be painted that color blue. the guy from gm said the 60k per gallon paint was the paint for that car and no other would be painted that color. could that be correct or is it the carbon fiber paint?

[Mike M.]

Re: Zr1*********

Maybe it was for the carbon fiber pieces. But they only use a small amount per car whatever they are painting with it.

[Joel F.]

Re: Zr1*********

I have heard that number for the carbon fiber coating and a very small amount actually used, such that a gallon would go a very long way.

[Marc R.]

Re: ZR1*********

You're correct that the clear coat is for the carbon fiber. The roof, roof bow, rocker extensions and front splitter are carbon fiber. Rick Wagner is a Duke grad and the project/car was named 'Blue Devil.' (As a Tarheel, that's hard to take.) Anyway that's why it was blue--Dook blue, not real blue.

[Kevin M.]

Re: Zr1*********

when they sold that blue zr-1 at barrett jackson for one million, it was a special blue color. the only one to be painted that color blue. the guy from gm said the 60k per gallon paint was the paint for that car and no other would be painted that color. could that be correct or is it the carbon fiber paint?

Looked just like standard Jetstream Blue to me...

They also said that that particular ZR1 that was at the auction was not the actual one the bidder won... it was just for representational purposes....... and that he would get the first saleable ZR1 that comes off the line.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Zr1*********

Looked just like standard Jetstream Blue to me...

They also said that that particular ZR1 that was at the auction was not the actual one the bidder won... it was just for representational purposes....... and that he would get the first saleable ZR1 that comes off the line.

I wonder if the ZR1s will have a different serial number sequence than regular Corvettes? Suppose the winning bidder will be able to claim he has 001?...He should; for what he paid, he SHOULD get a special VIN AND a special one-off color.

Other forum has a thread indicating the "market adjustment" on the "regular" ZR1s is shaping up to be incredible...figures like $50K were mentioned. Some wondered why the buyer wouldn't just go on and spring for a Ferrari.

[Jim B.]

Re: Zr1*********

I was at the Detroit auto show for the Museum sponsored Reveal ceremony. We got to see the new ZR1 before the show opened with the technical staff availble for questions. Here is what they said.

1. The carbon fiber they used is not stable under prolonged UV radiation thus they had to develop a protective coating (clearcoat) for the carbon fiber only that would enable it to last in the sun. They said that the clearcoat (by PPG I think) was $60K per gallon but that only about $2K worth was used on each car. I gues you have to hope that no rock chips damage the clear coat.

2. They stated that he new Zr1 would have a unique and sequential Vin number just as the original Zr1's did. Thus, unlike the Z06, a vin with 000100 would be the 100th Zr1 built.

3. The supercharger was one specially designed and built for the Zr1 by Eaton. Can we spell LT5. Hope this time they authorize spare parts for these cars as they get older, unlike the original ZR1's.
Looks like Joe will have a lot more to buy and keep.

4. The Carbon Ceramic Brake rotors came directly from a BREMBO design for the Ferrari. They are a $15K option on the ferrari. They told us that a brake job including rotors and pads would cost over $8K to $10K. The good news was that the carbon ceramic rotors would last the life of the car if the car was not tracked. So who would spend that kind of money for a high performance car like this and not use it on the track??

Sounds to me that the Corvette parts bin just got a whole lot more expensive.

[John H.]

Re: Zr1*********

Only the ADDITIVE used in the clearcoat is $60K per gallon, and the concentration of the additive is less than 1% in solution in the clearcoat.

[Marc R.]

Re: ZR1*********

The rear brakes on the ZR1 are the same size as the front on the Enzo. The front brakes are the same size as the 1,000 hp Bugatti Veyron.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Zr1*********

Only the ADDITIVE used in the clearcoat is $60K per gallon, and the concentration of the additive is less than 1% in solution in the clearcoat.

John, do you know if Bowling Green is going to mix the additive into the clear themselves, or does this special clear come pre-mixed?

I'm thinking they would do the mixing at Bowling Green to avoid having a small inventory of special clear sitting around. Imagine the paint line supervisor's consternation if a gallon of that additive were to sprout legs and "walk out of the plant"...that would probably make his annual performance review suck big-time.

Shades of white lab coats and graduated burrettes...I believe I would rinse all the vessels and mixing implements in measured amounts of reducer to be reused in the clear.

[John H.]

Re: Zr1*********

John, do you know if Bowling Green is going to mix the additive into the clear themselves, or does this special clear come pre-mixed?

Chuck -

I'd guess that it comes pre-mixed in the special clear formulated only for that application; assembly plants haven't mixed or tinted paint for decades.