Skip to main content

This $4 Million 1967 L88 Corvette Could Be the Rarest ‘Vette in the World

There are rare cars, and then there are rare cars. Plymouth Prowlers, for example, are hard to find these days. But, honestly, who’s looking? Original, ‘60s-era Corvettes, on the other hand, are among the most sought-after cars in the world. One all-original 1967 ‘Vette just went up for sale, and it might be “The Holy Grail” — the one-of-a-kind classic for the car collector who has (almost) everything.

1967 L88 Corvette
Corvette Mike

In November, the world’s leading classic Corvette dealership announced that it had recently acquired the world’s rarest Corvette. The Sunfire Yellow 1967 L88 Corvette Coupe is the last of its kind with an original engine. The new owners, California’s Corvette Mike, sat on the car for almost a year with no intention of selling it. Now, they’ve decided to put the one-of-a-kind ride up for auction, and they’re also offering it through a public presale for a cool $3.95 million.

Related Videos

If the price tag seems extreme, consider just how rare this ride is. Only 20 L88 Coupes were manufactured in 1967, and only half of those are known to exist today. The track-ready model was built for racing and made to be driven hard. Not surprisingly, the engines weren’t long for this world. Now, more than 50 years later, only three L88s still exist with their original engines. Two are convertibles, and the last is this ultra-rare Coupe.

The rarity only tells half the story, however. What the lucky buyer is really paying for is the extensive work that went into restoring it. Craftsmen meticulously gave the car a top-down, frame-off rebuild. They spent 10 years scouring the country for parts, right down to the original nuts and bolts from the Chevrolet factory in 1967. Every last part of this car is original, making it arguably “The Holy Grail” of Corvettes.

1967 Sunfire Yellow, Original Engine L88, Bloomington Gold June 2018 for sale by Corvette Mike

According to Corvette Mike, this L88 includes “a special ultra-high-performance 427ci big-block engine … Chevrolet added a heavy-duty M22 ‘Rock Crusher’ four-speed manual transmission, K66 transistorized ignition, J56 Heavy duty disc brakes, J50 power brakes, F41 heavy-duty suspension, C48 heater delete, and to top it off, a cowl induction L88 hood.” The site also confirms that “[a]dditional options were available, but most buyers chose to keep their L88 ‘s pure, unadulterated race cars, as they were meant to be!”

To be clear, this isn’t a car that was fast “for its time.” The L88 was and is a fast car, even by today’s standards. The original 500-horsepower engine ranked it among the most hardcore, high-performance OEM motors of its day. With minimal upgrades, numerous L88s won some of the world’s most prestigious auto races, including 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and more.

A 2014 Barrett-Jackson auction was the last time a 1967 L88 Corvette Coupe was publicly offered for sale. This latest ‘Vette is available through Corvette Mike for just $90,000 more before it heads to auction in 2020. With all original parts and even the original 1967 title, that feels like a steal.

Editors' Recommendations

BMW M3 CS: a beefier, scarier version of the M3
Thought the M3 Competition was hardcore? You’ll want to avoid the lighter, more powerful M3 CS
2024 BMW M3 CS front end angle from passenger side parked on a racetrack.

Usually, BMW only introduces hardcore variants of its two-door models. Its sedans, even the M-branded ones, have usually been seen as the more accessible models for everyone to enjoy. That’s changed recently with vehicles like the M5 CS and now with the new M3 CS. Forget about the M3’s friendly demeanor and approachability, the M3 CS is out for blood and makes the already bonkers M3 Competition look like chum in the water.
The main difference between the limited-edition BMW M3 CS and other M3s in the lineup is some extra power. The CS-badged option gets a retuned version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that’s rated at 543 horsepower compared to 503 horsepower in the M3 Competition xDrive. The extra boost in performance comes from, you guessed it, extra boost pressure. The M3 CS’s engine is running at 30.5 psi, while the M3 Competition operates at 24.7 psi. Torque goes unchanged at 479 pound-feet of torque.

Previous

Read more
10 incredible cars that best define their automakers
These cars help set the tone for an automaker's lineup
Lamborghini countach

For an automaker, every car plays a crucial role in a lineup. Every car, not matter how small or how affordable, has a spot in a lineup. However, some vehicles are more important than others when it comes to the roles they play in a brand’s lineup. Cars that define a brand are those that embody everything an automaker stands for.

Related Guides

Read more
6 cars so incredible they’ll have you rethinking that SUV
These best-rated cars are reliable and fun to drive
2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blacking front end angle from driver's side parked on a race track.

Cars aren’t nearly as popular as they once were. The majority of consumers would rather spend their money on an SUV, which offers more ground clearance, a taller driving position, more interior space, and more safety in the case of an accident. Here’s the thing, cars are still great. And with consumers moving toward SUVs, automakers have had to make their cars even better.
Nowadays, you’ll find cars with nearly every bell and whistle available as standard equipment. Plus, modern cars offer spirited handling that can’t be matched by SUVs until you get into the really expensive stuff. For consumers willing to look at sedans, sports cars, and hatchbacks, there’s more to like in the class than ever before. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite cars in popular segments to help you find an option that’s right for you.

Best Electric Car: Lucid Air
For years, Tesla went unchallenged in the all-electric segment. Between the Tesla Model 3 and Model S, the automaker had the compact and large segments covered. With up to 405 miles of range, Tesla was far ahead of any other competitor in the class by a wide margin and used to even boast about the Model S sedan’s ability to get to 60 mph in just 1.99 seconds and its 1,020-horsepower rating. Tesla sat at Mount Olympus a little too long, as a little startup brand called Lucid came out of nowhere and drop-kicked Tesla off its pedestal.
The Lucid Air is an impressive feat of engineering. Opt for the Grand Touring trim and you’ll get 516 miles of range. Everyone thought Tesla had created a mark that wouldn’t be surpassed for years with its 405-mile rating, but Lucid absolutely demolished that figure with its official rating.
Beyond having the longest range of any electric vehicle on sale, the Air is also one of the most powerful and quickest ones on sale. Lucid introduced a new Sapphire model with 1,200 horsepower and a zero-to-60-mph time that’s less than two seconds. These figures mean it will outpower the Model S and, when final figures have been released, outaccelerate the Tesla, too.
Automakers continue to introduce EVs at an alarming rate. The EVs are accompanied by cutting-edge tech features and features that seem preposterous. The Air doesn’t feel like a gimmick. It’s state of the art, and the fact that it’s Lucid's first vehicle ever makes it all the more impressive.

Read more