| The L88 Corvette can rightly be called the holy grail of | | | | Chevrolet actually had dealers discouraging buyers |
| collectible big block corvettes. In the three years that | | | | from selecting the option because the car maker had |
| they were sold, only 216 were manufactured, making | | | | planned to turn the L88 Corvette into a racer, but word |
| them the rarest of the rare. The L88 was actually an | | | | got out about the engine, spiking sales. Chevrolet |
| accident because the new body introduced in 1968 by | | | | introduced the L88 in 1967 and continued to offer it until |
| Chevrolet was supposed to have been introduced the | | | | 1969. Car collectors consider the 1968 and 1969 L88 |
| year before in 1967, but it wasn't ready. The car | | | | Corvettes to be the most desirable of Corvettes. The |
| maker decided to continue the Sting Ray for one | | | | company only built 80 L88 Corvettes in 1968. Each |
| more year. However, the old Sting Ray body was | | | | was capable of generating 560hp. |
| loaded with a new engine that packed more | | | | The asking price on a 1968 L88 Corvette today can |
| horsepower. The new engine in the old packaging was | | | | range from $75,000 to more than half a million dollars. |
| the L71 435hp tri-power big block. | | | | As always convertibles will draw top price, while |
| Chevrolet also made available in its catalog as an | | | | T-tops will bring a little less. Some experts recommend |
| option, the L88 430hp at twice the price of the 435hp | | | | buying the 1967 L88 because it was reportedly built |
| L71 engine. The optional 430hp engine featured | | | | better than the '68s. This school of thought stems from |
| aluminum intake heads, 850 CFM dual-feed Holley | | | | 1968 when Car and Driver Magazine reportedly sent |
| carburetor, transistor ignition and 12:1 compression. The | | | | back the 1968 test Corvette to GM because the |
| option package featured many other goodies including | | | | quality of the vehicle was not good. C&D refused to |
| a Muncie M-22 rock crusher transmission. The best | | | | evaluate the car until the problems were fixed. Many |
| part of all is that even rated at 430hp, the L88 would | | | | experts state that problems always arise with |
| produce in excess of 500hp. In other words the 1968 | | | | Corvettes "out of the box." This rap has always |
| L88 Corvette was capable of hitting 170mph on the | | | | plagued Chevrolet Corvettes and continues to follow |
| street without additional modification. | | | | the brand today into the 21st century. |