1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

[Sean S.]

[Duke W.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

I've never understood the fascination with L-88s. If you've ever driven or ridden in one you might feel the same, too.

My first experience was helping take one apart with the objective of turning it into the "ultimate drag racing car" in the spring of 1967, but the project was stillborn.

The owner had it flat-bedded from Alan Green Chevrolet to his garage complex in Seattle's "U-district" and started and drove it around the block once before beginning disassembly. I never heard it run.

About 20 years ago I rode in a '69 L-88 with a TH400. I had always been amazed that Chevrolet even offered the L-88 with an automatic. It was focused at drag racers since the "Dodge Boys" showed in the mid-sixties that automatics are more consistent than manuals in drag racing.

In neutral a L-88 will barely idle at 1500 due to the extreme valve overlap and about the same with the TH400 in Drive, which has a very loose converter that contributed to the single digit MPG numbers in street driving.

With room to run it's a beast, but really not much, if any, faster in OE trim than L-72/71 because the extreme overlap camshaft is at all not compatible with cast iron manifolds and mufflers. The five less horsepower SAE gross rating was probably honest because with all that overlap, manifolds, even without mufflers, are like sticking potatoes up the tail pipes, and to add insult to injury, like all other '69s, they had puny two-inch exhaust pipes. The "installed" power as it left St. Louis was probably less than L-72, and if you "blueprint" and install the L-88 racing exhaust system on a L-72 it will make about 500 GHP, only about 50 less than a fully race prepared L-88.

In traffic it's a cantankerous beast and especially in warm to hot weather, very susceptible to overheating.

I've also never understood why Chevrolet went through the effort to release this engine and related parts for installation on the St. Louis production line. It used the same block, heads as the L-89 and same inlet manifold casting as L-72 with a different carburetor, cam, pistons, and con rods (that proved not that durable).

They could have more easily just homologated the various engine and cold air induction system parts with the FIA and SCCA by submitting the proper documentation and making them available over the counter. Any serious racer would disassemble the engine, anyway, for inspection and "bluepriting" along with performing allowable modifications to body and chassis with homologated parts.

The '67 L-88 was illegal to register anywhere in the USA because it didn't have a closed crankcase ventilation system, just an old-fashioned road draft tube. I don't know if any were ever registered for road use. The '68 and '69 versions had a defroster, (FMVSS requirement beginning in '68), PCV system, AIR pump and emission controlled oriented spark advance map, so they were actually street legal, at least in the 49 states. I don't know if they passed the tighter California tailpipe emission standards.

I seems that are all now just "assets" that get purchased by speculators hoping for better capital appreciation in the future than other "collectibles".like art or rare coins.

Duke

[James G.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

The Penningtons race and the son said they are restoring the car and perhaps racing it.
I would love to see a REAL L88 on the racetrack.

IMHO
MORE interesting is the paperwork that the Penningtons acquired with the car.
STACKS of engineering drawings from the MARKIV big blocks including of the 074 heads etc.

[Tim G.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

The paperwork looked extensive. I tried to see the VIN on the Shipper Copy but couldn't make it out.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

The Penningtons race and the son said they are restoring the car and perhaps racing it.
I would love to see a REAL L88 on the racetrack.

...don't know what they paid but it would be a lot cheaper to build a big block vintage racer from a base model or just buy one ready to race from an older guy who came to the realization that it's time to retire.

Like most, this one would be worth more restored to original condition and that would be cheaper than building it into a competitive vintage racer.

Duke

[James G.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

They already have 67 (son) 68 (mom) 69 (Dad) L88 clones that the 3 drag race in the FAST series - log manifolds and small tires.

[Edward C.]

[Leif A.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

They already have 67 (son) 68 (mom) 69 (Dad) L88 clones that the 3 drag race in the FAST series - log manifolds and small tires.

And, they are 9.5 second, 145+MPH, record setting cars.

[Stan F.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

[Mark F.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

Yep...I believe the guy said it was delivered to Rinke Chevrolet which is in Center Line, MI - a stone's throw south of Warren and the Warren Tech Center...

[Stan F.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

Yep...I believe the guy said it was delivered to Rinke Chevrolet which is in Center Line, MI - a stone's throw south of Warren and the Warren Tech Center...

Mark,

Thanks, I must have missed that. The car that I referenced (09932) was delivered to Ed Rinke Chevrolet in Center Line, MI so that has to be it. As mentioned, it more than likely is the first L-88/M-40 Corvette built.

Thanks for the clarification.

Regards,

Stan Falenski

[Edward C.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

[Jon H.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

The vin is 194379s709932 and the identification number on the tank sticker and the car shipper is 146452 and the order number is X62877. The zone code is 44-384 delivered new to Rinke Chevrolet in Detroit Michigan. This car is the first M40 L88 built.

[Jack M.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

Additionally... when pointing to the VIN on the Car Shipper (17:54 in the video), he mentions 9932.

[Tim G.]

Re: 1969 Corvette L88 Automatic

Thank you, gentlemen.