Rare Vette on Ebay
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teh Senior Instigator
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From: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
Suzuka Master
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Charlotte
Originally Posted by SeCsTaC
What'd the L88 option package do?
The L88 is the '' Holy Grail '' of collectible big-block 427 motor was installed in a very limited number of production Corvettes from 1967 through 1969. It is best described as a full-race motor, available to the public for street use, straight from the factory. But its offering on the RPO option list was listed there in disguise. Chevrolet wanted to produce a high-performance Corvette that was second to none. But they also didn?t want the inexperienced horsepower-seeking youth ordering one without realizing the true potential of the L88. Also, it was necessary to have the L88 Corvette conform to various government regulations, insurance companies, as well as Chevrolet's own horsepower policy. Therefore, the publicized rating for the horsepower of the L88; was manipulated by Chevrolet.
This L88 with 12.5 to 1 compression, hi-lift cam, 850 CFM 4 barrel Holley carb and painted aluminum heads has approx 560 HP.
The true intent of the L88 was for all-out performance on the racetrack. For example the L88s were delivered without fan shrouds and they did not have chokes. Additionally there was the Radio and Heater delete that was mandatory on the L88.
This L88 with 12.5 to 1 compression, hi-lift cam, 850 CFM 4 barrel Holley carb and painted aluminum heads has approx 560 HP.
The true intent of the L88 was for all-out performance on the racetrack. For example the L88s were delivered without fan shrouds and they did not have chokes. Additionally there was the Radio and Heater delete that was mandatory on the L88.
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teh Senior Instigator
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 44,094
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From: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
History: Chevrolet's Corvette engineering group began developing the L88 package in early 1965, and by 1967 it was ready for the track. The L88 was a thinly disguised racing version of the Chevy big block 427 that included a forged and Tuftrided crankshaft, 12.5:1 pistons, alloy cylinder heads, and a cold air induction system. The engine was designed to make maximum power while lasting through a round the clock endurance race.
While the engine was of course the heart of the package, there were many other components integrated to complete the deal. This included a M22 "Rock Crusher" four-speed transmission, F41 heavy-duty suspension, power assisted heavy-duty breaks, K66 transistor ignition, and a G81 Positraction differential. Besides all this, there was a list of equipment that could not be ordered with the car. Chevy's in-house publication stated that certain normally standard components were deleted to cut down on weight and discourage its use on the street. Unnecessary items like air conditioning, a radio, engine fan shroud, carburetor choke, and a heater/ defroster were all deleted. The package was completed with a warning sticker glued to the center console that reminded the driver that the engine required 103 octane fuel.
Oddly, it seemed that Chevy tried to discourage selling the package. The engine alone added almost $1000 to the cost of the car, and when all the other mandatory options were added, the price of the car increased by almost 50 percent. Finally, the L88's power was advertised as 430hp, which was 5 less than the L71 427 engine, which cost less than half as much. Actually, the 430hp was measured at 4600 rpm, well below the engine's peak, and used cast iron exhaust manifolds and mufflers. The L88 needed an open exhaust path and pure racing fuel to excel to its true potential of almost 600hp at 6500rpm.
The first factory built L88 Corvette rolled off of the assembly line in the spring of 1967, just 3 weeks before Sebring. It was purchased by the Motorsports Division of Sunray DX Oil Corporation. By 1965, Sunray DX was the sixth largest oil company in the world, but despite its size and stability, it realized it had an image problem with the younger generation. So in an effort to rejuvenate its image, Sunray DX decided to go racing!
To get things started, DX formed an alliance with Pittsburgh based Yenko Chevrolet, and SCCA national champion Don Yenko. This was important because Chevy was not due to produce the L88 package until after Sebring, which put a serious kink in the DX plan to race there. However, the problem was solved with a phone call from Don Yenko to the home of GM president Ed Cole, who issued the necessary edict to have the car specially produced.
Three weeks later, the car was on the starting grid for the 12 hour Sebring race. Yenko and Dave Morgan co-drove the car, finishing first in GT class, and tenth overall, despite spending the final 40 minutes of the race off the track after brake failure. Morgan drove the car solo for the rest of the '67 season and ended up with the SCCA Mid-West Division title. In 1968, Morgan and Jerry Grant took the car to the 24-hour Daytona race, where it again finished first in class, and tenth overall. It ran perfectly for the entire 24 hours, and was clocked at an amazing top speed of 194 mph. There were plans to expand the program and take the car to Le Mans in '69, but it wasn't meant to be. Towards the end of 1968, Sunray DX completed a deal to merge with Sunoco, who already had an active racing program with Roger Penske, and therefore the DX team was dissolved.
The L88 option disappeared from Corvette order sheets soon after it appeared, due to safety concerns and emissions standards. A grand total of 20 '67 L88 Corvettes were built, and today less than 10 documented examples remain. The DX Corvette has passed through several hands since 1968, and was restored to its 1967 Sebring race configuration in 1990. It is by far the most important L88 in existence, and might be the most desirable production Corvette ever made. It went up for auction in 2002 at Monterey, CA but did not sell though the high bid was $900,000.
While the engine was of course the heart of the package, there were many other components integrated to complete the deal. This included a M22 "Rock Crusher" four-speed transmission, F41 heavy-duty suspension, power assisted heavy-duty breaks, K66 transistor ignition, and a G81 Positraction differential. Besides all this, there was a list of equipment that could not be ordered with the car. Chevy's in-house publication stated that certain normally standard components were deleted to cut down on weight and discourage its use on the street. Unnecessary items like air conditioning, a radio, engine fan shroud, carburetor choke, and a heater/ defroster were all deleted. The package was completed with a warning sticker glued to the center console that reminded the driver that the engine required 103 octane fuel.
