What Is a L-89?

**Jack H.** · July 5, 2006, 09:23 PM

Re: What Is a L-89?

It's a supply/demand attraction. The rarer the car's configuration, the more people generally bid for it. Seeing as how GM production records document only 16 L89 cars built in 1967, that makes the car about as rare as an L88 PLUS it's a steetable driver...

**Joseph T.** · July 5, 2006, 10:25 PM

Re: What Is a L-89?

Pete..they are your cars..but just a suggestion..as you decide to upgrade..save all the original parts!

The cars you have mentioned are all 5 star collector cars..especially as original.

Rather than fiddle with upgrading these important cars..why not buy another car..to play with and leave these as they are. Any one of these cars would finance anything else you might want to build.

Just a thought.

Joe

**Mark #28455** · July 5, 2006, 10:48 PM

Are you kidding?

If you own 2 L89's I hope you know what they are . If not, just sell them and use the cash to fix up your fuelies.

Personally, I'd sell the fuelies and keep the L89's. There are those who trailer their cars and there are those who DRIVE their cars, I've decided to drive mine (I bought them because of the performance, not as an investment or trailer ballast). I'm not sure if part of this post was cracking on me but I hope I haven't offended you in some way. Why did I choose to drive them? Seven years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and thereafter a lot of priorities changed for me. At this time, it isn't all that high on my list to research what finish was on a particular bolt head . On the other hand, I do own an original L88, an original L89, a BB A/C convertible, and a 532 powered street car (good therapy) and about 20 BB engines (none for sale), so if you have a question about them, I would be happy to provide FREE info if I can help.

Enjoy your ride,
Mark

**mike cobine** · July 5, 2006, 11:18 PM

Re: Are you kidding?

My first thought was troll, but I check Pete's profile and it seems he has been around awhile. With all the talk of Corvette prices, Barrett-Jackson, and such lately, I find it hard to believe someone could miss something like this.

But then, maybe he has been sitting in a hosptial for the last week or two or had a change in medicines (isn't everyone on some drugs these days?) that has made a small slip in the memory.

Or it could be thoroughly honest. There are times I wonder why anyone would pay $250,000 and up for a car they can't drive. Yet, there are many who do.

Pete may be the only sane one among us.

**Mike McKown** · July 6, 2006, 09:15 AM

Re: What Is a L-89?

"So what is it about these cars that makes them seemingly attractive to some of the websites I have visited these past few days?"

Mines biggern' yer's!

I'd 10 times rather have the fuelies. You'll draw a bigger crowd!

**Pete Zietzke** · July 6, 2006, 02:48 PM

Re: Are you kidding?

Hello Mike,

Just within the last year or so, I've gotten the 'bug' to drive my 1963 SW Coupe which is one of my favorite cars ... many memories of great times back in those days.

A few months back I cleared a 20' x 25' area within my very full shop so as to have plenty of room to actually work on the '63. I assembled and gathered all necessary tools and equipment for the task at hand.

Because the fuel-injection system rarely ever worked properly - high-strung, vapor locks, dicey, I have replaced it (the original engine) with a performance, custom built SBC engine (406 cid) with a FIRST fuel-injection system I had purchased back in 1991 for use in another Vette I had then ... never installed that engine in that car, so it just sat in it's shipping crate waiting to be used.

Next, I decided that this '63 Vette front and rear suspension, steering and Posi diff required upgrading so as to ensure reliability, safety and peace-of-mind. So, this is what I'm working on at this point ... you may have read some of my posts on this forum asking questions of the experts here.

Somewhere in my recent travels on the Internet I happened to come across a reference regarding L-89 Corvettes and their engines. My most distinctive memory about the two I have, is that they were gasoline-sucking monsters that drove and handled very poorly ... a super big disappointment with much frustration.

So, you can assume I'm on drugs or that I've been locked away in a hospital somewhere or whatever seems to satisfy your curiosity as to why this old dog is ignorant. I do not follow nor am I interested in the current day excitement of these things. I love my old Vettes ... each and every one holds special and sweet memories for me.

Yes, my post "What Is A L-89" clearly demonstrated my total and absolute ignorance about them. The upside of the posted responses as well as the private emails received to date gave me pause to search out what these things are valued at these days ... yikes!!

