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As the picture sharing site I use is shutting down, this pseudo registry I created for you guys in another post is shutting down (I think- Tiny Pics going off line August 26th), so don’t know if the forum saves the pictures now! I thought give these cars and this work a new thread. The collage picture, early effort, I do hope that disappears! I am not sure if this old post used to start this Registry thread, has all of my updates! I will look it over and add edits, if needed. I am sure I need to edit, to update (and just did a few edits, just now!)
I generally am just into the cars, not the Ownership chain, but if you guys want me to edit those in, then post, and when I get time, will do that! I just don’t feel like doing the work to go back and get all of those! I can even add to the stories! But I will be the submoderator on the content of this Registry thread! It has to pass my scrutiny!
Eventually would like to get maybe 3-5 shots up for each car! A feature shot modern or best I have maybe. A track shot or other notable shot, alternate configuration, paperwork or other shot, or whatever else might be cool to picture!
67-1- 194377-00-IT-EX. 702 Goodwood Green Coupe Prototype (Rathman Chevrolet Melbourne FL) build without J-56. Towers added J-56 in the 1970s!
67-2- 194677S109097 Tuxedo Black Roadster 3.70 (Delorenzo Car)(Hanley Dawson Chevrolet; Detroit, MI) Nicknamed the Black Knight. Delivered Late Jan 67, but the VIN is of a Dec 1966 car! I think this car got special handling and might not have been an original, but delayed and built up with the Special L88 parts. Thus a true out the back door car!
67-3- 194377S110055 Pearl Silver Coupe 4.56 (Rosenthal Chevrolet; Arlington, VA) Born 2/7/1967. Some in the inside circle name this as the 1st Production L88 (nicknamed Quicksilver- from being street & drag raced), and I think that is because the Delorenzo car was built up by L88 parts right at the end of December after being built and then modified at the plant during January, causing a late release! Therefore strong possibility this is the first production car!
67-4- 194377S110702 Coupe listed in Noland Adams Book "The Complete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide - Vol. 2 1963 Through 1967 Book edited by Lowell Paddock. In this book he references this car, the 221550 racer, 109097 Delorenzo, and 115484 silver roadster, 117527 Dana SCCA Racer in that book in the lists. This is my mystery car! I keep thinking I have notes on this car, but haven't found those yet. This car is Green with Black interior!!!!!
67-5- 194377S112805 DX Racer (Yenko Chevrolet; Cannonsburg, PA) strong possibility it was built up from L88 kit parts. A special 2.60 rear axle was installed immediately after deliver. 2.60 gearing has allowed a tested 194 mph top speed recorded. Would be a January built car!
67-6- 194377S113787 Ermine White Coupe known as the Le Mans Racer (Dana Chevrolet; South Gate, CA) strong possibility it was built up of L88 kit parts. I shared with you guys the evidence picture that I have (shared publically out of my private collection) with the car getting the hood drilled for pins by Dick Guldstrand when it wore a skunk stripe! Would be a February built car.
I limitedly have shared this, but eventually I posted this private picture I have to raise eyebrows! Essentially as a multiple Dana Chevrolet car Owner myself, Dana is one of my favorite histories to play with, document. You will notice the skunk stripe! True on occasion, especially in the C3 day’s Zora would stripe one, but this came into the dealership and was to be flipped to an SCCSCC customer, and the customer touches were done. When this idea came up, this was the most capable chassis in the stable. Thus they went to work on it.
67-7- 194677S115484 Pearl Silver Roadster 3.70 (Commonwealth Chevrolet; Boston, MA) Claimed to be from a Massachusetts Dealership, but was discovered as a California car by an Oregon Restauranteur! This car is in that same Noland Adams Restoration book, pictured with the California License Plates. Built claimed April 3rd, 1967 matching a previous Owners birthday, but I have it as a March built car.
67-8- 194377S115791 Rally Red on Red Coupe 4.56 (Mike Savoie Chevrolet; Troy, MI)
67-9- 194377S116945 Rally Red on Black Coupe 4.56 (Alan Green; Seattle, WA) known as the 12 mile Drag Racer. This would be an early April built car.
From on old post of mine, copied here!!! From Ed's catalog. Hey Ed enjoy if you are looking in! OOPS! Everyone calls it the 12 Mile car, but from the Lincoln catalog, it should be the 11 Mile car! I will correct my list!
I would love to see a colored shot of his car if at all possible! The Corvette Elite forget about someone like ED! Who should be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame or Owner’s of this car listed up in the Registry, but forgot about Ed. They have alot of guys with way less substantial histories inducted, should I name a bunch of them?????
67-10. 194377S117055 Ermine White Coupe 3.55 (Code 43, possibly Goodwin or O'Conner Chevrolet; Massachusetts if I remember correctly)
67-11- 104377S117076 Marina Blue Coupe 4.11 (Bast Chevrolet, Seaford, NY) ordered on 1/16/1967. I question the Stinger color, based on the old racing shot!
