Vehicle Description
1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe For Sale - Tuxedo Black, Just
2,050 Original Miles LMC is very proud to offer for sale this 1969
Chevrolet Corvette L88 All it took was ticking the right option
boxes to transform a 1969 Corvette Stingray from a boulevardier
into a ferocious performer. It would be a disservice to say that
the handful of 1969 Chevrolet Corvettes ordered from the factory
with the race-derived L88 427-cubic-inch V-8 were accidental, of
course. Those future Corvette owners who specified the ultra-high
compression big-block engine with its aluminum heads, high-capacity
four-barrel carburetor, bespoke induction, and domed hood knew
exactly what they were getting into. What they may not have known
was that 1969 would be the final year for the engine that had
proven itself on the track. Officially, the engineers, lawyers, and
product planners at General Motors specified that the L88 engine
was for track use, but it was street legal and ran on standard pump
fuel. Chevy rated the engine at 430 horsepower, a very conservative
figure for an engine that really put out closer to 600 horsepower
and didn't bother to advertise its existence in its contemporary
marketing material. The L88 debuted for the 1967 model year and
required those dealers willing to order one to jump through a few
hoops. Dealers first had to select the performance suspension,
positraction rear differential, and the biggest brakes available to
handle an engine capable of vaulting the Corvette from a standstill
to a quarter of a mile in less than 12 seconds. A radio and an air
conditioner were not available. The engine was meant for track use,
after all. The unusual beginnings of this highly decorated 1969
Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe are detailed in a letter from Tony
Franchi, who enjoyed a long career at Wigder Chevrolet in
Livingston, New Jersey, the car's original selling dealer. Written
in 1995 to the car's then-owner Bob Rush of Clewiston, Florida, the
letter describes how the original purchaser left the car stored at
the dealership "for the longest time." When the customer finally
arrived to collect his new car, he showed up with a flatbed trailer
and winched the L88 onto the trailer deck without it even having
been put through a pre-delivery inspection. When asked by a dealer
employee what he would do with the car, the customer's reply was
straightforward: "Put it away." Indeed, that is exactly what
happened, because it never appeared at Wigder Chevrolet again.
Flash forward to today, as the car shows only 2,050 original miles.
One of just 116 L88s produced in 1969, the final year of production
and factory ordered in ultra rare Tuxedo Black with a black
interior, Rally wheels and Firestone blackwall tires. It still
carries its CCAS/Al Grenning certified original numbers matching
engine, comprising the storied L88 427/430 HP engine with
late-production open-chamber aluminum heads, a Muncie M22 "Rock
Crusher" 4-speed and 4.56:1 Positraction rear end. In addition to
the L88-specific F41 special suspension, K66 transistorized
ignition and J50-J56 special power disc brakes, the car features
bright front-fender louver trim and Soft Ray-tinted glass. The car
was awarded both Bloomington Gold and NCRS Top Flight honors as a
result of the careful restoration by the Naber Brothers of Houston,
Texas. It was then invited to be a part of the Bloomington Gold L88
Invasion and L88 Explosion Special Collections, further adding to
its accolades. Complete with the aforementioned letter from Wigder
Chevrolet, this top-tier collector Corvette L88 comes complete with
judging sheets and certificates, restoration receipts and owner's
manual. Furthermore, the numbers matching L88 engine has been
affirmed by Al Grenning and the Classic Car Affirmation Service.
Truly a remarkable example that would be the pinnacle of any
Corvette or Muscle car collection. Additional Details: 1969
CHEVROLET CORVETTE -
