I remember seeing this car in person the year Porterfield brought the car to SCS Indy and it caught on fire in the trailer on the way to the show. Bill had bandages on his hands from the burns he got getting it out of the trailer and the teenage me thought he was the coolest guy in the world for not letting it burn to the ground. I wore the ZL1 shirt he sold for years until it turned yellow and had about a hundred holes in it. Those were some good times before the internet and smart phones!!!

I knew I should have gotten Lillard's autograph at MCACN...!!.. Infamous!

this is a great photo of ZL1 #1

If I remember the story correctly , Fred Gibb was asked to bring the car in to Chevy for the engineers and others to see it ?

here are photos of the melt down

----I was wondering when someone would bring up the fire. That paint job was painstakingly applied in original laquer to mimic the original exactly. The re-restoration was done in two stage and really looked fantastic!......Bill S

In an interview, Gibb stated they switched to the 430" Can-Am block during the 1969 season. I believe Bill Jenkins did also but his car was not a production ZL1.

The #1 original block was located and re-united with the car about 20 years ago. Very interesting engine as it was built at Flint November 22, 1968.

Yuck. Did they find the cause? Battery left hooked up or something? Glad it was saved. Beautiful re-resto. Not easy with burnt panels I've heard.

I remember Bill P talking about it at a show
if I remember the story correctly , the car trailer broke a spring or something and the trailer fender was rubbing the tire. The fender got red hot causing items inside the trailer to catch on fire

----You are correct, Joe!…...Bill S

I think at one time that car was engulfed in flames and resurrected. Lots of history that car has had over the years.