The Chevrolet Corvette is a historic car for a number of reasons but very few are as special as this 1969 example. It’s one of two factory-built aluminum 427 ZL-1 Corvettes ever made. And it’s the only one with a convertible drop top.

1969 was a special year for the Corvette but even many die-hard Vette fans don’t know about this car. A very special factory option code, RPO ZL-1, cost $4,718 on its own and more than doubled the price of the car. For that hefty sum, the owner got a street-legal version of the 427ci all-aluminum V8 engine from CanAm racing under the hood.

The resulting 560 hp (417 kW) is fed through an M40 automatic transmission and then straight to the rear wheels. This isn’t just a normal Corvette with a racing-related drivetrain though. The brakes and suspension were upgraded too. The car was stripped of creature comforts too. The radio, heater, AC, power windows, and power steering are all absent in the car.

More: Rare 1969 Corvette Sportwagon Could Turn Your Dirty Weekend Into A Dirty Week

One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M

Evidently, that was a fair trade for this car’s original owner John W. Maher who traded in a 1988 L88 Corvette Convertible for this one. In fact, this is the only ZL-1 Convertible ever made and it’s the only ZL-1 ever sold new to a retail customer. Not long after taking delivery, Maher “terrorized hill climbs, autocross events, and drag races across Western Pennsylvania,” says the listing on RM Sotheby’s.

It stayed in his possession until 2007 when he sold it to the consignee. Since then, it’s been fully restored before display at the Quail, and the achievement of a Bloomington Gold certification. Interestingly enough, it doesn’t have its original engine. Maher actually blew that one in his first year with the car.

Today, it has another extremely early, factory-correct, date-coded, all-aluminum ZL-1 engine which was installed under warranty in 1969. Despite that small blip in its near-original condition, the auction house has suggested guidance on this car of $2.6-$3 million. That kind of makes sense considering this is the first ZL-1 offered publicly in about 30 years. In fact, it’s the only time this convertible example has been offered publicly.

One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M
One-Of-One 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible Expected To Fetch $3M