Source: Family Classic Cars

\"This song and dance was created by Chevrolet back in 1967 when the L88 first saw the light of day. You see, the L88 was never intended to be driven down Main Street, USA. It idled like the throttle was stuck open and it had a stiff ride, but Chevrolet knew the L88 Corvette had these tendencies and did everything they could to make sure these cars made it into the right hands. The L88 was not listed among the available options, and even if you wanted one, it would easily remove an extra $1,000 from your wallet. Chevrolet even rated its horsepower level at 5 less than the 435 horsepower L71 427 to discourage buyers, thinking the L71 would be the hot ticket. Even so, they couldn\'t control the publicity the L88 would garner on the tracks of America. By 1969, the L88 was the \"hot thing to have,\" according to (and much to the chagrin of) the legendary Zora Arkus-Duntov. Duntov knew that most of the people who purchased L88s were clueless about exactly what they were, and furthermore, didn\'t know how to take care of these beasts.\"

\"The let\'s-not-put-it-on-the-option-sheet game did keep production numbers down for the L88 Corvette, though. There were only 20 L88s in the 1967 model run. That number increased to 80 for 1968 and peaked in its final year of production in 1969, at 116. If you were lucky enough and rich enough to own one of these beasts, you had the world by the tail. You could show just about anything how good the back of a Corvette looks. The only competition to the L88 came in the form of A/C-bodied, 427-powered Cobras. One L88 owner reported never losing a single drag race to anything; including the formidable Cobra, and had recorded a best quarter-mile ET of 11.14 at 123 mph. Car Life couldn\'t quite match that number for its June 1969 issue. Their test L88 could only muster a 14.101 at 106.89 mph; and judging by the mph, it looks like the L88 imposed its will on those poor little F70 tires. If set up right (gears, sticky tires, headers and sidepipes), the L88 would annihilate anything in its path.\"

Although the L-88 Corvettes were only available for 3 short years, and only a total of 216 Corvettes were built with the L-88 option package, the L-88 created an image of power and prestige that would live on with the Corvette for decades.

This particular L88 is a numbers matching, fully documented 1969 model with 15,480 original miles. The vehicle has the tank sticker and is in show condition after receiving a rotisserie restoration in 2004 - 2005.

Enclosed in the records of this rare classic is an appraisal letter from Roy Sinor, NCRS Judging Chairman from October of 2005 (a copy is with the pictures). The letter states �Original documented L88 that has never been wrecked and is complete including the original engine, with an exceptional repaint, new interior and the original tank sheet (Corvette Order Copy) this vehicle has just completed a total restoration�.

Mr. Sinor rated the car in the following categories on a scale of 1 � 10.

Paint 10 Chrome 9 Paint Type 10 Chassis 10 Engine Comp 9

Interior 9 Interior Type 10 Brakes 10 Orig Engine 10 Body Panels 10

Total Points: 97

This vehicle is exceptional in all areas.