L88 Corvettes at MCACN
Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals

The inaugural Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals were held in November 2009 in Chicago. The show replaced the long running Chevy VetteFest Car Show. Muscle Cars are alive and well in the Windy City as well as many, many other cities in the Midwest and the whole country. Corvettes have never lost their popularity, and as new generations are being designed and built, the older models are becoming increasingly more popular.

My special niche within the Corvette world pertains to the Corvettes with the optional L-88 special high performance equipment. The L88 Corvette was showcased within their own area at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, in an area appropriately named: L-88 Showcase.

The L88 Corvettes that were invited to this showcase are the best of the best. That's my table between the 1968 Sunray DX L-88 #3 and the white convertible with the optional vinyl covered bolt on hardtop. Lets take a walk around the L-88 Showcase.

This 1968 L88 Corvette was raced since it was new, had a tremendously successful racing career and has been recently restored. I spoke with the original owner and two of its drivers while researching for my book. They were all very pleased with this L88 Corvette. It has been restored to its 1968 Six Hours of Watkins Glen livery.

Known by many in the racing world as the Johnson and Johnson Corvette, but in fact was owned by Doug Bergen. Doug owned another L88 Corvette that went on to even more racing success. You'll have to see it in my book: Corvette Racing Legends

Here we find the 1968 L88 Corvette that was raced in the Don Yenko L88 Corvette team sponsored by Sunray DX Oil Company. Sunray is long gone, but the L88 Corvette lives on. Due to the layout of the L88 Showcase, this is the best photo. Again, this car can be seen in more detail in my book: Corvette Racing Legends.

An extremly low mileage 1969 L88 Corvette. One of my favorites for over 25 years.

This is what an all original 1969 L88 Corvette interior looks like. Complete with radio block off plate and gasoline quality warning sticker on the console.

This 1969 L88 Corvette was originally owned by Tony DeLorenzo and was his daily driver until he received a request from a customer in Germany who wanted and L88 Corvette to race on the professional circuit in Europe. This L88 was converted into a racing car at Tony's business Troy Promotions and shipped over the Europe. This L88 was restored a few years ago and has been shown in a few displays since. More photos and information about this L88 Corvette can be found by following this link: Tony DeLorenzo L88 Street Corvette. Don't forget that Tony was a huge contributor to the L88 Corvette's racing success. It's all well documented in my book.

Another one of my very favorite 1969 L88 Corvettes. This red L88 Corvette is amazingly original and correct in almost every way. Another very low mileage L88.

This 1969 L88 Corvette convertible was lightly restored back in the 80s.

A very original 1969 L88 Corvette.

This is what an original 1969 L88 engine compartment looks like with the air cleaner removed.
The 850 cfm Holley double pumper injects fuel into this beast.

A very original 1968 L88 Corvette.

A beautifully restored 1969 L88 Corvette coupe with the optional side exhaust system. This factory "sidepipe" option was a factory option only in the 1969 model year. This option was not available in 1968 on any Corvette, and it was not available as an factory option in 1970 or any of the later models. If you see this style side exhaust system on any other model years, it has been retrofitted onto that Corvette.

A nicely restored 1969 L88 engine compartment highlighting what many believe as the most expensive piece of foam in the history of mankind.

These last two L88 Corvettes could not fit inside the dimensions of the circular L88 Showcase, so they were placed adjacent to the display. This 1968 L88 was a "barn find" and was recently restored. Beautiful result! It was shown the year before in its "as found" condition. Rare red on red combination. One of only 80 L88s built in 1968.

This is literally, the last L88 Corvette convertible. This 1969 L88 is considered to be the last L88 Convertible built due to its serial number. This is basically an all original car except for tires, brake pads, etc. This L88 still has its original paint! As fate would have it, way back in 1987, I knew that this car would be available at auction in Los Angeles, but I was unable to make it out there to see it. After seeing the selling price, I realized I could have been its owner.
Better luck next time, I guess..... Here's a link for more pics and info on this L88 Corvette..

If you want to know when my factory production L88 Corvette book is complete, then take a look at this next page for more information. Long live the L-88 Corvettes!