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Corvette L88 Heading to Auction in Pristine Condition

Produced for the 1968 through 1982 model years, the C3 Corvette is the last Chevrolet Corvette generation developed with Zora Arkus-Duntov as chief engineer. Based on the Mako Shark II Concept, the C3 took Corvette styling to another level. Performance-wise, the L88 big-block V8-engined examples of the breed are the most desirable C3s made.
1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe 6 photos
Photo: Mecum Auctions
1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe
Of course, there's the 454 cu.in. (7.4-liter) LS5, LS6, and LS4 engines, but any proper C3 enthusiast will tell you that the L88 427 (7-liter) is the pick of the bunch. Finding a classically correct C3 Corvette L88 in pristine condition is hard enough, but one that's immaculate and with ownership history is a bit like a unicorn. "The Camouflaged Soldier" here is today's unicorn.

The 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe isn't just a rare piece of all-American automotive history, but a revered piece in every collector's garage. This rare, unrestored L88 is a car whose history includes three decades spent in careful storage, followed by four-category Bloomington Gold Survivor honors.

Slated to cross the block at Mecum's Seattle Auction on June 5th, the original owner of the L88-engined Corvette bought it from Selman Chevrolet in Orange, California. Despite having all the right stuff to dominate FIA GT and SCCA A Production racing, the owner decided to do battle on the street. As such, he ordered it with Soft Ray tinted glass, Saddle leather interior, front fender louvers, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel and, get this, an alarm system.

Yep, they had alarms in the 1960s. Curious what detail isn't factory-spec? The only departure from factory originality is the black racing stripe that runs the length of the Fathom Green-painted body shell. In '76, the third owner moved it to Oregon and kept it in storage until it was purchased by a collector in 2006.

If the original drivetrain headlined by the IT-code closed chamber L88 isn't enough to get you excited about this American blast from the past, collectors will certainly appreciate the NCRS Data Shipping Report, original owner's manual and copy of the window sticker. Oh, and the 430 horsepower on tap are sweet too.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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