Lot #1083 - 1969 Corvette convertible with upgraded 1969 ZL1 engine (engine block ID # 3946052, suffix code # T0319ME). What made this engine available was the death of Howard Simon Gidovlenko. Howard was a WWII test pilot who owned four P38 Lightning aircraft and flew with Chuck Yeager. The disassembled engine was found in Howard's living room, having spent 20 years supporting one end of a bookcase. Gib Hufstader, retired General Motors engineer, thought that the engine had been reserved for Tony Delorenzo and Jerry Thompson, two Chevrolet engineers and partners/drivers for team Owens Corning Fiberglass. After Gidovlenko's death, his collection of cars and parts traveled through several hands before this ZL1 engine appeared on eBay, where we found it. We then found a body with a corresponding build date (K23) and set out to build a home for this rare engine. No expense was spared in this build. Every part used for this car was ZL1\L88 OEM spec, M22 transmission, brown\Burnt Orange plug wires, AIR system, etc., date coded to the car where applicable.