To cross the block at Mecum Dallas Sale 6-9 Sept
Bloomington Gold Certified
NCRS Top Flight award
MCACN Concours Gold and Triple Diamond
Featured at the L88 Earthquake Special Collection
Partial tank sticker, copy of window sticker, owner's manual and Protect-O-Plate
Factory correct Cortez Silver with Black leather interior
Extensive frame-off restoration by Bloomington Gold judge Tim Thorpe
Loaded with heavy duty factory options including factory side exhaust
M22 Rock Crusher 4-speed manual transmission
J50 Power brakes
J56 HD brakes
Transistor ignition
Rear window defroster
Tilt and telescopic steering column
Built in early April 1969, this 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 purchased new from Division Chevrolet in Chicago has amassed a treasure trove of honors and awards since its expert restoration by Bloomington Gold judge Jim Thorpe, one of the country’s most respected L88 specialists. The car’s judging and show pedigree includes an invitation to the Bloomington Gold Earthquake 88 Special Collection in 1988, two-time Bloomington Gold Certification, the NCRS Top Flight Award, and Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Concours Gold, resulting in Triple Diamond honors.
It was also featured in the L88 Invasion Special Collection in 2008 and the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals L88 Invitational in 2009. A mere 216 L88 Corvettes were built from 1967 through 1969, but exclusivity is just one of the factors that have elevated the L88 to its unique position in Corvette history. Developed in competition with Zora Arkus-Duntov’s enthusiastic but clandestine support, the L88 was first offered as a comprehensive package of competition equipment in 1967. Boldly underrated at 430 HP at 5,200 RPM, the L88 engine’s real output reached 560 HP at 6,400 RPM (on 103 octane fuel) on the strength of an extra-heavy-duty rotating assembly, 12.5:1 compression, a voracious 850 CFM Holley 4-barrel carburetor on a special-plenum aluminum intake manifold, a racing-spec solid-lifter camshaft actuating heavy-duty valve train and large-diameter valves in free-flowing aluminum heads, and a small-diameter flywheel fitted with a heavy-duty clutch.
L88 Corvettes collected their share of silver in SCCA competition, but they shone most brightly in long-distance races, such as Le Mans, where one surpassed 170 MPH on the Mulsanne Straight in 1967. While L88s were intended for racing only, more than a few made it out onto the streets, including this Cortez Silver 1969 coupe, which features the requisite M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed, 4.11:1 Positraction rear end, F41 special suspension, radio and heater delete, J50 and J56 power-assist and heavy-duty brake packages, factory smog equipment and K66 transistorized ignition. In addition to the standard F70-15 blackwall tires on Rally wheels, the car was also ordered with factory side exhaust, a black leather interior, tilt-telescopic steering, Soft Ray-tinted glass, rear-window defroster, headrests and shoulder harnesses. This gemlike 1969 L88 coupe is documented with the original tank sticker, a copy of the window sticker, owner’s manual, Protect-O-Plate and ownership history, the ultimate prize for the serious Corvette collector and preservationist.
