L88 sold at BJ for 85k

[James G.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

RE: C3 Registry photos
1. Engine photo shows a brand new overflow tank, brand new L88 open air cleaner, new appearing valve covers intake etc in an aged original engine compartment, with appears to be undisturbed original stock appearing BB copper and brass radiator.
2. Interior Photo: The interior has what appears to be a BRAND NEW or freshly restored radio block off plate which does not match the patina of the rest of the interior., I have a couple of used originals which look would look much better in that interior.

[Dennis O.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

I bought the car that everyone is talking about. The auction magazine indeed describes the car as "This Can-Am White 1969 Corvette L88 is powered by a matching-numbers 427/430hp V8 engine that features open-chambered aluminum heads, a performance camshaft, a 12.0:1 compression ratio and 4-barrel Holley Carb" It goes on to list the other features including heavy duty suspension and 7-leaf rear springs. Whether or not it's real, I couldn't let it go when it was stuck at $75,000 and if it isn't real, I have a pretty good lawsuit against the consignor or whomever wrote the description. It doesn't say its a Corvette with an L88 and it doesn't say it's an L88 clone. The description under the photo and below it says "1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88". Yes, you can talk semantics all day long, but in the moment, and for that kind of money, it was worth the risk to me. If it turns out to be a clone, then I have a very nice car with an L88 motor and maybe...... a lawsuit. I'll update everyone, once I have it verified by a Corvette expert.

[Don H.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

Welcome to the Tech Discussion Board Dennis, and I hope you have a lot of fun with your 69 L88, and we see it out at a meet sometime soon. Thank you for speaking up in this thread..

[Dennis O.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

Thanks for the kind words Don, we'll definitely come to a meet.

[Patrick B.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

I bought the car that everyone is talking about. The auction magazine indeed describes the car as "This Can-Am White 1969Corvette L88 is powered by a matching-numbers 427/430hp V8 engine that features open-chambered aluminum heads, a performance camshaft, a 12.0:1 compression ratio and 4-barrel Holley Carb" It goes on to list the other features including heavy duty suspension and 7-leaf rear springs. Whether or not it's real, I couldn't let it go when it was stuck at $75,000 and if it isn't real, I have a pretty good lawsuit against the consigner or whomever wrote the description. It doesn't say its a Corvette with an L** and it doesn't say it's an L88 clone. The description under the photo and below it says "1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88. Yes, you can talk semantics all day long, but in the moment, and for that kind of money, it was worth the risk to me. If it turns out to be a clone, then I have a very nice car with an L88 motor and maybe...... a lawsuit. I'll update everyone, once I have it verified by a Corvette expert.

[Dennis O.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

20240129_162020.jpgThis is the brochure Ad I was looking at when the car went across the block. If you right-click on it and "open image in a new tab" you can zoom in and read it. It definitely calls it an L88. As I said, it doesn't mean they weren't trying to mislead the buying public, but the wording is "numbers matching" and also "L88"

[Duke W.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

Have you driven it yet? If it has a REAL L-88 camshaft it will barely idle at 1500. A real L-88 is a cantankerous beast that is TOTALLY unstreetable. I was involved with a '67 L-88 back when it was new and it's not a pleasant beast to deal with in normal road driving. Real ones just seem to trade hands periodically when they appreciate.

Real L-88s are not useable cars, just financial assets that speculators trade back and forth looking for capital appreciation or maybe a Ponzi scheme because when the music stops...

The best thing a L-88 owner can do it "detune" the beast with a L-72/71/LS-6 camshaft, 10:1 pistons, L-71 distributor with a B-26 VAC, and the OE type big block fan shroud... oh and a PVC system for the '67 versions.

Then you can enjoy driving it without having to spend more time looking at the temp gage than the road ahead, and maybe even getting low teens MPG instead or 8 or 9.

Assuming the stamp pad it real that "proves" its a bonafide factory installed L-88, it can always be brought back to OE spec to sit in a museum or a speculators collection.

Duke

[Dennis O.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

I have not driven it, though I've heard everything you said about it before from other Corvette authorities through the years. I currently own five Corvettes of varying models and have owned 4 others in the past. The cam is a real thumper for sure. I bought the car as a last-minute bid because it's advertised as a matching numbers L88 and the price was way lower than normal. We'll wait and see if it's the real deal or if the consignor is as you say, running a Ponzi. I am not naive, things that seem to good to be true, usually are, but it's still a very nice car. Thanks Dennis

[Michael L.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

Well as I said already regardless of how it turns out I think it was well bought. Worst comes to worst you have a very nice car that seems impossible not to hold its value or even appreciate during however long you keep and enjoy it. Congrats!

Mike

[Gary B.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

Mike,

I concur with you 100%.

Gary

[Joseph W.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

Beautiful car Dennis and well bought no matter what.

[Terry D.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

Very interesting, but I bet you have a tuff time sueing. I'm sure somewhere in very fine print it says something like "represented to the best of our ability" Also unless you have really deep pockets I'm sure B/J has attornies on retainer for just such things. Regardless I agree that I don't think you can lose money con sidering the sky high prices people are paying for cars these days!

[Tim G.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

I believe the description of the car was changed before the sale. Either way, enjoy and drive it. Put headers, sidepipes, and aftermarket wheels on it and have a blast.

[Roy S.]

[Kenneth B.]

Re: L88 sold at BJ for 85k

I looked at this car, no dual pin brakes, no M22, small block rear, no HD suspension parts, totally unrestored chassis and small block fuel lines. It’s not a factory L88.

Please take Roy's word for it I also looked at the Corvette. It looked like a duck But didnt quack a duck & was NOT a duck.