Oddly, it seemed that Chevy tried to discourage selling the package. The engine alone added almost $1000 to the cost of the car, and when all the other mandatory options were added, the price of the car increased by almost 50 percent. Finally, the L88's power was advertised as 430hp, which was 5 less than the L71 427 engine, which cost less than half as much. Actually, the 430hp was measured at 4600 rpm, well below the engine's peak, and used cast iron exhaust manifolds and mufflers. The L88 needed an open exhaust path and pure racing fuel to excel to its true potential of almost 600hp at 6500rpm.
The first factory built L88 Corvette rolled off of the assembly line in the spring of 1967, just 3 weeks before Sebring. It was purchased by the Motorsports Division of Sunray DX Oil Corporation. By 1965, Sunray DX was the sixth largest oil company in the world, but despite its size and stability, it realized it had an image problem with the younger generation. So in an effort to rejuvenate its image, Sunray DX decided to go racing!
To get things started, DX formed an alliance with Pittsburgh based Yenko Chevrolet, and SCCA national champion Don Yenko. This was important because Chevy was not due to produce the L88 package until after Sebring, which put a serious kink in the DX plan to race there. However, the problem was solved with a phone call from Don Yenko to the home of GM president Ed Cole, who issued the necessary edict to have the car specially produced.
Three weeks later, the car was on the starting grid for the 12 hour Sebring race. Yenko and Dave Morgan co-drove the car, finishing first in GT class, and tenth overall, despite spending the final 40 minutes of the race off the track after brake failure. Morgan drove the car solo for the rest of the '67 season and ended up with the SCCA Mid-West Division title. In 1968, Morgan and Jerry Grant took the car to the 24-hour Daytona race, where it again finished first in class, and tenth overall. It ran perfectly for the entire 24 hours, and was clocked at an amazing top speed of 194 mph. There were plans to expand the program and take the car to Le Mans in '69, but it wasn't meant to be. Towards the end of 1968, Sunray DX completed a deal to merge with Sunoco, who already had an active racing program with Roger Penske, and therefore the DX team was dissolved.
The L88 option disappeared from Corvette order sheets soon after it appeared, due to safety concerns and emissions standards. A grand total of 20 '67 L88 Corvettes were built, and today less than 10 documented examples remain. The DX Corvette has passed through several hands since 1968, and was restored to its 1967 Sebring race configuration in 1990. It is by far the most important L88 in existence, and might be the most desirable production Corvette ever made. It went up for auction in 2002 at Monterey, CA but did not sell though the high bid was $900,000.
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Toronto
Q: Do you take American Express ???
Oct-11-05
A: YES, I CAN ACCEPT AMERICAN EXPRESS, VISA, DISCOVER AND MASTERCARD.
You gotta have some crazy lifestyle to have an 850,000 limit on your card.
Oct-11-05
A: YES, I CAN ACCEPT AMERICAN EXPRESS, VISA, DISCOVER AND MASTERCARD.
You gotta have some crazy lifestyle to have an 850,000 limit on your card.
CAFFEINE SLAVE
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,321
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From: Des Moines, IA USA
sticker on console:
"WARNING: VEHICLE MUST OPERATE ON A FUEL HAVING A MINIMUM OF 103 RESEARCH OCTANE AND 95 MOTOR OCTANE OR ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT"
....x a 36 gallon tank
good gravy, you'd have to be rich just to fill it up
"WARNING: VEHICLE MUST OPERATE ON A FUEL HAVING A MINIMUM OF 103 RESEARCH OCTANE AND 95 MOTOR OCTANE OR ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT"
....x a 36 gallon tank
good gravy, you'd have to be rich just to fill it up
04 remembrance
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,681
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Originally Posted by fdl
Q: Do you take American Express ???
Oct-11-05
A: YES, I CAN ACCEPT AMERICAN EXPRESS, VISA, DISCOVER AND MASTERCARD.
You gotta have some crazy lifestyle to have an 850,000 limit on your card.
Oct-11-05
A: YES, I CAN ACCEPT AMERICAN EXPRESS, VISA, DISCOVER AND MASTERCARD.
You gotta have some crazy lifestyle to have an 850,000 limit on your card.
04 remembrance
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,681
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Originally Posted by Jamz
sticker on console:
"WARNING: VEHICLE MUST OPERATE ON A FUEL HAVING A MINIMUM OF 103 RESEARCH OCTANE AND 95 MOTOR OCTANE OR ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT"
....x a 36 gallon tank
good gravy, you'd have to be rich just to fill it up
"WARNING: VEHICLE MUST OPERATE ON A FUEL HAVING A MINIMUM OF 103 RESEARCH OCTANE AND 95 MOTOR OCTANE OR ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT"
....x a 36 gallon tank
good gravy, you'd have to be rich just to fill it up
Thread Starter
teh Senior Instigator
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 44,094
Likes: 980
From: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
Originally Posted by Cruz_msl
That's just nutty. That monster must have been faaaaassssstttttt.
Won 12 hours of Sebring and 24 hours of daytona in that trim
Senior Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 169,055
Likes: 23,830
Originally Posted by Black CL-S 4-Life
Cool car but at that price I'd rather have an Enzo.
But, when a person has the $$$$ for the Vette, he/she probably can get an Enzo too...
Mind you, the nostalgic and "soul" of driving this Vette may be more than the computerized all-machine thinking the Enzo is...
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