Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as ‘Bounty Hunter’ Headed to Mecum Monterey

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Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey

This 1968 L88 Corvette has come a long way since we first saw it as a fresh barn find in 2008.

The former psychedelic-painted racer was found in North Florida by our friends at ProTeam Corvette who rehabbed the street-raced L88 that was known locally as “Bounty Hunter”. Armed with a pedigree of awards, the Rally Red Convertible is headed to Mecum’s Monterey Auction in August where it will be offered for sale.

Only 80 L88 Corvettes were produced in 1968 and Bounty Hunter’s Rally Red with Red interior and white soft top is 1 of only 2 known existing Red/Red L88 Convertibles. The Corvette was purchased new at Modern Chevrolet in Winston Salem, NC by Ronnie Reid Joyner who proceeded to race the car against all comers until the clutch blew up and the car was retired in 1980.

In 2008, the Corvette was purchased by Terry Michaelis of ProTeam Corvette who brought the car back to his shop in Napolean, Ohio where it was certified in its raw, unrestored condition as an L88 by experts including David Burroughs, Gary Nabers, Kevin Mackay, John Ballard, Tom Christman and Chuck Berge.

1968 L-88 Corvette Convertible 1968 L-88 Corvette Convertible 1968 L-88 Corvette Convertible

Following the “thumbs up” from the experts, the car was sent to Houston, Texas where the Nabers Brothers restored the car to its prestine original condition as ordered by Joyner. Equipment on the L88 includes a Muncie M22 4-speed, G81 Positraction rear end, J50/J56 Heavy Duty power disc brakes, K66 Transistor Ignition, F41 Heavy Duty Suspension, N11 Off Road exhaust, A01 Tinted Glass, A.I.R. Smog Control system and Rally wheels with PT6 Red Stripe tires.

Once the restoration was completed, ProTeam took the Corvette on the road where it racked up an impressive amount of awards and acknowledgements including Bloomington Gold, NCRS and various Concours d’Elegance awards.

ProTeam parted with the Corvette at Mecum’s 2013 Kissimmee auction where the L88 was bidded up to $500,000 but was a no sale. The car later sold through Mecum’s The Bid Goes On for what Terry says was considerably more than the original high bid. Not to shabby for a Corvette that was considered a basket case just a few years prior.

Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey
Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey
Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey
Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey Former Barn Find 1968 L88 Corvette Known as Bounty Hunter Headed for Mecum Monterey

Mecum will once again offer the L88 Corvette known as “Bounty Hunter” at its Monterey auction next month in California. The Corvette is Lot #R215 and is scheduled for the auction block on Saturday, August 16th.


Source:
Mecum
ProTeam Corvette

Related:
Barn Find: 1968 L-88 Corvette Convertible Racer
[VIDEO] Rare 1969 427 L88 Corvette 1/4 Mile Drag Race
The Bid Goes On for the Featured Corvettes at Mecum’s Seattle Auction

 



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