67-12- 194677S117527 Marina Blue Roadster 3.55 (Dana Chevrolet; South Gate) also mentioned in the Noland Adams Restoration book in some places under M22, etc, but missing from the 427 list.
67-14- 194677S118426 Lyndale Blue Coupe 4.11 (DeHaven Chevrolet; Fort Wayne, IN)
67-15- 194377S119136 Sunfire Yellow Coupe 4.56 (S&K Chevrolet; Vallejo, CA). This would have been a May built car.
67-16. 194377S120407 Ermine White Coupe 4.56 (Curtis Chevrolet, Washington DC)
67-17- 194677S121550 Ermine White Roadster 4.11 (Factory Delivered) Last car delivered. Sold 6/22/1967. This would have been a June built car.
67-18- 194677S121558 Ermine White Roadster (Factory Delivered) King Hussein Car, crashed by Relative on his way to the Red Sea on holiday!
Still can’t find a picture of this car, but King Hussein loves anything with a motor.
67-19- 194677S122014 Tuxedo Black Coupe 4.56 (Lang Chevrolet; Xenia, Ohio) Known to be the last car born on 7/7/1967, but this would have been built at the end of June.
67- Farris car dropped. It is not one!!!!!
67-20- 194377SXXXXXX Goodwood Green on Green Coupe 4.11 sold out of Vette Vues by a Andy Affrica of Clarion, PA during the mid 1970s.
You guys be the judge! The side exhaust were pretty distinct and to mention those is telling!
Ok Investors scurry! I often wondered what the other options were, could I have financed it?
I have a few back ups ready to go, just in case! This is new and could replace one on the list, but I believe another racer I have my eye on, could replace a known car on the list and there is another Canadian car that I have been thinking of as a possible real car, and one from Puerto Rico is thought by many to be a real one, listed with the Race car Regustry.
Heck David Crane of San Diego remembers having a 1967 with an L88, but my notes have that car as an engine dropped built car in about November 1967.
I do think three of the racers were built up from L88 kit parts shipped out, meaning those are built up cars! Even the Delorenzo car is suspect as whether a real production one, as it was built in a December of 1966, but not released until a month later so suspect! Something was happening with that car!
I will try to post up from in the 1970s, the article where they thought the count was 20 total minus (16) L89 cars, leaving only (4) L88 Race Cars (Delorenzo, Yenko DX, LeMans, Dana Racer!). The #89 racer Vin #550 was thought to be faked, lawsuit stuff was happening between the group that found it, etc. The Bast Chevrolet car’s racing record had been forgotten by the experts back in the 1970s.
2010- Many thought only 14 survived.
2012- Kevin Mackay gave an interview that 17 cars have been found. I forgot to mention that here in 2019, we are still at 17 cars!
2019- some of these cars might not have gotten M22 (it was thought to be mandatory, and might have had a street version of the aluminum head in the non-racers (same casting though!).
Last edited by TCracingCA; 03-02-2021 at 04:10 PM.
66-1. Proving Grounds car- Press Display Car Car & Driver 1965:
Also, I was wondering if you have seen this 1967 'preproduction' L88 engine in the past (recently released from the GM archives).
66-2. Vin # 194376s110556 Born 01/10/66. Penske Chevrolet, Factory Pickup!
Sebring 1966 - Car #9:
66-3. Car to be delivered to Yenko, but stolen by the transferring dealership, causing Yenko to have to drive a Volvo! Was it Red, and the thief from Mexico? I would buy that story, if we can make a link! Also refer to the Whim car below!
66-4. Vin # 194376s122940 Born 05/31/66 Yenko Chevrolet Best Photo Mike Summers #45 (thru Yenko Chevrolet during his semi-retired period, when he was building his business and brand- using the COPO program).
Last edited by TCracingCA; 12-02-2020 at 01:11 AM.
66-7. Vin #194376s112243 Born 01/27/66. Alan Green Chevrolet car Gary Grove (Solid car, believed to be built up from an Engine shipped loosely bolted, not torqued together with the special parts, to be built at the race teams discretion. This was similarly done with Bill Thomas, Traco, Smokey Yunick, Yenko, Nickey, Bill Jenkins. Thus they could lighten, balance, blueprint, port, debut, radius, clearance, torque, etc etc their build based on their expertise.
66-8. Vin # 194676s113786 Born 02/12/66. Gordon Wilson Chevrolet In Team car (Solid car, believed to be built up from kit)
66-9. Vin # 194376s116714 Born 03/17/66. Slaton Chevrolet car (Heinz). SCCA/FIA Racer. (Solid car, unsure whether line or kit built)
Many think this might be the Penske car!!!!!!!!!
