1969 L88

[Mr. Cricket]

One of our NW members with deep pockets asked me to help find his dream Corvette which I said, good luck with that

His wish list:
1. 1969
2. LeMans blue
3. Factory side pipes
4. Big Block
5. Manual
6. Restored
7. Highly optioned

I really hope his pockets are of sufficient depth

1969 Chevrolet Corvette For Sale - DEN1102

LeMans Blue 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Barn Find NSRA Judged powered by a 427cid engine with a 4 Speed Manual transmission (1102-DEN). Gateway Classic Cars has 4126 Classics For Sale in our 21 Indoor Showrooms Nationwide.

www.gatewayclassiccars.com

 

[Nassau65]

Most of gateways cars are consignment cars, and they greatly inflate the owners asking price. Unfortunately nowadays that car is purely an investment piece, to be bought, looked at, and hopefully watch your investment grow. Never or very rarely to be driven.
A friend in Florida had one for many years, used it on a very regular basis. I drove it a number of times, it was horrible to drive. I think he sold it for $175k which showed him an enormous profit.
I’m going to forward him this add, he will probably start crying.

 

[Mr. Cricket]

I’m going to forward him this add, he will probably start crying.

Rotten b*****

I've told him this but as far as I'm concerned it's job done now. Put up or shut up..

Thing is as well, he can never keep up with us out on a trip in his C2 even though the car is more than capable

 

[Nassau65]

This bugger was up for sale last year by the owner of Corvette mike ( Michael vierto) last year for
S4 million, yes, four million dollars.
One of only 20 1967 L88’s built.

 

[richie500]

Firstly who is going to be stupid enough to pay that for a c3 no matter how rare, secondly the main reason for chipping in is having visited a number of Gateway showrooms in my life, if you are ever in the States they are a good place to visit. Its almost like your own private car show of around 150 cars, I've had free coffee and water to drink while looking at the cars and the Salesmen usually let you walk round without hassle. The only problem is when you see all the cars it can throw you if your not 100% sure in what you want and be prepared to walk out with an empty wallet because they have lots of nice cars to temp you.

 

[Nassau65]

I don’t think it will be seen as a car, it will be an investment. Buy it today for X, hopefully next year it will be worth Y, even possibly Y+. As I said, a friend sold his for $175K, if that person still owns the car, he’s looking at possibly a 300k profit, tax free.
Nothing wrong with Gateway, it’s just that they do jack right up on what the owners will take. From personal experience I wanted $20k for a car, they had it up for $34K. After a couple of months I asked them to lower the price, but they wouldn’t. In the end I took the car back.

 

[richie500]

Well it shows I know nothing, I have just had a quick look thro google and it appears their are stupid people out there....
One recently sold for $610K back in February.
I am absolutely gob smacked $455K breaking it down you are realistically paying $300K for an engine and $155K for a nice corvette
The world has gone mad

 

[Nassau65]

Yes, that 610k was on bring a trailer. I think that was plus a premium of some sort. I don’t think that person was stupid, he was a speculator, hoping for a return on his outlay in the future.
Certain cars are no longer cars, just investment items like paintings, property etc.
How can a 275 GTS NART Spyder be worth 30 million.
A friend of mine just bought 2 Aston Martin volante’s POW trim. He has just put them away. No intention of ever driving them. Pure investments. Good call, as you get nothing for your savings in the bank, and there are cars for all pockets out there. Who would have ever imagined that 280 brooklands capri’s would be 30k.

 

[James Vette]

Money laundering?

 

[Roscobbc]

Never or very rarely to be driven.
A friend in Florida had one for many years, used it on a very regular basis. I drove it a number of times, it was horrible to drive. I think he sold it for $175k which showed him an enormous profit.

Can't say I've ever driven an L88.......but the comment 'it was horrible to drive' has some resonance for me. Have been in, driven and owned a number of American cars with 'old school' high performance engines and specifically ones with race type camshafts that have a usable power band of perhaps 3500 - 4000 rpm. Not perhaps an issue on a street spec' car where the maximum revs are 5000 - but on a race spec' engine like the L88 with the power band running maybe from 3500 - 7000 rpm you can see why it'll be a pig on the street.

 

[Nassau65]

Horrible was perhaps a little harsh. Not a pleasant driver was perhaps a better was to describe it. Very brutal, always fighting you.

