Photo: Mecum Auctions
Yeah, the mid-engined C8 Corvette is cool, but have you ever seen a 1967 Corvette L88 in mint condition and with matching numbers? They're as rare as they get, with only 20 units having been built in an era when the great Zora-Arkus-Duntov was still heading Corvette development.
1967 was the final year of the second-generation Corvette, and it spawned the greatest version of the C2 coupe, the L88. The L88 engine was one of four 7.0-liter units offered by Chevrolet for the C2, but it was notably different than its siblings.
Fitted with upgrades such as lightweight heads, bigger ports, 12.5:1 compression, aluminum radiator, and a huge, four-barrel carburetor, the L88 was not only wilder than the L89 but also closer to a pure racing engine than any other Chevy mill do date.
It was officially rated at 430 horsepower, which wasn't a lot more than the L89 or the older 6.5-liter big-block V8, but its true rating was said to be about 560 horsepower. It took Chevrolet decades to offer a more powerful Corvette in the form of the C6-generation ZR1.
Production of the C2 Corvette topped out at almost 118,000 units in 1967, but Chevrolet built and delivered only 20 L88s. These things were expensive, as the L88 engine and the mandatory options added a premium of almost 50 percent to base Corvette's price.
Not only it required extra options, but the L88 also came with a radio and heater delete, as Chevy wanted to cut down on weight, but also to discourage the car's use on the street.
This particular Corvette L88 is arguably the most valuable example still around. It also boasts some unique features, like the Sunfire Yellow paint. It has been restored down to the last bolt over a 10-year period, and it comes with the original title and sales contract, matching engine numbers, and a big collections of awards. It's been Tripe Diamond and Bloomington Gold certified, and it carries the Duntov Mark of Excellence.
And yes, you can buy it, as it's scheduled to go under the hammer in March 2021 via Mecum Auctions.
1967 was the final year of the second-generation Corvette, and it spawned the greatest version of the C2 coupe, the L88. The L88 engine was one of four 7.0-liter units offered by Chevrolet for the C2, but it was notably different than its siblings.
Fitted with upgrades such as lightweight heads, bigger ports, 12.5:1 compression, aluminum radiator, and a huge, four-barrel carburetor, the L88 was not only wilder than the L89 but also closer to a pure racing engine than any other Chevy mill do date.
It was officially rated at 430 horsepower, which wasn't a lot more than the L89 or the older 6.5-liter big-block V8, but its true rating was said to be about 560 horsepower. It took Chevrolet decades to offer a more powerful Corvette in the form of the C6-generation ZR1.
Production of the C2 Corvette topped out at almost 118,000 units in 1967, but Chevrolet built and delivered only 20 L88s. These things were expensive, as the L88 engine and the mandatory options added a premium of almost 50 percent to base Corvette's price.
Not only it required extra options, but the L88 also came with a radio and heater delete, as Chevy wanted to cut down on weight, but also to discourage the car's use on the street.
This particular Corvette L88 is arguably the most valuable example still around. It also boasts some unique features, like the Sunfire Yellow paint. It has been restored down to the last bolt over a 10-year period, and it comes with the original title and sales contract, matching engine numbers, and a big collections of awards. It's been Tripe Diamond and Bloomington Gold certified, and it carries the Duntov Mark of Excellence.
And yes, you can buy it, as it's scheduled to go under the hammer in March 2021 via Mecum Auctions.
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