ZR32 and sn 74

Hello, My name is John, This is an interesting discovery for me, as I was employed at CSR at the time, and worked together with Woody Gilmore on this project from concept to completion.

The car was in fact mocked up with the engine driveline and suspension removed from the car you have pictured which was a 1988 Prototype Mule car that was destined to be destroyed by GM. I stripped that Mule car of everything we needed from it. After which the chassis had to be returned to Detroit for destruction. I am pretty sure I've still got the Keys to that car kicking around somewhere.

The ZR-32 "give away car" project was intended to debut with the ZR-1, it took about 10 months to complete and was finished in November of 1989 for the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The car was in fact mocked up from the Mule car donor parts, but before final assembly a new production engine and transmission was delivered in the crate. The car was custom wired and when it was time to start it GM designed a custom prom tailored for the ZR-32. Just before the car was completed GM also delivered #74 which was painted to match and displayed together with the ZR-32. Chuck Sr. drove the purple ZR-1 for about a year before I believe it was returned to GM. As originally intended the ZR-32 was given away as a prize at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals.

The Mule car engine went into storage and I don't know where it ever ended up.

I have many pictures which I took of the project as Woody and I built it, and a couple of #74 I will post some as soon as I can.

PS. Yes CSR did build a clone of the ZZ Top Eliminator Coupe but that is the original steel Coupe built by Buffalo Motorcars in the background. It possibly could have been me working on that car also at the time of the photo. It was normally kept in the front showroom at the time.

John Plunket