by Legendary Corvette Zora Arkus-Duntov Restored
Next month, one of the most important Corvettes in history will become the centerpiece of the museum’s 31st-anniversary celebration. It is not a limited series or a power record holder, but this 1974 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray belonged to the man who made this model a legend.
The car was the personal property of Zora Arkus-Duntov — an engineer known as the ‘father of the Corvette.’ He received it as a retirement gift from General Motors, and the car recently underwent a thorough restoration.
Restoration History
The car now has a bright two-tone blue paint job, but it wasn’t always like that. It was initially painted silver, then green. Later, a friend of Zora’s repainted it in its current variant with the initials ‘ZAD’ on the doors.
The team at the National Corvette Museum meticulously restored the car, disassembling it completely. They cleaned and restored the frame, suspension, and underbody, and also refurbished the original 454 cubic inch V8 engine.
“This car is pure Corvette history. Restoring Zora’s personal Corvette is just the first step in preserving our collection for future generations,” noted Robert Maxheimer from the museum.
The restorers even preserved the worn-out driver’s side armrest — a testament to how Zora used this car. The exhibition featuring this model promises to be one of the most exciting events for Corvette enthusiasts.
This story reminds us how important things that belonged to people who changed industries can be. The restored Corvette is not just a museum exhibit, but a living trace of an engineer whose ideas continue to inspire.
