'67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Anybody remember these?
http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=DA0913-165417

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

An interesting basis for an NHRA political history lesson. There were actually three of these cars in competition during the 1967-1969 era in NHRA sports classes. The combination was in the classification guide from 1968 on. It lay dormant until 1988 when Scott Wilcox built one to compete in SS/A. There was also an original black car from the Bowling Green area that had raced for several years ( Tony ?) but had not been as competitive. As soon as Scott's car began threatening the Hemis, a group of the MoFear racers claimed the "not enough produced" caveat (50 minimum) and NHRA told Scott he couldn't race that car any more. There is even a note in the Classification Guide to justify the deletion of the combination from the guide. I believe Scott's car is the one Jimmy Bridges races now. Of course it does not matter that the combination was a regular production option (RPO) for Chevrolet and that the Hemi cars were purpose built cars that were sold only if you had inside connections. Anyone could have walked into a Chevrolet dealer and ordered an L88 Corvette in 1967; just not many people did. What would the Hemi guys say if only 25 people had bought Street Hemis in 1966 and NHRA booted them out? "You can make the rules if you can buy the game."

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

I believe Larry Otten out of Tea, SD ran a silver one at Thunder Valley, Marion, SD in 1967/68 and for a few years more. I know the car was A/Sports and ran well, 11's.

Maybe someone that was around then that was at TVD can jump in here and confirm that. It was a fun car to watch run!

Tim, do you have any photos of it? Maybe from John Echlinger's (spelling) photo collection?

#5457

Curt Rees

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Here is picture of Scott's car from back in the day

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...r0id/vette.jpg

We loved beating up on the Hemis back then. We got a win with it at the Southern Nationals and a runner up with it one year in Englishtown. We had a lot of Chevy guys back then stop by the pits an tell us how glad they were to see us giving the hemis guys hell. And then with them complaining to NHRA about us I started to frown upon the hemis. We also ran in SS/B and SS/C

But guess what I drive and race today...lol...Hemis


btw Tony Rhodes was his name


http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...d/scan0004.jpg

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Dwight,
Yes, Jimmy Bridges' current SS/B Corvette is indeed Scott Wilcox's old car, I got that from Jimmy himself. The black Corvette that you remember belongs to Tony Rhodes, it was Tony's car that was featured in the side bar article back in the day, about the race to the first 8 second Super Stock pass. The article focused on the Hemi cars, but then in a side bar featured Tony's car.

Scott Wilcox is a member here, and does at times go to a race or two, in fact, I get emails from him every so often.

There was in fact a time that both Tony Rhodes and Scott Wilcox raced those two cars on a regular basis at "The Hill" AKA Music City Raceway, which for years held both Combo One (no breakout) and Combo Two (dial in) races nearly every week. I think that Mike Lynch may have driven Scott's car a few times. I'm pretty sure that Jimmy and Mike worked on Tony's car at the race track a few times, and Jimmy built at least one of Tony's engines. On any given day back then, Tony's car could step up and go very fast. It was a real treat to see two SS/A 67 L-88 Corvettes go at it heads up every so often back then. But then, back then, there were well over 2 dozen wicked Stock and Super Stock cars racing nearly every weekend at "The Hill".

Tony still has his car, or at least had it until early this year, it was for sale about 3 months or so ago, for $70K. That was the first time in over 30 years that I have known the Rhodes' and known about that car, that it has ever been offered for sale.

Chevrolet documented selling a total of 36 1967 L-88 Corvettes. However, several people who would know say that several cars were sent out the back door to special people. Supposedly at least enough to make the total of cars built and sold/released to private individuals the required 50 or more. Unfortunately, the guy who was the semi official historian for Chevrolet, and could have verified this, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident a few years back.

The truth is, with the advent of the new paper cars that were NEVER built by an OEM, and in fact no production engine ever existed for, the case can be made that while GM may have only sold 36 of the 1967 L-88 Corvettes, more complete cars could have been built and probably were, and anyone who bought a 1967 Corvette could have purchased an L-88 service replacement engine and "built" his own 67 L-88 Corvette. That means that the 67 L-88 Corvette should be at least as legitimate as any new factory race car combination that was never actually built.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

I have photo's of one of the originals.

Back in 1969 my neighbor's Daughter dated one of the Assembly Managers at the
General Motors Plant in Tarrytown, New York where she worked as a Secretary..

He had a Dark Green {Goodwood Green} 67' Coupe L-88 with Side Exhaust and
Cragars all around.

He never raced it at the Drag Strip,, but it was one awesome sounding beast.
Was supposed to have 4.56 or 4.88 Gears in it.

Donny L******* was the owners name and he bought it for, I think $7000, from another
Plant Manager in 1969,,,,,,,,,, which was the 'Moon'.

