1968 Corvette L-89 (427 cu. in. L-71 435 HP engine with aluminum heads) once owned by Astronaut
Alan Shepard. In unrestored condition, this Corvette has a historic pedigree and was displayed at the
National Corvette Museum in 2019 as part of a joint NASA/Corvette exhibit. This is one of the few
“Astronaut Corvettes” known to remain from the Apollo Space Program era.
The L-89 Corvette convertible was an unusual engine option with only 624 being delivered amongst the
almost 30,000 1968 Corvettes. It also includes the relatively rare combination of Polar White paint with
a Tobacco leather interior. The original Build Sheet has been preserved along with other documents
related to Shepard’s ownership. The car has power windows, a telescopic steering column, and bright
metal wheel covers, but no options that would rob the wheels of power from the engine.
The car is largely complete and runs but is in need of work. Extensive documentation on the car’s
condition and the provenance of Shepard’s ownership has been prepared. Additionally, an inspection
and appraisal were completed in 2017 by a reputed national Corvette expert. All these documents are
available for review.
