Engines

Record-Breaking $860,000 Sale Of 1969 Corvette Writes A New Chapter Of The L88 Story

59,000 views, 500 comments, 99 bids, a BaT server that is still trying to cool down, and a record that will stand for years to come. CorvSport has the full story, including the top L88 sales

Douglas Barton··
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This picture illustrates just how documented this L88 is! Photo Credit: BaT

This story could begin in a dozen different places, but it always finds its way back to one legendary powerplant: the L88. That’s why you’re here. That’s why more than 59,000 enthusiasts set their eyes on this record-setting Bring a Trailer auction. With just 216 total L88 Corvettes leaving St. Louis between 1967 and 1969, this engine sits among the rarest and most coveted in Corvette history. Plenty of publications across the hobby will put their own spin on this sale, but as we sifted through hundreds of comments in search of our angle, we kept returning to the same conclusion. It has always been about that monstrous L88.

So, before we dive into this new record-setting chapter in the RPO L88 legacy—and bring you bonus coverage of the biggest L88 sales and market activity spanning all three model years—it’s worth taking a step back to revisit what makes this engine one of the most celebrated and mythical creations ever to wear crossed flags.

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