66-10. Vin # Doug Hooper/Ozzie Pohl (Doug was my friend, said it was one. I think they got it from Harry Mann.
Darn friggen L88, get out of my way! PS not the same car, I just like the picture!
66-11. Vin # Or Costanzo/Dave McClain/Gene Guy (Solid car, unsure whether line or kit built)
66-12. Vin # Rex Ramsey This Car was one of the fastest, but I think he got ahold of the kit parts, and built it up himself! I am pulling all the old articles out. PS Hooper and Ramsey were competing on the track against each other, so it can't be the Hooper car. I have to find a picture without the Copyright, but here is the squished down collectors for HD cars. He obviously switched to the Kustom pipes later, so this is a rare shot of it, as first raced. Looks like an HD car to me. I do have to move it up, and might have to bump something off. Trying to justify whether I do that. There is one car above, in the top 13, where I found something I really didn't like.
66-13. Vin # Gorries Chevrolet car (Canada). I want to try to get a picture up for all of these. The 1966 car I honestly need to see if I can locate it. I have as good a shot of finding records of it, as anyone in the Country. Here is the 1965 1st M22 car and general racing shots I think containing both the 1965/66 seasons just for something to post. Enjoy! I moved this to last place, as I only remember stories of this dealership related to this topic. I have to find those. There 1965 car did receive the Upgrades to HD. I suspect that they would have did the same to the following seasons car.
Maybe this is it??????
Coming soon— parts!
Cars that people think may be HD cars, with M22 or without M22?, still checking these out.
66-14. Vin # Restoration Book Car (IK code)
As the book has no other data under the other relevant data sections! I tend to think someone was just trying to be a clown. I will try to see what I can dig up on this one! Poor evidence, as just going on the Restoration Authors replies to his survey.
66-15. Vin # 194676s123839. Born 06/10/66. Frank Fahey Racer #17 some think it is, I haven’t really checked this car out. It is a well known racer out here on the West Coast. I do believe this is Doug Hoopers old car. I will have to cross check the Socal and Norcal, Doug's history and events in this car with Fahey's history and events in this car. This Vin is pretty late!!!!!!!! And therefore suspect! If it ain’t Hoopers car and that late Vin is a pretty damn good disqualifier, then it was probably built up from parts, but not a Zora sent out kit! He was a NCCA Slalom guy 1960s (I should verifyvthst, as going off memory). His primary racing exploits started in the 1970s. I haven’t traditional broken down SCCA level race histories outside of the Region 19 Socal Scene, but can do so for most every region Nationals only! Regional level, the records are too sparse, no real newspaper coverage either.
66-16. We can't ignore the drag crowd. It had the best of everything. I will put more up on this car. I also have my eye on some other drag cars.
66-17. Dave Rex claimed L88 Prototype. He owned a shop with Bill Morrison! With no research, I know he ran an A/SR car in the 1970s , in the early 2000s he had a 1964 that had 65/66 side vents, but that was a small block car. A big block was fitted in that for a period, and I think in the more current, it has a small block. I know I have pictures of these. I have to go back further to study his race record and compare those to the cars to know. I do expect someone else will probably be far more studied on his history than me. I might just see if I can view the Race Car Registry to see what they write. Sometimes that helps me. I can weed thru most of those histories and see what I like and don't like. I know the Owner's of the cars supply the those histories.Very notable racer, legendary long term competition history, but I just don't know if it was an actual HD car. They were innovative, and I am sure they upgraded to make their rides faster, as evidenced by the A/SR classification.
Cars upgraded to HD spec, but did not have the M22, or were later upgraded to the M22.
66-18. Vin # 194376s117785 Born 03/29/66. Scuncio Chevrolet car (Bergen/Johnson) Claimed converted to L88 spec, and which is what those shipped out kits did! It had an M-21 thou.
66-19. Vin # 194376s120374 Born 04/28/66. (Swiss Racer 1 of 2 cars this team had. They also had the 1965 car) Factory to Penske Chevrolet car. This car is driving me crazy! Prepped by Penske and shipped to Germany (Wermelinger) This car has been over here for awhile, formerly in the collection of K. Suydan. I am removing this very notable racer as a true HD pre-L88 engined car, but feel the M22 is solid. I do think Penske, race prepped this car, but didn't go through the engine, before shipping it out.But then according to the story, it might have been built on the line with an L88 according to markings found. I threw out the L88 thoughts, as I don’t think the Aluminum head problem was solved yet!, and to release it over to Europe. I am trying to find anything to validate that they had a successful aluminum test yet! The Mule car claimed to go out late in the model year for an aluminum head test, exactly at the time frame this car was getting shipped out! I will check all of the dates! I bet the L88 was pulled out, not ready. I am also going back to the FIA paperwork, the Homologation dates and for what to see if it was FIA legal that early!
