1968 Corvette L88 Tops Desirability at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale

Gorgeous award-winning Le Mans Blue C3 with monster factory engine should bring a premium at the big auction in Arizona.

One of just 216 original L88 Corvettes heads to the auction block in January at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. This ’68 L88 comes highly decorated and should bring a healthy six-figure total to its owner when it rolls across the stage at the January 13-21 auction.

Chevrolet offered the L88 version of the 427 engine from 1967 to 1969. At the time, Chevy marketed the small-batch package as making 430 horsepower, but the reality was far crazier. The engine came with aluminum heads, 12.5:1 compression, a special ultra high-performance camshaft, and a single four-barrel Holley 850 cfm carburetor. The real figure was likely 560 ponies, which is an astounding number even in the midst of today’s horsepower boom.

That engine package cost a grand total of $947.90. That alone was not significant on a car with a $4,600 base price. However, Chevy was interested in slinging a ton of cars with what were basically race engines to the general public. Total production ended up being just 216 cars: 20 in 1967, 80 in 1968, and 116 in 1969.

This Le Mans Blue ’68 L88 sold in Chicago when it was new and it comes with all the original documentation. That means the original Build Sheet and NCRS Shipping Data Report. The car also still wears its original VIN and trim tags. This one is all original and would probably at least bring close to the $330,000 that another ’68 L88 brought in 2015.

However, this car has won a pile of awards and recognition that could push that number up even farther. According to Barrett-Jackson: “The car has achieved many awards, including the prestigious NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence Award; NCRS Performance Verification Award; national, regional and chapter Top Flight awards; the coveted Bloomington Gold and the MCACN Triple Diamond Award.”

Expect a big sale price on this one.

If the L88 isn’t up your alley, an L89 also heads across the block at Scottsdale. That Corvette — one of 390 from 1969 — has received both a number of similar awards and a recent $200,000 frame-off restoration.