Aside from their respective websites and trying to locate magazine articles from the day, is there any way to learn more about Lingenfelter or Doug Rippie ZR-1's?
I am also curious how many ZR-1's were converted by each when the cars were new. I've seen ads by sellers claiming their car is one of "X" cars by that modifier in its particular year.
Location: Lets just be honest with each other and let nature take its course
As far as I know there is no way to tell how many 475hp, 368, 385,
415's were made. I can tell the the numbers do get much smaller as soon as you have to buy a crank meaning 385's on up. My opinion may be bias but LPE had a better rep than DRM. If you want to learn more about the cars built back in the day 95,96,97,98, etc you might want to check out some old editions of the ZR-1 registry. Not sure is the ZR-1.net has anything about LPE's or DRM cars but it can't hurt. If you need any info on those cars there are plenty that know about the cars on here from back in the mid 90's.
We looked at that on the ZR1 registry forum, the X in the VIN is only a check digit designation, when the check digit calculation equals 5. Other than that, it appears to be just a 95 LPE.
I have a drm 600 car and talked to doug and he said he did about 50 cars. I dont know if they were all done in his shop or not. If I was looking to buy one I would want to see all the paperwork and check with the builder. PS Im looking for another one.No lpe only drm shop cars.
I can tell the the numbers do get much smaller as soon as you have to buy a crank meaning 385's on up.
Not so sure that is the case, off the top of my head I can only think of one other Lingenfelter 368 besides my own. Can't name even one owner of a 475hp package although I vaguely recall someone here has one. On the other hand I can name the owners of many LPE strokers. The 368 package is very pricey at about 22K while a stroker is a bit over 30K. My thought is if you've got 22K to blow modifying a toy then 30K probably ain't no big deal. People with lots of disposable income tend to go big or not at all. I would be interesting to see how many of each were built. A few years ago there was a thead about the number of strokers around (all tuners) - I think about 15 were identified.
__________________
Robert
Oregon Director, ZR-1 Net Registry
91 ZR-1 #431 Black/Black
Lingenfelter 368 CID, MSD Coils, Magnecor wires, SLP CAI, Denso IT22 plugs, SRP 160 stat, underdrive pulleys, Alcon 4 piston front calipers, 3.33 gears, Custom 3in exhaust with Stainless Works headers, Random Tech bullet cats, X-pipe, Warlock mufflers and electric cutouts, Lightweight flywheel, Ron Davis radiator, Camber brace, Hurst shifter, DRM coilover suspension.
481 rwhp / 406 rwtq
We looked at that on the ZR1 registry forum, the X in the VIN is only a check digit designation, when the check digit calculation equals 5. Other than that, it appears to be just a 95 LPE.
LGAFF
92 ZR1
#234
According to the list of VIN#s sent to me, there are many where the check digit is a "5", and not an "X". I've been testing the algorithm I think you are referring to, and from testing dozens of VIN#s it appears that if the algorithm generates the number "10", then and "X" DOES show up in the check digit location - which makes sense when I think about it... . (Note: More testing to be done, but I'm pretty sure I have it ferreted out, and the "5=X" is wrong in every test VIN I've tried so far - i.e., if the algorithm = 5, then there IS a 5 in the VIN of all of my samples so far. Stay tuned!)
Location: Lets just be honest with each other and let nature take its course
Quote:
Originally Posted by locobob
Not so sure that is the case, off the top of my head I can only think of one other Lingenfelter 368 besides my own. Can't name even one owner of a 475hp package although I vaguely recall someone here has one. On the other hand I can name the owners of many LPE strokers. The 368 package is very pricey at about 22K while a stroker is a bit over 30K. My thought is if you've got 22K to blow modifying a toy then 30K probably ain't no big deal. People with lots of disposable income tend to go big or not at all. I would be interesting to see how many of each were built. A few years ago there was a thead about the number of strokers around (all tuners) - I think about 15 were identified.
I have seen more 475hp cars then 385's or 415's. I can only think of 5 385's (My 95, FU's Polo 93, Ron K's (390), Ron Woods 94, 1 Red/Blk 94and 4 415's (Sanjay90, Dwight90, 91white car, SW's 94, that were done at LPE. I know there were more but just off the top of my head. I can only recall a few 368's but honestly I really didn't pay attention to them, only because they didn't interest me.
