1972 LT-1 air Prototype ?

[Richard K.]

Hey guys: At corvette Carlisle just past I ran across something unusual. Up in the car corral, I ran across a 1972 Lt-1 convertable, yellow on saddle tan, trim tag indicated it was a color change but I forgot the 3 digit number. Vin tag and rosette rivits appeared untouched, correct "L" in the 5th position. What was unusual was not that it was air conditioned although I believe an LT-1/AC is a rare piece but that it was serial # 91, built on A18-thats right, the 91st car on what was probably the 1st day of production. Further examination of the right side firewall led me to believe, at least initially, that the AC unit had been there since Christ was a corporal! I have been into corvettes since 1977, when I bought my first, a 1962 327/340 4spd from Lincoln's in Seattle and I have always heard that you could only get AC and LT-1 in the spring of 72' for 3 mos-april,may and june. Having said that, here we have an AC/LT-1 built apparently the 1st day, #91 off the line in st Louie?!?! With all this knowledge in the NCRS, does anyone have knowledge about prototype ac/LT-1 cars, mabey this car?! I would love to know and I believe others would also. Respectfully,
rick.

[Billy O.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 air Prototype ?

Hi Rick,

Would you happen to have a photo of the stamp pad (or any other photos for that mater)? My LT-1 (non-AC) would have been 6 ahead of the subject car.

Sincerely,
Billy

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 air Prototype ?

I am working from memory, but at the National Convention in Lancaster PA (I'll leave it to someone else to look up how long ago THAT was) we judged 11 LT1s. One of them was one of the first AC LT1s -- the conversion work was done at Warren, Michigan. It came with a yard of paperwork documenting the changes that were done by Chevrolet engineering. The serial number was in the 10xxx range.

I subsequently had a chance to survey a 1972 LT1 in the 10xxx range that had a build sheet reflecting delivery to Zone 00. Another of the first LT1 AC cars. Unfortunately this car had lead a rough life and it was unclear how much of it was the original Corvette and how much came from other Corvettes. However, it was clear that at least three Corvettes were involved in what I was looking at.

Anyway, I would be extremely skeptical of a C60 LT1 earlier than 10xxx. It would take a lot of documentation to convince me -- but it does make for a good story.

[Sal C.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 air Prototype ?

Good memory Terry. That was 1988. That event at Lancaster was the meet where I got the Duntov Award with my LT1 A/C convertible. The car with the tons of paperwork you are talking about was the War Bonnet Yellow Coupe belonging to Steve Gussak. It was built by GM from a base motored car (no "L" in the VIN).
By the way, that car can be seen in the movie "Apollo 13".

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 air Prototype ?

It isn't often any more that all the brain cells are snapping together, but once in a while it happens. I recall that car pretty well mostly because now days I expect we would judge it a lot differently than we did back then. There are a lot of other reasons to remember that meet.

Wasn't Ron's car there also -- maybe Drew's also? I remember having a rough time getting judges because all you guys had your cars in for judging.

[Sal C.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 air Prototype ?

Just looked at the photo we took of all 11 LT1s on the fairway. The ones I can remember are myself, Ron Goduti 1971, Drew Papsun 1972 AC, Gary Bosselman 1970, Frank Andeloria 1970, Steve Gussak 1972.

[Richard K.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 air Prototype ?

You guys just jogged my memory on the carlisle car-trim tag indicated car was born war bonnet yellow and for Billy, no my friend, I have no pictures of the car or the engine pad-I'm sorry.

[Michael W.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 air Prototype ?

FWIW, I spent quite a while looking at an earlier C3 (1971?) at the Galveston Naional meet that had been converted from non AC to full factory AC config. This was a non-judged car that had been driven there by the owner. It was very difficult to find tangible signs that the car had started it's life as a non-air car.

Possibly the LT1 you were looking at had been converted also.