It has been sitting in a garage in Cortlandt Manor, New York since 1971.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Memphis 1989 was the race where the **** hit the fan for the ChryCo guys. Scott qualified with a 9.30 in SS/A and I qualified with a 9.60 in SS/C. The SS/AA record was a 9.28 IIRC. There was a wad of hemi racers who could be seen in and out of the timing tower several times on on Saturday. Shortly after that the change was released. Scott is on the forum as Pvt Parts. His car stayed in Bridges' shop in downtown Nashville most of the time.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Paul,

I would love to see photos of that car.....if you care to share them?

Mike

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Mike,

I'll get them from my father's Photo Album, and post them as soon as I get them,

The Corvette has been sitting in a Garage since 1971 {Cortland Manor, New York} and has never been molested or restored.

Goodwood Green Exterior Paint ~ White Hood Stripe ~ Green Interior

What is the $$$ Vaue of these L-88 Corvette's.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

add 3 more $$$

$$$,$$$.00

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

I agree, a couple more $$. Ahhh, we can dream.

Can't wait to see the photos.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

It will look something like this,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


http://www.barrett-jackson.com/stagi...nt_3-4_Web.jpg

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Yes Dwight, I remember that pass. That was with the first hand build prototype all roller bearing Nash transmission. And here is the car before I owned it. Some people may remember this guy.

Also keep in mind that under the rules at the time, I could not get to minimum A weight.

Anyone feel free to message me with questions.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Another "Revenge" car from Ronnie Traffanstedt, most would remember the "Revenge" Chevy II wagon that Tucker Parrish drove for several years.

A while back, Jimmy and I sat down and talked about that era for a while. I have forgotten the details, but Jimmy will refresh my memory tomorrow at Bowling Green.

The other famous first generation Stingray from that era was Mike Robinson's F/G 63 Corvette.

JImmy knows where almost all of the cars from that era are or were last known to be. I think most of the Corvettes usually end up with Noel Davis at some point, at least for a while.

I'm pretty sure we were in Memphis that year, but we were running .90 Super classes at the time, the C/SM Camaro had long since been converted to a S/G car, and we had a S/C RED.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Here ya go Alan.....

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

L-88 Line-Up

http://image.vetteweb.com/f/features...ce_line_up.jpg

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

1967 NHRA Sports Classes

http://www.harmsauto.com/images/1967...s/scan0092.jpg

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Ko-Motion {Motion Performance} Baldwin, Long Island, New York

"Astoria-Chas" Charles Snyder

In 1967, Classed in NHRA 'A/SP' ran 11.50's @ 124 MPH

Set the AHRA 'A/Vette' Class Record with an 11.04 @ 129 MPH at New York National Speedway.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6HAhRmjEb...s+B-W+trim.jpg

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Tom Pauser out of Truppi-Kling ran a 67 coupe in A/SP also, think he was nhra record holder at one point. Not sure but cars in A were also 427-435 cars and not L-88s

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Bob, most of the '67 cars shown are 427-435 cars, not L88s. Most of the L88s ended up in sporty car go-round races.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

I'm not sure if the 'KO-MOTION' Corvette was a true L-88 or converted from an L-71.

http://www.corvettereport.com/home/c...1-728x1024.jpg

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Scott, is that the same car that Mike Robinson ran as a 63 split window coupe in F/G?

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

I don't know but I'm sure J.B. does.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

http://classracer.com/classforum/att...8&d=1377215363

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...r0id/vette.jpg

http://classracer.com/classforum/att...2&d=1377274020

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

And of course: ss/c = super sleek/corvette

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...061/280390.jpg

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Charlie, you realize that's not the same car??
This one is of Dwight Southerland's Corvette. There
were a few times that both cars were at the same event.
Dwight's Corvette was a "very nice" car and fast too!!

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Know Dwight's car is not yours, therefore (big word where I live) it was set apart in a seperate post.

Since it was brought up in the discussion, I figured I'd post it up.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

"KO-MOTION" was a conversion

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

The "Ko-MOTION" Corvette was a converted car. NOT an original L-88. Still a piece of history. Its a shame he lost his life in Viet Nam along with thousands of other young Americans.

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

A '67 all original L88 coupe just sold at the Mecum auction for a mere 3.2 Million.

JimR

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Jim R,

Ex-Squeeze Me.........:eek:..........$3,200,000

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/a...sale-620xa.jpg

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Local guy bought a new 69 L88 vette back in the day.Recently the current owner tracked him down and offered to sell it back to him for $250k.Less engine and trans!!!!Ended up on the PRo teams site for sale complete for nearly $500k

Re: '67 'Vette L-88 - NHRA A/Sports Champion
 

Haven't been there for a while but my office is 30 minutes from Pro-Team.