Wrong car?

[Iron Duke NCRS #22045]

I haven't seen Rasmussen's book, Patrick, but something doesn't sound right. I can't swear to this, but I don't thing Steve's car had side pipes. As an engineering student, Steve was a logical and very methodical guy. His plan from the get go was to modify the car for drag racing, and there's no reason why he would order the $131.65 side pipe option since he knew he would never use them. Also, the VIN sequence you mentioned is 116945. Could you actually read this on the photo of the window sticker? The Rally Red L-88 in the RM auction I mentioned in another post in this thread has a sequence number 115791. Both would be April production which jibes with the May '67 delivery in Seattle. Something doesn't make sense, unless there are two Rally Red '67 L-88s, but let's not start more rumors!

Duke

[Lou Lapham]

Re: Wrong car?There were two Rally Red cars

As i mentioned in my Used Cars post,there were at least two Rally Red 67 L88s one being the Red/Red car which got a lot of press when it sold for $500,000+ through Corvette Mike.The one Duke talks about is the Red/Black car.The Red/Red car was found on a Detroit used car lot by a Dearborn school teacher.The original motor was long gone also.I think this car has sidepipes.Lou

[Roberto L.]

Re: Wrong car?There were two Rally Red cars

Apparently the Red/Red is the one published in Vette in January 95, with new motor, sold at $ 500.000. I was very busy by those times and couldn't go to the auction to buy it...

Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC

[Iron Duke NCRS #22045]

Ah ha!

Thanks for clearing this up, Lou. Upon closer inspection, the Rally Red '67 L-88 pictured in the January 2000 Sports Car Market as part of the RM Cars auction ad shows a red dash pad, but no sidepipes. Steve's car had a black interior and no side pipes. The VIN sequence number posted by Patrick would then be Steve's former car. Got any idea what the true mileage is on the red/red car formerly owned by your son's teacher. Is is "original" or restored?

Duke

[Patrick T.]

Steve's Car Did Have Sidepipes....

Duke, You and I have to be talking about the same car. The book I'm looking at now, says it's from the Seattle,Washington area. As you said the VIN # on the window sticker is 194377S116945, not like I said earlier-194677(my typo). This sticker plainly reads the following options: Rally Red, Vacuum power brakes, HD 4 speed trans, Less heater-defroster, transistorized ignition, Side dual exhaust, special suspension, 4:11 positraction,HD 430 HP V-8 and heavy duty brakes. The interior is black vinyl, and there are sidepipes. Also there is a tag on the shifter console to remind the owner to use at least 103 octane.

The car was stored in a row of concrete garages, and in 1976 was discovered by a Highway Patrol Officer who went to the garage to inspect the car, because the owner wanted to title it. The officer in turn tipped off a friend who owned a used Corvette business. That dealer immediately bought the car, put the engine back together and sold it to some guy in Minneapolis. The above is straight from the book, so there is nothing for me to remember. Patrick

[Iron Duke NCRS #22045]

Dead brain cells

I pulled out the October/November 1976 Corvette News with the article titled "Our most unbelievable Corvette" that I believe is the first published account of Steve's car. The picture of the window sticker in the article clearly shows the VIN sequence number of 116945 and the options including side mount exhaust. Unfortunately, it appears that some brain cells have expired in the past 30 plus years. Maybe Patrick H. can provide me with medication to arrest further deterioration and restore my memory.

The story as you paraphrased it is mostly correct, however, Lincoln Auto Parts in Seattle did not reassemble the car. From the article by Ed Lincoln Jr.: "The pictures you see here were taken the day we bought the car - and sold it! The customer in Minneapolis who bought it reports that, after several months of work, it is running like new."

If the block was changed, as has been alleged, it was probably done by the owner in Minneapolis.

Duke

[Lou Lapham]

Re: Ah ha!

Duke-I don't know about the mileage but it was restored.I believe the guy is still around town.I'll see if my son can get anything from him on the mileage.I was told last year that Jim Purvis had at one time owned the Red/Red car possibly he was the one who bought it from the teacher.Lou

[G B.]

A little more ownership history.

I saw the red/red L88 coupe just prior to restoration. It was during the early nineties ('92-3?) I'm pretty sure. The Nabers had it in their shop in Houston. The owner at that time was Ray Norvell in Las Vegas. The Nabers restored the car, entered it in the Cypress Gardens Show, and stored it for a while. Ray then sold it to or through Corvette Mike.

[Patrick H.]

We've got medication for that...

Duke,

No problem. Now if I could only find those pills where I left them...

Patrick Hulst, M.D.