Reserved for serious race teams and people in the know, the L88 was a thinly disguised race car sold straight from select GM dealers. The RPOL88 option included GM’s most powerful engine and was typically ordered as a Coupe, but a couple roadsters were also produced. In many ways these are now the ulimate C2 Sting Ray.

The L88 package included many competition components like an M22 ‘Rock Crusher’ transmission, large disc brakes, upgraded suspension and an aluminum head 427. It was offered on production cars which was a tremendous package for a road-going car. It was the most powerful engine offered in a production Corvette until the ZR1 of 2009.

The engine itself had numerous special components including a new forged crank, 12.5:1 pistons, cold air induction and aluminum-alloy cylinder heads.

Other changes to the car included a complete removal of all luxuries. This meant the the heater, radio, air conditioning and choke were removed. To compensate for these deletions, an F41 suspension, K66 ignition transistor, J56 power discs, G81 positraction differential and a large aluminum radiator were added.

The L88 was a race car and Chevrolet wanted to keep it on the track. If the deletion of several creature comforts wasn’t enough, advertising for the car rated the L88 as having less horsepower than the cheaper L71 package. Chevrolet released a figure of 430hp at 4600 rpm. This was well below the actual peak power which fell between 550 and 600 bhp.

1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray L88 Roadster Pictures

See full 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray L88 Roadster Image Gallery

In Detail

type	Limited Production Car
built at	St. Louis, Missouri, USA
engine	V8
position	Front Longitudinal
aspiration	Natural
fuel feed	Single Holley 850 CFM
displacement	6997 cc / 427.0 in³
bore	107.95 mm / 4.251 in
stroke	95.5 mm / 3.76 in
compression	12.5:1
power	417.6 kw / 560 bhp @ 5400 rpm
specific output	80.03 bhp per litre
torque	745.7 nm / 550.0 ft lbs @ 4000 rpm
body / frame	Fibreglass over Steel Ladder-Type Frame
front brakes	J56 Discs w/Power Assist
rear brakes	J56 Discs w/Power Assist
steering	Unassisted Recirculating Ball
f suspension	Double Wishbones
r suspension	Triple-Link w/Transverse Leaf Springs
transmission	M22 4-Speed Manaul
top speed	~312.2 kph / 194.0 mph

Auction Sales History

 

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible –

The L88 instantly established its racing dominance with the Tuxedo Black 1967 convertible offered here, the very first regular production L88 Corvette built. Ordered by Tony DeLorenzo Jr., son of GM Public relations executive Anthony G. DeLorenzo, it was delivered to Hanley Dawson Chevrolet in Detroit, who also supplied the young DeLorenzo with all the equipment and financial backing necessary to mount a full campaign in SCCA A Production racing.

Auction Source: 2010 Mecum at Monterey