[PICS] The Best Corvettes of Goodguys Del Mar 2026

Every time I visit the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the world suddenly seems veiled in soft-focus film stock. Like old pictures in a shoebox in Grandma’s attic, where sun-bleached vacation memories linger with the faint smell of kettle corn and saltwater.

My annual journey to attend Goodguys 25th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals presented by FiTech Fuel Injection was no exception.

When I arrived, the misty marine layer hadn’t quite decided whether to stay or burn off. The sky was hanging in that pearly in-between, yet the fairgrounds hummed beneath it. From the parking lot, I swear I could hear distant screams from a long-gone roller coaster, the thunder of hooves from the world-famous horse track, and the gulls arguing from above like they always have.

One never knows what automotive wonders await at a Goodguys event, and this year’s show did not disappoint. There were plenty of cool Corvettes in Del Mar, and I brought back my favorite fiberglass dreamboats in no particular order. Oddly, there was a scant turnout of late-model Corvettes, unusual because modern ‘Vettes are usually well represented at most car shows.

So, let’s dive in and take a look at these West Coast Corvettes.

1959 Fuelie Corvette

Tucked away in the woody wagon section of the show, this little roadster was a sleeper. Nicely presented in Roman Red with a matching red interior, it sported Rochester fuel injection, a four-speed transmission, and no-nonsense dog dish caps. With its 20-year-old paint job and factory-fresh charm, it drew me in like a moth to a flame. Very nice.

1996 Corvette LT4/ZF Six-Speed Transmission

If you’re wondering why I chose this run-of-the-mill C4, stay with me. This is the final year for the C4 and benefited from 14 years of refinement. The one-year-only 330 hp LT4 mill is potent and rare, mated to the German ZF six-speed gearbox. The car was nicely presented, with excellent paint and a tasteful set of A-mold wheels. There were only a few C4s at the show, most were over at autocross which tells you everything you need to know. C4s are great entry-level Corvettes, and a nice one like this can be had for under $15K, a tremendous value and one heck of a sports car.

1968 Barn Find L89/L88 Corvette

This was probably the most interesting Corvette at Del Mar. According to the owner, a kid bought this Corvette in 1968 with an L89 engine, radio delete, and no air. He wound the thing past the red line and blew the motor. The Tri-Power L89 was replaced by a dealership with a four-barrel L88 and was later retired. The ‘Vette is a time capsule with 40k original miles, and if you look up the word “patina” in the dictionary, this car should be pictured next to the definition.

The question is, what do you do with this survivor? Leave it alone or call Kevin Mackay at Corvette Repair? That’s a tough choice. This car is all that remains of the golden era of GM, and factory workers’ fingerprints are all over it. Seems a shame to disturb all that. But this would be a pretty and ferocious C3 restored back to its factory glory. What would you do?

1966 Corvette by Streamline Custom Design

As far as restomods go, this 1966 was the belle of the ball at Del Mar. Built by Isaac Gonzales and his team at Streamline Custom Design, this was a killer. Not only did Streamline show this Corvette, but they were also the official Builder’s Choice selectors at Goodguys Del Mar 2026.

Sporting tasteful fender blisters and pearly cream paint, its oxblood leather interior features modern creature comforts and a small-diameter 1955 Chevy steering wheel. All this rides on a Roadster Shop chassis, custom Schott wheels, and Wilwood six-piston brakes. Under the hood is a Wegman-built LS mill backed by a 4L80 automatic transmission.

1974 Corvette Wide Body

We’ve seen this 1974 Corvette before and it was a welcome surprise when it showed up in Del Mar. If you like George Barris’ Foxy ‘Vette for Farrah Fawcett, you’re going to love this. Built in 1980 by Larsen Engineering, it then went into storage until 2019 when David Lafferty bought it. He’s been tying up loose ends ever since.

While it looks like it might have an old-school Eckler wide-body kit installed, it’s actually custom fiberglass from stem to stern. It’s now running RideTech suspension, a Kenny Detwiler-built twin-turbo small-block engine with FiTech injection, and an automatic transmission. This car was very impressive in person. Especially cool were all the handmade gold louvers and trim. David drives the car every day.

Epilogue

By Sunday afternoon, the sun was still battling the clouds while the crowd thinned. One by one, the cars fired up and rolled out like they’ve done so many times before. I said my goodbyes to Del Mar and I’m grateful for the memories left behind. Kudos to Goodguys for another great So Cal car show. See you next year.

Source:
Photos by Dave Cruikshank

Related:
Registration is Now Open for the 55th Annual Black Hills Corvette Classic
Join Us for Corvette Invasion on July 17-18. It’s the Largest Corvette Show in Central Texas!
[VIDEO] The L88 Corvettes of the 2026 Amelia Island Concours

Subscribe Now: