The National Corvette Museum (NCM) has announced that it is restoring a significant piece of Corvette history – Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal 1974 Stingray. This one-of-a-kind car is the only Corvette that Zora ever personally owned. The restored vehicle will be featured at the Michelin NCM Bash between April 24th and 26th, 2025 as part of the Artifact Pitstop exhibit.
Sometimes referred to as the “Godfather of Corvette,” Zora Arkus-Duntov played a pivotal role in the development of America’s Sports Car. During his career, Zora worked as an engineer at General Motors, pushing for the introduction of high-performance upgrades like fuel injection and independent rear suspension for the nameplate. He also led the development of Corvette race cars, including the Grand Sport program.
Zora ended up purchasing a 1974 Stingray after retiring in 1975. Originally finished in Dark Green, Zora later repainted the car two-tone blue and personalized it with his initials on the doors. Under the hood, Zora’s Vette houses a 454 cubic-inch big-block V8, and the car is fitted with prototype wheels that did not enter production until 1976.
Zora drove his Stingray regularly until he eventually sold it in 1989. Following his passing in 1996, the car was donated to the NCM. Now, the museum is giving Zora’s Vette a full body-off restoration to bring it back to its former glory. The process includes stripping the body down to bare metal and treating it with anti-rust sealant, restoring the front and rear suspension, and rebuilding the engine.
Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the National Corvette Museum is a something of a bucket list destination for enthusiasts. The museum features an array of historic models, interactive exhibits, and special displays showcasing the brand’s evolution. It is also adjacent to the GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant, the exclusive production facility for Corvette since 1981.
Check out the official NCM announcement video below:
Comments
“The process includes stripping the body down to bare metal”
Hmmmm…. I was under the impression that there has never been a steel bodied Corvette, and I seriously doubt Zora’s was the first…
Jonathan, I assume that you intended to type “stripping the frame”, not the body – which is made of fiberglass, of course.
Would think keeping as much of “Zora’s Patina” would be the goal.
Dings, scratches and wear marks.
The ultimate Corvette survivor.
IMHO, restoring it the way described just makes it another ‘74 Corvette
Yikes. Such an ugly Corvette for its awesome Godfather.
The paint scheme isn’t too bad for what I assume was late 70s/early 80s. Although, I have to confess that I’m kind of a less is more guy. It would be interesting to know whether he took steps to increase the performance a little.