Location: Lets just be honest with each other and let nature take its course
Quote:
Originally Posted by lgaff
We looked at that on the ZR1 registry forum, the X in the VIN is only a check digit designation, when the check digit calculation equals 5. Other than that, it appears to be just a 95 LPE.
LGAFF
92 ZR1
#234
I think the X he is referencing is X amount made (how many car) not VIN specific.
I have seen more 475hp cars then 385's or 415's. I can only think of 5 385's (My 95, FU's Polo 93, Ron K's (390), Ron Woods 94, 1 Red/Blk 94and 4 415's (Sanjay90, Dwight90, 91white car, SW's 94, that were done at LPE. I know there were more but just off the top of my head. I can only recall a few 368's but honestly I really didn't pay attention to them, only because they didn't interest me.
Add Bob Halls stroker to the list - 385 if memory serves. The only other LPE 368 that I know of belongs to Rich Card. If you include other tuners I can name a bunch of stock size engine build-ups but I can't come up with any from LPE except for one that was advertized for sale a while back.
__________________
Robert
Oregon Director, ZR-1 Net Registry
91 ZR-1 #431 Black/Black
Lingenfelter 368 CID, MSD Coils, Magnecor wires, SLP CAI, Denso IT22 plugs, SRP 160 stat, underdrive pulleys, Alcon 4 piston front calipers, 3.33 gears, Custom 3in exhaust with Stainless Works headers, Random Tech bullet cats, X-pipe, Warlock mufflers and electric cutouts, Lightweight flywheel, Ron Davis radiator, Camber brace, Hurst shifter, DRM coilover suspension.
481 rwhp / 406 rwtq
Location: Lets just be honest with each other and let nature take its course
Quote:
Originally Posted by locobob
Add Bob Halls stroker to the list - 385 if memory serves. The only other LPE 368 that I know of belongs to Rich Card. If you include other tuners I can name a bunch of stock size engine build-ups but I can't come up with any from LPE except for one that was advertized for sale a while back.
I remeber a few 368's mainly the 95 Aqua/Grey that was in IL. D&M Corvettes not motorsports had it for a while. Several cars but don't know the peoples names. I know the Watergate guy ??? 91 Red car was a 368. Rogers has a 90 Red 475hp car now and there were 2 92 475hp cars. Graham B. at LPE had a 91 Polo 368 but I think that car was totaled. The 94 Admiral Blue LPE 385 car that the engine had been gone into serveral times if my memroy is correct. It was just up on Ebay. There was a father and son in AR or NE that had two DRM cars. One Polo 91 or 93 368 and a 94 Yellow 385. The fathers 94 Yellow car had Dymag 2nd gen wheels. Thats a few more for ya.
There is Hal's 415, Paul Smith's 415, Paul Denhert's 415, all LPE cars. I believe that LT5 John Scrivano's 90 was totaled and the LPE 415 now resides in Sanjays dark red metallic 90. There is a new(to this Forum) LPE 385 here in IN(very close to where I live). I know of 3 other LPE strokers that *were* in IN, but I haven't seen/heard from those owners in years.
My guess is that a lot of these big $$$ LPE strokers have found their way into the back of people's garages/storage facilities. Lets face it, as others have mentioned in this thread, most individuals who could afford to spend $50K in mods to a $60K car(in the late 90s) could also afford to stuff them away; they never really *need* to recover money spent on such an extraneous expense.
Not to make any real connection other than their reclusive nature, the big inch LT5 strokers are similar to the 67-69 L88s, L89s, even 427/435s in some regards. They are still around but many have not surfaced in years. I know of two dozen high dollar mid-years in Indiana alone that the owners will *never* sell, yet the cars haven't seen daylight in 20+ years.
Dad still talks about all the *real* 427/435s, L88s, L89s, LT-1s, etc for sale in the early 80s at Bloomington Gold. When is the last time you saw a *real* L88 at a show, driven in? I remember in 1988, Bloomington Gold had "EarthQuake 88," honoring the L88s. I have video of these cars being *driven* around Bloomington, IL. I remember the CERV II being literally hot lapped around the Bone Student Center in Normal, open headers thundering through the neighborhood and echoing off the walls of the Union. Bottom line, These cars aren't being totaled, they are being stored, out of site, to be discovered by someone else years from now. A real shame on one hand, but quite intriguing on another.
I think the X he is referencing is X amount made (how many car) not VIN specific.
