1969 Corvette L88 Convertible Is One of Just 116 Produced

This incredibly rare, numbers-matching 1969 Corvette L88 convertible is in supreme original condition.

Few monikers in General Motors history resonate with fans more than “L88.” That singular letter and pair of numbers are all it takes to communicate dominant performance, particularly when it relates to the world of Corvettes. Original L88 Corvettes are incredibly rare, however, because they were essentially racecars for the street – a bit too hardcore for most daily drivers. And all of that makes this 1969 Corvette L88 convertible up for grabs at Mecum’s upcoming Kissimmee auction truly special.

This 1969 Corvette L88 convertible is one of just 116 built that particular model year, making it an incredibly rare machine. It’s also a numbers-matching example with what is believed to be 46k original miles. The tank sticker on this Can-Am White beauty is still intact, and the car itself has racked up a number of awards including Bloomington Gold Certified honors, an NCRS Performance Verification, and an NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence award.

The big story here is what lies under the hood, however, and that’s GM’s 427 cubic-inch V8 that was originally rated to produce 430 horsepower, which was comically underrated. The big block contained everything a racer could want, including a cast-iron block with four-bolt mains, forged internals, a 12.5:1 compression ratio, solid lifter cam, aluminum intake, and a Holley 850 cfm carb. That motor is mated to a Muncie M22 “Rock Crusher” four-speed manual transmission.

Underneath, the fortified Corvette is fitted with GM’s F41 suspension and J56 heavy-duty brakes, which helped it turn corners as well as it accelerates from any speed. The C3 rolls on a set of Rally wheels wrapped with redline tires for the perfect period look, and this Corvette comes with both a beige soft top and a body-color hardtop.

The Saddle interior provides a nice bit of contrast to the white exterior and is in equally fantastic condition. Presumably original and unrestored, this is certainly a fine example of an L88 Corvette, if nothing else. It certainly isn’t every day that we come across one of these cars in any sort of condition, but this one is truly special, and will likely rake in significant money at auction next month.

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Photos:Mecum Auctions

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