luvmy73

Hey guys just wanted to see if anyone thinks this is a real L-89. According to my knowledge there were only 390 L89's (435 HP, 427 Cubic Inch Engine) ever made. What do you think this car should go for?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...ndexURL=0&rd=1

Michael

1973 L-82
1969 L-46

Corvettes White

See Corvettemike.com. Car CA10175 a '68 at $45,000.

Not a direct answer to your question but a point of reference. I saw this car when I ws at their show room a few weeks ago and it stuck in my mind.

George

MacA1979

It is most likely an L-89 (if documentation is authentic), but I doubt that the 40K miles is accurate. The interior looks more like 140K (or more). It would take a lot of money to get that car back original (NCRS/Bloomington) even with all the parts he says he has! I am not an expert (or anywhere close to one), but $15K to $18K might not be too bad a price if everything he says is correct, and you have the capability to do most of the work yourself. Could be a nice, rare Corvette some day!!


[Modified by QikStik, 9:20 AM 11/15/2001]

Easy Mike

Could be a real one, but you can't say for sure with nothing more to go on other than a seller's claim on ebay. I would not purchase this car long distance. Before forking over some money, I would want to take a very close on-site inspection, including the documentation available. I would also check the casting dates of those L-89 heads.
;)
Is it my tired old bifocaled eyes, or has this car been on ebay before? :confused:

Alwyn678

I will check it out..I am in Atlanta...........Maybe I can go see the car

Easy Mike

OOOOPS!!!!! :bb I didn't read far enough. The seller says the original heads (What's an L-89 without aluminum heads?!?!) were long gone when he got the car. It is not clear whether the car is selling with a replacement pair.

:seeya

427V8

Ewwwww!
Missing heads, missing side exhaust, basket case....

MAYBE if I was looking to do a frame off, MAYBE if all the other numbers match, Maybe you could find some other heads....

Maybe
Maybe
Maybe

rainman69

Put down the E-bay and walk away slowly...No, scratch that: Run away!

Rowdy Rat

(The statement that follows assumes that the car is really an L-89 and that the documentation is legitimate - I have not seen it in person and can make no determination as such)

Keith,

This car is obviously a full restoration candidate... It really comes down to whether the car can be sufficiently documented to justify the cost of restoring it.

The items you mentioned aren't that big a problem (as long as you have the finances to do the car correctly). A good pair of correctly dated "842" heads (bare, no damage) will run right around $1,500... Complete T.I. setup between $1,000-$1,500... Everything related to the side exhaust for $3,500 or so... Another $1,000 for the A.I.R. system... It adds up fast. Still, the car is said to have it's original short block and transmission and the body appears to have little damage.

I guess what I'm getting at is that this car isn't an entry level piece for a first time owner. The car is relatively rare and has some neat options (most notably the L-89 and N-14)... The color is OK and there appears to be some documentation. Correctly restored and I'd say the potential for the car right now is probably around $45,000-$50,000. Qik Stik mentioned about $15,000-$18,000 for this car as a fair price... If I were in the market for an L-89 project car, I'd say maybe $7,500-$10,000 would be a fair offer; my guess is that the restoration is going to eat up the better part of $40,000. To be honest, I'd pass even at that price, but for someone looking for a pretty desirable car on a budget (and who has the knowledge and ability to do a lot of the restoration work), this might be the ticket.

The only real way to assess the owner's claims regarding the car is to go look at it. I'm 100% with Mike on this one; while I know people who have been successful buying cars "sight unseen" from Ebay, this is one instance where you absolutely need to see the car firsthand before thinking about buying. Also make certain that you are well versed about the car in question; hiring an expert might be cheap insurance in this case.

Personally, I'd like to get a REAL good look at that build order! :)

Regards,

Paul Borowski

This is probably like one of the 37 '67 L-88 Corvettes(GM made only 20) or one of 50,000 '69 Z-28 Camaros(GM made only 19,000). Saw like 5 or 6 '62 409/409 Chevy Belair "Bubble Tops" at Chicago VetteFest. I remember when those were as scarce as could be, now at a Chevy show 5 or 6 show up??? Went to a "local" cruise in 5 wks ago and there were two of them there, both Red/Red radio and heater delete cars. What is the chance in that??? All these can't be for real!!! Looked inside at one of them's mileage, and it read 00000.0, and it was driven there!!! What does that tell you??? :confused:

Stan, you sure can write alot of good comments, my fingers get to tired. Must be that Ahlzheimer's again :rolleyes:

daily_driver

bahahah

whats the saying??

if it looks too good to be true then it prolly is.