Thank you for your post! Please accept these facts: 1) I do not do drugs (never have), 2) I have not been locked away somewhere and 3) that I'm just plain ignorant. Also understand I have no desire to boast about my cars ... they are what they are ... they are what I played with back then ... and I am who I am.

Other than that, I'm excited to get my little '63 Coupe out on the road to enjoy it, take in social events like participating in parades, drive-ins, vintage muscle car shows, etc.

Best Regards,

Pete

**Warren F.** · July 6, 2006, 10:17 PM

Re: What Is a L-89?

Pete,

I would say owning 12.5% of the total produced '67 L89's is quite an accomplishment. If you've got some kind of documentation for 'em, I think you're going to make the other L89 owners pretty nervous!

**Philip C.** · July 7, 2006, 12:06 AM

Esp since the 1992 survey has 15 of 16 *NM*

**mike cobine** · July 7, 2006, 03:30 AM

Re: Are you kidding?

Just within the last year or so, I've gotten the 'bug' to drive my 1963 SW Coupe which is one of my favorite cars ... many memories of great times back in those days.

I hope the car runs as good as the memories. So frequently people buy or pull out cars of their past, only to be disappointed. I hope that isn't the case with you bringing this one back out.

A few months back I cleared a 20' x 25' area within my very full shop so as to have plenty of room to actually work on the '63.

double that room!

Thank you for your post! Please accept these facts: 1) I do not do drugs (never have), 2) I have not been locked away somewhere and 3) that I'm just plain ignorant.

1. I hope you manage to stay that way. Around here, doctors seem to prescribe for everything. If the first drug doesn't fix it, add another. Never delete the first or previous. I know far too many people who take 4 or 5 drugs each day. It may be medicine, but it is still messing with a lot of minds.

2. You have, you just don't know it. After Barrett-Jackson hit Speedvision, almost everyone is convinced that every Corvette is an L88, 435 hp, or fuel injection. And every other one is worth $300,000 or more. How you can escape all those people is incredible. You have been locked away, because only that kind of security could have shielded you from all these "TV experts".

3. Not really. You remember that they were once ill-handling, bad tempered, unreliable beasts that ended up being sold cheap once upon a time. Like I said, you may be the only sane one among us.

**Pete Zietzke** · July 7, 2006, 10:40 AM

Re: Are you kidding?

Well Mike, maybe I have been locked away in a sense ... I live in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Montana in a small house with a 40' x 80' shop at the end of a bumpy dirt road out in the wooded mountains. I dont't have cable or satellite TV but ocassionally watch a rented movie or two.

I spend a lot of time fabricating scratch-built 1:8-scale model classic cars, the latest being a 1930 Packard 734 Boattail Speedster. All parts and components are hand-crafted from brass, copper, aluminum, rubber compound (for the tires), piano-wire for the wheel spokes, etc. They take upwards of two years to make each one.

My apologies for digressing here with other info not in line with the purpose and intent of this Technical Discussion Board, but thought it worthwhile to comment on.

Yes, now that I contemplate same, I am locked away ...

Now, as to my sanity ... that is an entirely different question!! ha, ha.

**Richard B.** · July 8, 2006, 01:22 PM

Re: Are you kidding?

i have been following this post and am wondering from your location description...isn`t that where the unibomber lived?

**Dave F.** · July 8, 2006, 02:12 PM

Re: Are you kidding?

Pete,

How far are you from Flathead Lake?

-Dave

**Jay G.** · July 9, 2006, 07:54 PM

Re: Are you kidding?

Yeah, But when blow the whole thing up well still be in a safe zone. I too live end of a 4 mile dirt road. Surrounded N.F. and by 1200 ac ranch No. and a 4500acs to the South. in the SW mnts of Colo. Ours is just a little log home on a lousey 70 Acs. We all still manage to drive these cars and work on em in our shop bldgs. Now with LIl,Kim acted up in N Korea I'm glad me and the wife got out when we did. Save the Wave altho I find mostly Elk and critters on the road.

**Pete Zietzke** · July 10, 2006, 10:19 AM

Re: Are you kidding?

Ted Kasinski lived out in the pucker-brush over near Lincoln which is about 100 or so miles south and east of here.

What Is a L-89?

What Is a L-89?

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