Bloomington L88 in 1988

[Joseph T.]

Just came across my Vette Vues from September 1988.

Feature picture shows 27 L88's on display.

That was quite a show...I sold an NOS L88 AIR Injection Reactor with all original spiders tubes, dated clamps etc.. for $3500. I got it in a box of extra parts when I bought '57 #4353. Didn't even know what it was at first.

If you are somewhat new to this Corvette thing..but really into it..I would suggest you buy a collection of Vette Vues, Corvette News, Corvette Restorer, Driveline,etc..

It will provide you with great reading and history of what has taken place. You might even find the car you bought previously featured.

I noticed one of us old guys selling his complete collection of Corvette News recently for $4000.. believe me..that was a good buy for whoever stepped up. Volume 1 #1 alone was worth about half the total asking price...and it features my car at Nassau! ( a little bragging )

I suspect..One day..I will get tired and let mine go as well..but not yet. I made the mistake of selling the first five years of Vette Vues some time ago. Guess I will have to buy them back.

Merry Christmas to all the great people who participate on this board..and a special thanks to those like Lucia and others that volunteer so much!

Joe Trybulec

[Norris W.]

Re: Bloomington L88 in 1988

That was a great year at Bloomington for sure. Actually I thought there were more than 27 L88's there. The organizers wanted to have 88 L88's, but fell short of the goal. I think there were only 2 69 L88's judged, mine (Riverside gold coupe) and a black one brought by Corvette Mike. We sat side by side. There was a Riverside gold L88 roadster judged also, but it may've been a 68. I know there was a red 68 too. Most of the others were just for the "Earthquake 88" gathering. Ironically I took my L89 back in 1989 and Corvette Mike had an L89 right beside me for judging also.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Bloomington L88 in 1988

I was standing by the trailer when the 68 red L88 was off loaded. I had set up my NOS L88 AIR for sale inside the D&A tent. The red 68 L88 was missing this very part.

I don't know..but he may have been the one that bought it. By the time I walked back to the D&A tent it was sold.

During that same day..I passed on a nice 57 250hp fuel unit and matching distributor for $1500 and a complete 68 427 engine for I think $1800.

Instead of buying those two items...I took the proceeds from the sale of the AIR pump and bought new carpeting for the house.

You be the judge.

I don't know how many L88's there were that year in total..I was just counting the ones pictured in the photo.

There are more real ones around that have not been shown. A friend in Ca. has two or three including one with the automatic transmission. Another local here says he has one and also says his friend has one as well.

Joe

[Dick W.]

Re: Bloomington L88 in 1988

I have the panoramic picture of that hanging on my office wall. I am the short, fat, white headed, balding, old phart in the front center with the white '69 roadster. Quite a show.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Bloomington L88 in 1988

Dick..I also remember a guy walking around the show that year with a hand made flier listing a complete 57 fuel injected engine for sale. I think he was asking $3500

Vette vues ran a very good 3 part article on L88's in 1979.

It reminds me..that I turned down the chance to buy the white ZL1 for $60,000

Real or imagined..it was worth that much. At minimum its an L88.

[Dick W.]

Re: Bloomington L88 in 1988

And at the time we thought that the prices were outrageous. As one well know dealer says "you can never pay too much for a Corvette, you can just buy it too early"

[Wayne M.]

Hey Dick, does Prather still have the negative

for that panorama shot ? I'm in there as well, but in the crowd behind the red '69 convert owned by Howard Goering (was his co-pilot on a tour around Bloomington -- it did NOT overheat).

I recall that when they asked all the L88 owners to start their engines (Earthquake '88) it was a real audio disapointment.

[Dick W.]

Re: Hey Dick, does Prather still have the negative

Prather did not make that shot. A photograper from WV did those shots. I will look and see if I can figure out his name.

[mike mccagh]

Re: Hey Dick, does Prather still have the negative

dickie: did the w.va photogapher use an ancient camera? if so , contact my daughter chrissy, who orchestrated a panoramic photo of a bunch of corvettes for the 2oth anniv of the MAC chapter. his camera, as i recall, was from the turn of the century. mike

[Terry M.]

Yep, that's him *NM*

[Joseph T.]

Re: Hey Dick, does Prather still have the negative

Vette Vues offered the panorama L88 picture #22 for sale at the price of $24.95..volume 17 #2 Sept.1988...as well as the special collection #20, '63 silver Salute #21 and Certification cars #19

pan pictures are listed as sizes 10' x 45' to 10" x 65"

Maybe it is still possible to have them made.

[Bob B.]

Re: Hey Dick, does Prather still have the negative

True panoramic photography involves not the use of a wide angle lens, but the use of specially designed motorized cameras. The cameras are motorized in such a way to rotate the camera atop a geared tripod head and at the same time a roll of film is pulled through the film back.
The camera used was called a Cirkut camera and was manufactured from 1904-1938. The Cirkut camera photographs in a way similar to how a person would look at a panoramic view...by turning one's head from side to side.
I know B/G still have some old photo's from over the years that are for sale.
I have a panoramic photo from B/G special collection but it is hanging in my building and not right here to look at, all I recall that the photographers first name was Chad from West Virginia.

[Norris W.]

Re: Hey Dick, does Prather still have the negative

Wouldn't it be fairly simple to get one copied, or would it be a copywrite violation? Mine's framed on the gameroom wall, but I'd guess one of the film shops could copy it for next to nothing if somebody really wants one.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Hey Dick, does Prather still have the negative

Your local blue print shop that prints housing plans should have the equipment...to scan and print.

[Dick W.]

Re: Hey Dick, does Prather still have the negative

Recent rulings concerning copyright laws and intelectual properties would most likelymake copying this photo illegal. Best bet is to contact the photographer