 

[Roscobbc]

I was 'mindful' of all that when planning my engine build - worked on basis that if the stock running gear was capable of handling the output of an L88 at a supposed 550 bhp (despite all supposed experts saying that diff, driveshafts and UJ's won't take big power outputs) then I'd be OK. Decided to 'soften' the power delivery by increasing capacity by 1000 cc and using smaller port heads to enhance low end power. Didn't want it revving at 6500 - 7000 with a 4.11 or higher axle ratio. For simplicity the cam was a flat tappet hydraulic (although has roller cam spec's) - and it works.....just. Useable power band starts at 1500 rpm with progessive increase untill 3500 where it goes wild. Yes, below 1500 rpm in town it can still be a bit 'baulky' but, hey fuel mpg is about the same (or fractionally better) than stock 427!

 

[Nassau65]

I do remember that fuel consumption was evil. Even at 80 odd cents to the gallon it was still frightening. Made a V12 Jag look economical. Another very thirsty thing was a friends 1971 429 mustang. He bought it new in 71, worked for Ford, got a Very good employee discount. When he bought it gas was about 12 cents a gallon. Sold it when the first oil crisis came along and got a Pinto. Two friends had a muscle car car lot in 1974, they were buying up muscle cars for pennies.

 

[Nassau65]

Money laundering?

No, just wealthy people speculating. Cars in general seem a good bet rather than keeping your money in a bank.
When Chris Evans bought his 250 GTO for £16 million people thought he was absolutely mad. He kept it for two years and sold it for £24 million. That’s a tax free profit of £8 million in two years. Nice work if you can get it.

 

[Roscobbc]

No, just wealthy people speculating. Cars in general seem a good bet rather than keeping your money in a bank.
When Chris Evans bought his 250 GTO for £16 million people thought he was absolutely mad. He kept it for two years and sold it for £24 million. That’s a tax free profit of £8 million in two years. Nice work if you can get it.

Just people with a good 'insight' as to what would these cars would mean in future years. During the late 50's and early 60's perfectly good American cars here in the UK were worth more or less nothing. The reason? - fuel economy (more, the lack of it!) - the UK as a nation was skint - few people could afford to run cars with sub 10 mpg figures. Those who actually could afford the cost of fuel bought tended to home produced vehicles. In the USA with their annual model/style changes where 'last years car' would be out of fashion with a booming economy and individual workers wages comparitively high, lightly taxed and cheap finance schemes there was effectively a glut of cheap perfectly good cars on the market. Manufacturers would product 'Saturday Night Specials', thinly disguised drag racers that with simple modifications be taken to the drag races and win. I had one of the '71 429 Mustand Nassau mentioned - who could put up with cars that had a Detriot locker, 4.11 axle that would mean 4000 rpm at 70 mph and single figure fuel economy...........we could, but not the average car buyer.

 

[Mr. Cricket]

I do remember that fuel consumption was evil. Even at 80 odd cents to the gallon it was still frightening. Made a V12 Jag look economical. Another very thirsty thing was a friends 1971 429 mustang. He bought it new in 71, worked for Ford, got a Very good employee discount. When he bought it gas was about 12 cents a gallon. Sold it when the first oil crisis came along and got a Pinto. Two friends had a muscle car car lot in 1974, they were buying up muscle cars for pennies.

Will it run on E10

 

[Nassau65]

So true. It was always about the fuel. A small percentage of people were prepared to suffer it.

 

[Roscobbc]

The '71 Breadvan with it's 11.3 c/r really needed 5 Star leaded to run properly. When it was discontinued cans of TEL 'real' lead Additive became available but eventually couldn't be imported.

 

[Chuffer]

I do remember that fuel consumption was evil. Even at 80 odd cents to the gallon it was still frightening. Made a V12 Jag look economical. Another very thirsty thing was a friends 1971 429 mustang. He bought it new in 71, worked for Ford, got a Very good employee discount. When he bought it gas was about 12 cents a gallon. Sold it when the first oil crisis came along and got a Pinto. Two friends had a muscle car car lot in 1974, they were buying up muscle cars for pennies.

High on the gas guzzling stakes must be the 7.2 Litre Jensen Interceptor , a stunning luxury grand tourer with big Yank V8 power and and an eye watering 12 mpg if you were lucky A lad in my year at Secondary Modern School dad was a bookie who had one and would drop him off at the school gates . We were all sooooo jealous and thought the sound of those electric cooling fans cutting in was the coolest thing out ! Bearing in mind our family transport was 1954 split screen Moggy Minor that I eventually learnt to drive in .

 

[Nassau65]

Only ever drove one once, as you said absolutely eye watering fuel consumption. It was a series 3 SP. 440ci with a six pack . I think it was doing 7/8 mpg around muswell hill. Even at about £1.00 a gallon it hurt. I never used it again after that night.