:lol: :yesnod: :yesnod:

LemansBluevert69

Missing heads? Right there is hint number one. Are the heads really missing, or is he using this as an accuse because its not really an L-89 and never was? :confused:

micks69

I am not to sure but I would think that car would come with an M22 not an M21? Maybe?

Allan71

Paul, I agree. It used to be that the tank sticker and other documentation would usually be enough to prove authenticity, but now with extremely high prices that the high horsepower cars can bring, forged paperwork is a real possibility. I know you remember the story of the guy a few years ago that tried to turn a 67 L36 into a super-rare (1 of 16) L-89, and he also wanted to be triple black to boot so he had the trim plate re-created. He had all the correct appearing original paperwork forged and aged to look real in some way, and the car almost made it to some big auction where it was estimated to bring about $100K, but a prospective bidder hired a detective to trace the car's history and the plot was discovered. This car, if real and fully restored, while not worth $100K, could be worth $50 or more to someone.
The options listed for the tank sticker seem correct as to what was required on the L-89.

LemansBlue69, the aluminum heads were often sold or replaced with iron when one failed on cars that were raced or run hard. The block would still be stamped with the unique L-89 suffix code and this would be indicative but not conclusive of what the car originally was, because the block could be correct but restamped.


Mick, the standard tranny setup was the M-21 with the 3.55 axle, with the 3.36, 3.70 or 4.11 optional. The automatic tranny option was the Turbo 400 and came standard with the 3.08, with the 2.73 or 3.36 optional. The M-22 was required and only available as part of RPO L-88 or ZL-1.

keytech

That would be worth a look. Living in Atlanta it's just a hop to cedartown. But, You gotta want that car for a keeper to consider. If you are looking to make a profit you are in for a surprise. If you have restored a car before you know that what looks like a certain amount of work rapidly grows (and grows and grows and grows). You get intothat thing and you will find countless things that will need to be repaired or replaced that you never even thought of. You will have hundreds of hours tied up in it also. Be real sure just exactly why you want that car. I have a 70 LT-1 that I got about three quarters through a full frame off restoration and that sucker keeps growing and all that time you think you have to spend on it seems to get competed for by work, chores, family, etc - stretching out the time you have it apart. Wouldn't you really rather buy a car in good condition and enjoy it now than spend a wad of money and a couple years of time before you can actually drive the thing?

The knowledge I have gained on working on my 70 and 71 is invaluable but I gotta tell you, I would think twice before doing it again.

- the voice of experience

LAvetteman

If it is a clone, the owner will probably take the $8900.00 its at right now and run. It will take a bit to get it back to good.

1Bad69

would it not have the m-22 as standard tranny or was it an option on L-98???

Allan71

Nope, M-22 not standard or even optional. The L-89 (and L-71) required that your order either the M-21 or the Turbo 400, and these were the only two trannies available. Except for 1966 and 1971, the M-22 was required and/or available only as part of the Heavy Duty packages like the L-88, ZL-1, ZR-1 and ZR-2. In 66, the M-22 was available with the L-72, and in 71 it was optional on the LS-6 and possibly the LT-1.

Rowdy Rat

Allan, dead on for 1969... In fact, L-71/L-89 Corvettes built in 1967-68 were required to order the M-21 close ratio transmission as a mandatory option. Chevy loosened up a little in 1969 and offered a heavy duty version of the THM 400 as well although it doesn't appear that many were ordered this way.

You are absolutely correct regarding paperwork as well. To my knowledge, just about every piece of paperwork currently used to document Corvettes is being reproduced... Some are very poor and easily identified; others are nearly impossible (the sources for the more accurate paperwork generally do NOT advertise). This includes window stickers, build orders/tank stickers), warranty books/protect-o-plates, dealer invoices, etc. In addition, VIN plates, trim tags, and certification labels are also reproduced, although they tend to be better regulated due to legal considerations involved.

Allan's comments should serve as fair warning... Paperwork alone does not guarantee authenticity. Owner history and the vehicle itself are equally important when it comes to verifying that a car is what it is claimed to be.

Regards,

Paul Borowski

Stan, I guess this means not many people will be "forging" L-48's??? Imagine only if GM would have put in the VIN of the sixties(or back to the 57 fuelies?) a letter stating what engine the vehicle had new like they did from what '72? and up. If they'd had say "A" for L-88, "B" for L-89, "C" for L-71, "D" for 327/350hp, etc., etc., I am sure we'd see alot lot less of these L-88's and L-89's today that seem to be "showing" up all over!!! :confused: :rolleyes: