1969 L88 Corvette at Barrett-Jackson 2017
1969 L88 Corvette
This 1969 L88 Corvette is one of only 116 built during the 1969 model year. As most of you know, I am the L88 Corvette enthusiast with the L88 Corvette text book and the magazines. This particular L88 Corvette was restored by Kevin Mackay at his Corvette Repair in New York, and it was in my L88 Corvette display at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals back in 2013. It only has a little over 16,000 miles on its odometer. As with all other L88 Corvettes, this L88 is equipped with all the necessary L88 options to roll out of the St. Louis Missouri Corvette factory.
I will be with this 1969 L88 Corvette when it rolls across the block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2017 and I will update all of you shortly after the auction with all the Corvette activities. Please check back with me here at Corvette Legends for all the new updates.
This 1969 L88 Corvette is listed by Barrett-Jackson at their 2017 Scottsdale auction and I am positive that it will be in the hands of another caring owner. Roger C. Johnson had this to say about the 1969 L88 Corvette featured here. The L88-equipped Corvette was destined for fame the moment the idea was conceived. And no matter how enthusiastically it was accepted into the stratosphere of performance cars, no one knew at the time it would be a benchmark in this exclusive society for generations to come.
That new C3 body style was so outrageous that even the staunchest Corvette lover needed time to adjust to a design that represented such a quantum leap forward. But everyone knows now what we didn’t know then: it was the genesis of a shooting star with a tail countless decades long. And here is one of the most spectacular examples of the car you will likely ever find. Only 216 Corvettes were produced with the L88 option, and a mere 116 were offered for sale in 1969. Since the one featured here traveled only 16,482 miles in its lifetime, it is certainly one of the most significant examples still around. This is a machine intended for serious track use, be it road course or drag strip. Superior power-to-weight ratios and striking good looks always make for the perfect formula when sheer excitement is the goal.
The 427 big-block L88 engine sported an advertised horsepower rating of 430. It was a number that appeased corporate lawyers and insurance company executives, but it had no connection to reality. Many experts claim the actual power rating was closer to 550. That number was produced without the need for multiple carburetion. Its single, 850 cfm, 4-barrel carb also made the engine appear less threatening than it actually was. Although with the hood closed and the engine running, its intent and capability were more than obvious to even the most casual observer. Underneath the Batmobile-type exterior lurks an M22 4-speed transmission, J56 heavy-duty disc brakes and a beefed-up suspension designed to control this beast in the hands of an attentive driver. A K66 ignition keeps the horsepower factory within properly sparked. The N14-coded side pipes are without doubt the best-looking setup ever installed by any factory. They announce your arrival or departure with the authority and style of a superhero.
The hood’s reverse power-bulge scoop is classic, functional and an absolute thrill to behold, especially from the driver’s seat. It’s virtually an engine-sound amplifier, and it is aimed right at your face. And speaking of views from the best seat in the house, the sexy rise of the front fenders with their sharp edges are such a visual treat you’ll never stop delighting in the fact you are driving this very special machine.
A complete restoration by Kevin Mackay of Corvette Repair has brought this prime example to the forefront of desirability. It retains the original engine, transmission, rear-end assembly and body panels, putting it in the category of “breathtaking.” The car was repainted its original LeMans Blue and maintains the factory black interior for the ideal color combination. Call it “Combat Formal.” The look helped it attain a MCACN Triple Diamond rating in 2013, as well as an NCRS Top Flight Award, not to mention a coveted Bloomington Gold Award. It has also been featured in the February 2015 issue of Vette magazine.
By treating yourself to this 1969 L88 Corvette when it crosses the block at the 2017 Scottsdale Auction, you ‒ and the car ‒ will always be the center of attention regardless of where you go. This machine represents the dreams of all performance-car enthusiasts with regards to power, look and image. If you have the urge for explosive performance and radioactive good looks in a collectible car, here’s your chance to go nuclear.
This 1969 L88 Corvette almost reached its reserve at the auction.
