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It recently came to the attention of some enterprising Corvette enthusiasts with a bit of time on their hands that GM has renewed its federal trademark for ZR-1, the option code for Corvettes built from 1990-1995 with the 32-valve DOHC LT-5 engine. A trademark extension was filed on December 5, 2006 and it appears the purpose of the filing was to allow GM the use of the moniker for merchandise and accessories related to the ZR-1 Corvette. However, I did a little more digging at the United States patent and trademark office and found that a renewal for the ZR-1 trademark was made November 3, 2006 for the use of "Motor land vehicles, namely automobiles".

From the USPTO:

Word Mark ZR-1

Goods and Services IC 012. US 019 021 023 031 035 044. G & S: Motor land vehicles, namely automobiles

Standard Characters Claimed

Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK

Design Search Code

Serial Number 77036100

Filing Date November 3, 2006

Current Filing Basis 1B

Original Filing Basis 1B

Owner (APPLICANT) General Motors Corporation CORPORATION DELAWARE 300 Renaissance Center P.O. Box 300 Detroit MICHIGAN 482653000

Attorney of Record Timothy G. Gorbatoff

Type of Mark TRADEMARK

Register PRINCIPAL

Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Now it would be irresponsible speculation on my part to think that GM would have an interest in using the ZR-1 RPO code for the Blue Devil/SS Corvette. There is a line of thinking that GM wouldn't use the ZR-1 RPO for the Blue Devil/SS because the term is so closely aligned with the 1990's LT-5 Corvette. However, the use of the ZR-1 RPO in the 90's was actually the second time it was used. GM first introduced the ZR-1 package back in 1970 which included the LT-1 engine (350ci 370hp), M22 transmission, heavy-duty power brakes, transistor ignition and aluminum radiator. Fifty-three Corvettes were ordered with the package during its three-year availability.

Use of the ZR-1 name for a new "King of the Hill" Corvette actually makes more sense than some of the other names suggested like the Z07. That RPO was related to a suspension package in both the seventies and nineties, and doesn't really ooze of high performance history that GM appears to be fond of dusting off and reusing in new applications.

Source:

United States Patent and Trademark Office

DigitalCorvettes.com

CorvetteForum.com

Related:

The Blue Devil's New Name - The Z07 Corvette

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Found at: Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle