eBay Find of the Day: 1969 L88 Corvette

[Kitdy]

This is for all Corvette lovers out there - badda I know you respect.

The all aluminum L88 427 option on the 1969 Corvette cost about 1,000 dollars at the time - just under a quarter of the 4,600 odd dollar list price.
Depending on the method used to convert to todays price, you are looking at roughly 27,000 base, and just 33,000 with the L88 engine.

The bang for the buck is out of this world, however as you can now see, they are quite desirable and that price of 385,000 is only going up.

This car would be virtually unbeatable in straight line speed and could run in the low 11s on slicks. The only other cars produced in significant numbers that could challenge this at the time would be Shelby Cobras.

The 'Vette may not handle well compared to comparable contemporary European sportscars, but I would figure that all that power would make it a formidable and fun car to drive on the track as well as at the strip. Powersliding around a corner in a Corvette is about as much fun as you can have in a car - if that's your thing - and it is my thing.

I hope to one day own a small block C3 form 68 or 69 and will hopefully get to track it at Mosport.

I can dream...

[Turbo.Jenkens]

The L88 was intended for endurance racing. Because Detroit insisted that the big three not participate in motorsports Chevrolet had to offer Zora's monster as a factory option. They grossly underated the output to discourage the general public from buying them. They were actually putting out 560 brake HP with a 12.50:1 compression ratio. I think its pretty safe to assume more L88s found their way to Sebring than to the street. Great find, but I can only dream

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Turbo.Jenkens

The L88 was intended for endurance racing. Because Detroit insisted that the big three not participate in motorsports Chevrolet had to offer Zora's monster as a factory option. They grossly underated the output to discourage the general public from buying them. They were actually putting out 560 brake HP with a 12.50:1 compression ratio. I think its pretty safe to assume more L88s found their way to Sebring than to the street. Great find, but I can only dream

I actually heard that a ZL1 which was even more hardcore than the L88 was dynoed sometime and "only" made 376 hp - however, the engine was probably old and afterwards they did some upgrades to it got it over 500 hp.

Here's the link.

You are right about the underrating, the L71 was rated at 435 hp and the L88 at 430 hp.

[Turbo.Jenkens]

Kitdy,

If you ever do find yourself in the position to buy a C3 go for a 69 or 70. 68s were rushed into the showrooms and the build quality suffered. 71 is when power started to drop, but it didn't get really bad until 72. By 72 the 454 big blocks were only making 270hp and by 75 the base 350 only made 165hp. Another interesting fact 68 is the only model year from 63-82 not referred to as a Sting Ray or Stingray.

[Turbo.Jenkens]

Officially they only "claimed" 430 from the ZL1 as well.

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Turbo.Jenkens

Kitdy,

If you ever do find yourself in the position to buy a C3 go for a 69 or 70. 68s were rushed into the showrooms and the build quality suffered. 71 is when power started to drop, but it didn't get really bad until 72. By 72 the 454 big blocks were only making 270hp and by 75 the base 350 only made 165hp. Another interesting fact 68 is the only model year from 63-82 not referred to as a Sting Ray or Stingray.

Fair enough, I didn't know 68s had issues.

I would prefer a 1969 for the cheesy reason that it is from the 60s, as well as I think 69 is probably the best year for American cars.

Anyways, this is a long, long way off in my life and when the time comes I'll do some research and scour Ontario and the surrounding states for a good deal.

[NSXType-R]

Wait, so the car is all aluminum?

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

Wait, so the car is all aluminum?

No.

I may have been mistaken; I thought the engine was all aluminum but now I am not too sure.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

Wait, so the car is all aluminum?

It's a Corvette. Corvette = plastic car.

[Turbo.Jenkens]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

Wait, so the car is all aluminum?

Steel frame, fiberglass body, Iron block w/aluminum heads. ZL1 had an aluminum block. Pronounced A loom i num

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Turbo.Jenkens

Steel frame, fiberglass body, Iron block w/aluminum heads. ZL1 had an aluminum block. Pronounced A loom i num

So the optional aluminum heads were standard with the L88 engine then?

[Turbo.Jenkens]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

So the optional aluminum heads were standard with the L88 engine then?

Pretty sure, did you find a source that says otherwise?

[clutch-monkey]

i'd rock that..i do like that shape corvette, HP rating uncertainties aside.

[Niko_Fx]

Beautiful car.

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Turbo.Jenkens

Pretty sure, did you find a source that says otherwise?

No, and I predict that finding out for sure could be quite difficult.