So what the heck is this one? 220207337780
Quote:
MotoeXotica is offering a fabulous and rare “X” Code 1995 Lingenfelter Chevrolet Corvette convertible with automatic transmission and only 15,750 original miles! This beautiful, all original car comes with a clean Carfax and Autocheck report. This car is loaded with power seats, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, power antenna, power brakes, power steering and A/C.
This is not your average 95 Corvette by any means. It is a special ordered “X” code Corvette ordered by a GM Executive. Note the ZR1 wide body of this car. The original LT1 Power plant produced 345 hp from the factory. It was then sent to Lingenfelter for the top of the line Stage 3 set up with custom fuel curve. We have been informed that the Stage 3 set up allows this car to produce nearly 575 hp and will do the ¼ mile at 11.98 seconds. Impressive to say the least. Do a 20 mph roll on and hit the gas and you will be enlightened! The car is near perfect in every way and is complete with 2 tops!
The 17” custom Fikse forged chrome wheels are in excellent condition and are wrapped with 335/35 ZR17 radials in the rear and 245/45 ZR17 radials in the front. There is no curb rash showing. All tires have lots of tread life left.
This is the part that I wonder about:
.......not your average 95 Corvette by any means. It is a special ordered “X” code Corvette ordered by a GM Executive. Note the ZR1 wide body of this car. The original LT1 Power plant............
I have not heard of this before...must be 'fluff' by the seller or were there any LT1 "widebodies"?
"P" not "J" in the VIN ... and a vert??? no way it could have been a ZR-1 body....right?
Last edited by solid dobe; 03-07-2008 at 10:09 PM.
Reason: delete Ebay link
As far as I know there is no way to tell how many 475hp, 368, 385,
415's were made. I can tell the the numbers do get much smaller as soon as you have to buy a crank meaning 385's on up. My opinion may be bias but LPE had a better rep than DRM. If you want to learn more about the cars built back in the day 95,96,97,98, etc you might want to check out some old editions of the ZR-1 registry. Not sure is the ZR-1.net has anything about LPE's or DRM cars but it can't hurt. If you need any info on those cars there are plenty that know about the cars on here from back in the mid 90's.
The President has authorized a Full "Nucyler" response.............
Heh, heh, heh!
( just ignore those laser dots appearing on your garage )
Seriously,
They are all incredible cars!
Just as Mclellan said of the ZR-1 compared to standard C-4's, "a Corvette , only more so!"
One could say the same about the tuner cars.
Be it power,handling, or braking, the upgrades made simply make it even a stronger more capable performer.
Until the new ZR1 comes out, my answer remains the same, whenever I get asked would I ever get rid of the DRM, in favor of a new Z06, I always respond with a "what, and slow down? no way!
Although mine has become mostly a garage KING(oth), it still RUNS, not walks away from most all encountered, except for the occassional supercharged or strokers out there.
Duirng the last 2-3 years, the crowds these cars draw (ZR-1's), at shows is certainly on the upswing.
Just as today I would kill for a Baldwin Motion Big Block Car or one of the other vintage tuner cars, someday the same will be said of these LPE, Callaway and DRM cars, as they are every bit as rare.
Marty
1FUNZR1
DRM500 ( and then some )
Location: Lets just be honest with each other and let nature take its course
Quote:
Originally Posted by DRM500RUBYZR-1
The President has authorized a Full "Nucyler" response.............
Heh, heh, heh!
( just ignore those laser dots appearing on your garage )
I'm still laughing out loud when I read that This wouldn't be the first time my opinion has got me in trouble. However first time for laser dots that I know of.
Now this information is by no means complete and I'm sure it under estimates the 475 ans 500 hp cars by a large margin. The problem is that the paperwork back in the early 90's is by owners name and the cal sheets were hand written and have not been transferred to our server. The numbers for the 368's may be low too, but not by as much. The 385 ,390, 400 and 415 data is probably closer to the real numbers, but in most cases these numbers are, probably, underestimating the number of cars produced.
Corvette Store
Tuner ZR-1's
. (Note: More testing to be done, but I'm pretty sure I have it ferreted out, and the "5=X" is wrong in every test VIN I've tried so far - i.e., if the algorithm = 5, then there IS a 5 in the VIN of all of my samples so far. Stay tuned!)
This wouldn't be the first time my opinion has got me in trouble. However first time for laser dots that I know of. 
