TCracingCA

In some tellings of these stories, the debut of the 1967 L88 was Sebring 12 hours on 4/1/1967. Show I will take this as the first as purposed race for the new Competition model. Going to the Delorenzo stories, every version that tells this story, is different. Heck Delorenzo I am reading claimed to have had the car at his home, when building it. The thing that throws a wrench into the monkey works of my thoughts and beliefs that these early cars were L88 component kit builds in that Morgan claims to have watched the White Yenko/DX racer coming down the line. Personal shares from him, include a story of how when it got to leak test, as the car was built without body sealant putty, it failed that test miserably. I know Zora was pressed to get this model to one of the events that would lead him back to LeMans, so I could be wrong on my thoughts on this particular 3rd L88 Vin car. As time is of the essence, this car sounds like an escorted build, getting it's components on the production line. I would much rather believe all 20 L88s were production, but #702 Green Coupe kind of blows that, and then in Delorenzo and Guldstrand''s boast of being great builders, they might have skewed this whole early history. I still from what Paul wrote in 1972, still believe the 1967 Delorenzo was built in the same mode as the Best Photo 1966 Corvette with an L88 fitted, that is a claimed L88 HD/M22 and would be a kit built car. I will keep searching for more on this, as have some of the best Corvette books out, and none are consistent in saying the same thing, except for the most basic mention. I am going to pull the Delorenzo articles out, and skim thru those for the sake of this first L88, as it is historic. Heck I might actually be wrong, re-reading the Dave Morgan factory pickup story. Even going back to the Delorenzo, most versions of his story claim he ordered and bought the car, but Dawson shared that he was so impressed with Tony's presentation, that he bought the car for this endeavor, and supplied the Suburban and a trailer. I am sure I will keep everyone posted on my deep dive into early L88. Usually to get a sponsor, you generally have the car already. Thus the overall how this went down story, is all over the place.

I can see Zora calling Don Yenko and saying Don, I will build it, and you guys come and get it. Zora wanting to campaign it at Sebring 12 1967. Heck DeLorenzo's January Vin dated car, not viable for Sebring, finally ready for the 20 laps Regional in May 1967, one month later. Thus immediately prepped story, less than truthful. For the Dana Chevrolet LeMans car, I think a car was sold to Mitch Darrow- Botany 500 brand owner, and it got some custom touches, as that is what Dana did. That ended up being the financier of the LeMans trip, as a 180mph racing billboard along with some DX money. for Co-sponsorship, but the LeMans organizers required the sponsor sitckers to be removed. They weren't too happy about the Homologation, and later it came out that Zora in fact, flat out lied about having the required car units built. Well it does sound like when Darrow wanted to go to Lemans, they contacted Zora, and the L88 parts were shipped. The engine went to Traco.

TCracingCA

To date I have been the most frequent poster of 1967 L88 since about 2013. Funny but just because I was pretty much the first guy to throw up Vins even prior to that, there are threads posts all over Corvette forum, some started referring to me as an expert. Well Gee, thanks, but posting Vins doesn't make me the expert, but Cool! I have tried to iron out various Corvette model histories. Do I have it right, hope I am pushing it closer. I shared what led me to dive into 1965/66 Pre-L88 (HDSP/M22 actually) and we have talked mules, prototypes, test fleets, field test cars, production etc. etc. For some unknown to even myself, I got hung up on 1963 Z06. That jacked up history was really getting me aggrevated, a 60 year ago lost history saga, since 1962/63. Ok kill me for attempting to unravel, history near 40 years old in 2000, and now add 23 years after 2000. Ya 63 years, me going back to research, using all of my old literature, books, anything I can find. OK even though I still started 1963 Development car history, the Q model/XP models, etc. and still would like to finish a timeline with what was what, in the order of happening. I would like to add in more small tank Z06 for other lists I have found. Denote the big tank, and just continue to add cars and smooth out my choppy researcher writing style. I am attempting to unstick myself from 1963 Z06, so jumped into the ZL-1 thread on C3, great participation. I was attempting to stab at 1967 L89, and shared Vin work that I had, bounced off of the claimed L89 experts list. The list has issues, and we found a missing one in the posting of one thread this last year 2023. The discovery of one of the true rare 16, I am glad I had a hand in drawing that our of the member, and he came to realize what he had, and how special it was. So now I am punching my form of timeline forward into the 1966/67 time period.

So a picture of Tony Delorenzo is coming out. Great Corvette Legend, Great driver, he could embellish a story with the best of them, so the truth falls in the middle somewhere. So story write up of getting Ed Cole Silver Pre-production Silver 1963 car??????????? So pilot line car??????????? I think for than likely, a different version is closer to the truth, his GM executive Father, going to Ed Cole and Tony attempted to get the new 1964 Z06!!!!!!!!! Thus an order of one of 29 I think, drew the attention of Zora. Tony I will research if there was any track time, racing during that earlier 60s period in this Corvette. Off the top of my head, I don't think I have heard of any and that actually is not important to me. So move forward 1965/66 with some Corvair racing. I think Jerry Thompson was just a competitor occasionally, as Jerry said he didn't connect up with Tony till the 1967 year. So Zora interviews in the Summer and Fall of 1965, talks of a potential Competition Model Corvette in magazine articles. Tony had just enough history with Zora previously, they talk and Zora is interested. The young guy gives a great pitch, he has had a some seasoning as a Race Driver. His skills are worthy of truly moving up in Class. Thus Zora puts it in motion. Looks like most of the final 1967 L88 engine work was January 1967. The head rocker studs with the rolled threads available, etc. The original Delorenzo claimed engine build date 1/13/1967. Born date as per calculator is 1/26/1967. Ok the car finally raced May 1967. All kinds of bullshit variations of the story, I shared a number of them. And the story as has been told, all variations makes no sense, the progression following what has been written is not logical. I need to look up the first race appearance date, but we are near 100 days from claimed car built, till raced. A 100 days for a claimed Production line assembled model all done, crazy that it wasn't until May 1967 to get onto the track. And You don't get the sponsorship prior to having the car!

Because of how the 1966 HDSP/M22 cars came to be, and some 1966 L88 prototypes or Field test, I still think the modern ownerships and experts claiming Production, down the assembly line. On this car based on Paul's 1972 book comments, and interviews by Tony Delorenzo I think he got a Big Block, and following the 396/427 upgrade parts pattern, Zora put an L88 engine and the other L88 group parts to him, a kit build still is how i am leaning. He obviously needed help. I was trying to figure out his home address while all of this was happening. I do weird moves in research at times. The reason St.Louis to Michigan's Hanley Dawson Chevrolet, not exactly next door. And Jerry Thompson definitely came into the venture after the hands of the Dealership personnel were on it. When the race campaigning of the car started, Thompson became the Crew Chief/Co-driver! So I will attempt to work on the happenings of that 100 days. The car made it to the Dealership in a glorious transporter????? They immediately worked on it, and it was ready for racing. The dealership stayed with Tony/Thompson, as they all traveled to Daytona for the SCCA Championship, year's end. The car and Dealership crew showing in pictures at an empty stands track infield. As I said, a 100% Complete built Production line built L88, would not have needed 100 days, the L88 had had successful track time, 1966 Penske, Best Photo Yenko associated 1966 Roadster (Summers car) partially campaigned Nationally, ran Riverside, from the Pennsylvania Yenko operation.

I am tired 3am. I have to work in the morning.