You know how many of the horsepower numbers thrown around during the first Musclecar Era were pretty much bullshit? Even if you disregard the gross vs. SAE horsepower rating, look at some of the more known offenders: the L78 Chevelle was over 400 horsepower, Pontiac’s Ram Air 400 was good for 410 (versus 366), the 440 Six Pack was walking equally with the Street Hemi’s official rating at about 430 horsepower, the Olds W-30 455 was cranking 440 horses, and as for the Hemi itself? Try about 470 horsepower in reality. Who was to blame? The manufacturers, but there was a reason: the insurance companies were already nervous as hell over larger engines in smaller cars, so underrating output on official documentation was a way to placate some of the more skittish adjusters out there.
It’s widely known that Chevrolet’s L88 427 was a monster. The heads would’ve kept a Can-Am team happy, it sported 12.5:1 compression, solid lifters, cold air induction, a Holley carb that hosed the fuel in, and a warning sticker on the console informing that racing fuel was the best option for keeping this beast happy and healthy. GM claimed 435 horsepower. GM lied their asses off…there’s all sorts of speculation on the actual figure, but “well above 500” isn’t an off guess. 550 horsepower is actually a very reasonable expectation in as-delivered form…good God. You want to shut up the kid with the Judge who won’t quit bragging? This Vette would clamp his jaw nice and shut for quite some time.
Either one of these two L-88/four-speed 1969 Corvettes would be enough to leave us in a daze, but these two are going together as a two-for-one sale. There were only 116 1969 L-88 Corvettes built, due to GM’s insistence that the car was to be limited production. Zora Arkus-Duntov wanted these cars races, not in the hands of private owners. Luckily, these two missed track day time and are now around to remind that little shit in the Hellcat that something wicked and much older than he is will still whip him like there’s no tomorrow, all while looking much classier while doing it.
Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2020: Lot S121: Two 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L-88 Convertibles
Yep, 2 off the MOST BAD ASS cars ever (factory rating was 430hp), might be my personal all/time favorite automobile.
I know the latest ZR1 trounces these cars in every performance measure possible. But the “L88” designation just does something magical for me. I guess it’s because I grew up during a time when my dad bought new L88 engines at the dealership.
I’d love to see the new C8 be produced with an L88 option that was 427 CI and right around 1,035 horsepower.
i drag race a 69 small block vette a friend gave me an original dealer sales pamphlet it lists the L88 as available with a turbo 400 i also think that to order the L88 you had to check the box in column L box 88
L is the engine RPO prefix, and still is today. LSA, LT2, L87, L79, etc.
when these cars were built there wasn’t a street tire made that could the power to the ground
I have an old road test of an automatic L88, 4 wheel disc brakes with no assist. The testers complained that with the stock low stall converter, they had to bump it into neutral at traffic lights to keep from pushing through the brakes. No fan shroud also, so it wanted to get hot, Quite an animal from GM.