Lots of times when we see an eBay listing for something like this Smokey Yunick built L88 427 Chevrolet big block prototype there are clouds of mystery surrounding the thing. Was it really something he built, is there any way to prove it, is it some sort of fake or hoax? Under normal circumstances these are genuine questions because a creative guy with some stamping tools can make something look one way when it really isn’t. The great thing about this engine is that it comes with the documentation from when it was sold as part of the Smokey Yunick estate auction/sale several years ago so there’s “paperwork” with this potentially historic piece.
As mentioned above, the seller lists this engine as a 1966 L88 427 Chevrolet prototype engine and it has some ultra rare pieces on it like the particular intake manifold that’s used among other components. Also, Yunick’s name and initials are stamped all over the engine block in multiple locations. We’re not sure if this was done to identify the engine in the event it was sent somewhere for testing or if it was done when Yunick began working on it in his shop. Either way, there are great photos that document all of it. Is it possible that there were a few guys out there building test engines for GM or was there perhaps a kind of “build-off” to determine the best package for the L88 option? We’re not sure.
How much of this engine made it into the production L88? Unfortunately there’s no real way to know at this point. If Yunick were still alive we’re pretty sure he’d have some great stories to tell about this one. Obviously the L88 was a hairy beast when it was released by Chevrolet in the middle/late 1960s and its legend continues today among the bowtie faithful. Heck, the cowl induction air cleaner may be worth a few bucks, right?
The asking price for this engine is $50,000. Normally we’d say “crazy” but not now. The legacy Smokey left in racing and on the companies he worked for is indelible and this engine is part of it. The only shame right now is that the mill is not powering a car. That needs to change in a hurry.
What say you? Cool? Overpriced? Historic?
HIT THE LINK BELOW THE PHOTOS TO SEE THE EBAY AD FOR THIS ENGINE –
BUY IT NOW: SMOKEY YUNICK BUILT L88 427 CHEVROLET PROTOTYPE
Buy it now listed at 40k or best offer now. Way cool motor for its nostalgia, but wow that is still a lot of money
Smokey did do a lot of prototype engine work for Chevrolet/GM. Just as a trivia note, the first L88 Corvette was a 1966 Coupe given to Roger Penske (#9).
One of the other prototype engines Smokey worked on was the 1968 302 Hemi Head for the SCCA Trans Am Camaro. He found that the cost of making the heads outweighed the benefit of their design. The improvement in flow was marginal.
He also worked on a Vega 4 cylinder with a Turbocharger
Cool piece of GM and Smokey Yunick history, can anybody tell me about why there appears to be a Hurst shifter bolted to the block?
I noticed that, too. Maybe just a handle to drag that dolly around the shop?
$40K No way… You can buy a monster of an engine for $40K today
Sure – but is it a prototype built by Smokey Yunick – of the most powerful engine GM ever made?