[VIDEO] Unrestored 1969 L88 Coupe Heading to Mecum Indy

May 7, 2026

8441

[VIDEO] Unrestored 1969 L88 Coupe Heading to Mecum Indy

Mecum Auctions continues to tempt our bank accounts with each Corvette added to their Indianapolis docket. The annual Mecum Indy spectacle is now mere days away. Things kick off Friday May 8th and run until the last car crosses the red carpet on Saturday, May 16th.

Our friends over at Verrillo Motor Cars recently consigned one of the Star Corvettes to the auction. Their Monza Red 1969 L88 Coupe is in largely unrestored condition and shows just 22,000 miles on the odometer.

The RPO L88 option was produced for only 3 years. Just 20 were produced in 1967, then 80 in 1968, and production concluded with 116 units built in 1969. The L88 option was a pounding 427 cubic inch engine intentionally underrated at 430hp. Actual output is in the 560hp range. Intended for the track, the L88 option was mostly known to racers and not intended for street use, hence the low production numbers. Today, savvy collectors will line up around the block to get their hands one of these brutes. When they do change hands, the only question is how many hundred thousand dollars it sold for.

In addition to the L88 between the front fenders, the car is well equipped with installed options such as a M22 4-speed manual transmission, 3.70 rear end, transistor ignition, F41 suspension, power brakes, and the tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The exterior wears Monza Red paint over a black leather interior.

This L88 was sold new at Courtesy Chevrolet in 1970. The original owner traded it back in to that dealership a couple years later on a 1972 K5 Blazer. That began a documented trail of ownership lasting nearly 60 years now. To date, it’s had 11 registered custodians.

In the 1980’s the car began touring the show circuit. Awards rained down in the form of Bloomington Gold Certification and a NCRS Top Flight award. Later, it was invited to concourse events attended by Dick Guldstrand, Zora Duntov, and others. In fact, Duntov signed the radio delete plate on this L88. After that, it participated in the 1988 Bloomington Gold Earthquake L88 display.

After changing hands a few more times the car returned to the show circuit in 1996 when it won a Bloomington Survivor award and another Gold Certificate. Later that year it claimed another NCRS Top Flight as well as a Performance Verification award.

The awards continued in the 2000’s under new ownership when the car claimed another Bloomington Gold Certificate, was featured in the Bloomington Special Collection, and was inducted in to the Bloomington Gold Hall of Fame. In 2009 it was invited to be in the MCACN L88 showcase and then it was included in the 2018 Bloomington L88 Explosion. It’s most recent Top Flight award came in 2019 with an impressive score of 99.3.

Today the car shows just 22,540 miles from new. Many of the factory markings remain in place and the original L88 has never been out of the car. The engine stamp pad has been validated by expert Al Grenning and the car has been featured in countless magazines over the years. Further documentation includes the tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate, and 3 albums of vintage photos.

As you can see, the trail of fastidious owners has preserved this significant Corvette for each successive owner. With 3 decades of documentation and awards, there’s no doubt this is one of the best L88’s out there.

This well-known piece of Corvette history will cross Mecum’s red carpet on Saturday, May16th as part of the Level 1 Selection. The auction listing shows a presale estimate of $900,000 – $1,100,000. How much do you think this L88 will sell for?

Thanks to our friend Corvette Ed for the heads up on this unrestored L88!