Picture while in the Suydam collection.
OK I ADDED THIS FROM A PAST SHARE BY JIM G (older share from the European Owners, prior to its sell here).
1966 Corvette M22-( L88 Prototype)
Exported to Europa for Testing
Owned by: Rolf & Petra Gersch
Mainz-Kastel Germany
The 1966 Big Tank Big Brake Big Block VIN 194376S120374
M 22 Transmission No. 38844694 sold with L88 Engine is the secound build Car with Prototype Engine.
We found on Top of the Transmission also L 88/M
We found Front and Rear Shop Order No.39 and N0 3.
This was changed on the Assembly Line to 16A before the Special Engine come in. All the Marks are still Original on the Car.
Mr. Wermelinger, a GM Sales Person from Auto Koch Luzern was the first Owner from Switzerland. He ordered the Car thru Roger Penske at a Chevrolet Dealer Meeting in New York. Penske/Guldstrand did the Race Preparation with 7 1/2 x15 Magnesium Wheels, before Shipment for Export to Europa.
RACE RECORD
03.07. 1966 Bergpreis Ostschweiz Oberhallau first Win agains Ferrari.
1967 Rundstreckenrennen Hockenheim Germany first Place
1967 Invited to Le Mans France but broke Engine in Practice and was a DNF.
Many other races in 1967-60 era. NEVER DAMAGED.
After 30 Years Rolf Gersch found 2002 the Car in Switzerland again
and bought it.
2004 we found an Traco Engine and put his in.
The Car drove from 2003 to 2013 over 15 Races in Germany and
Switzerland also it is unbelievable that we have a Race Car with no big
accidents. The complete Body is still Original.
Now we are happy that we can Show the Car first Time in USA,
in his Racing Condition but unrestored.
Rolf & Petra Gersch[/QUOTE]
Now will add the modern RCR posted summary.
Cars that look to be solidly M22 cars, but not necessarily with the full HD mods.
66-20. Vin #194376s110192 1966 Daytona Racer #67 Cornelius, Boo, Brown Axle 3.36. Penske HD Prototype L88 turned 2:10 a lap at Sebring, and their time was 2:28.
66-21. Red Convertible NCRS certified car? Hawkins Harp?? I think NCRS would stupidly certify anything with aluminum heads and any M22 claimed installed! I am skeptical. Plus so have never seen the NCRS bring aluminum lightweight jacks to use for judging, as they move down a row of cars! How come they don’t use jacks?
Other cars I am checking out!
66-22. Yellow Convertible
66-23. R. Senchyna 1966 White Car L88, M22?
66-25. The AP car this might be a 1965 car. Checking! Maybe the same Heinz car above, with Oseid.
And you guys should know by now, when I say sketchy it is only meant that I am not thinking rare HD car! But you can see that these are super great cars. Like the Dave Rex, one of the longest runs in Corvette racing! They were legends!!!!!
Last edited by TCracingCA; 03-02-2021 at 04:20 PM.
Awesome HD tribute cars coming soon! And these can be great cars! Just tall tales get added!
66-A- Claimed Chevrolet Test Prototype/Magazine Loaned Car to Sports Car Illustrated/then sold to Steve McQueen
This car, I think is a super famous car, but not a rare 1966 HD car! I think this story involved two different cars, and neither was a true 1966 HD car is what I personally believe.
Harry Mann Magazine Press Car- Sports Car Illustrated Performance Comparison Maroon Car, then raced at Willow Springs early 1967. Shipping arranged to the West Coast thru Chevrolet to Harry Mann, and the local to the track dealership DeAnza Chevrolet, Riverside, CA assisted with the housing and getting it to and from the event). It is believed to have gone back to Harry Mann, after McQueen drove and evaluated it alongside some of the other classic rides of the day. It was used in at least one race, I mentioned above, over a year later, and sold to McQueen! I have read, that they got him one like it from Harry Mann, added some things like the wheel covers to please him! Also maybe it was arranged for him to use the car promotionally. I go hot and cold on this car! Harry Mann was often asked by the Magazines of the day in SoCal, to supply a particular Chevrolet for a magazine request! They also worked with Chevrolet advertising! I personally don’t think it was a full blown M22 noisy straight cut gear ride, and with the “B” package upgrades, that would have made it less comfortable to enjoy, and spirited to drive. Mann was capable of putting a real crisp performance tune on things! My father knew Frank Milne and he was a hot rodder! He alway drive something hot to and from his dealership and home! It is thought that McQueen has this Corvette till 1968! I added thought to be spec RPO codes, for McQueen’s car below.
This was taken from notes of what the car was. I personally don't think the Riverside Road tested Press car was the same one sold to Steve McQueen.
66-B- Claimed Pedro Rodriquez car
This one is a very notable racer, I personally think it has great history, but nothing about the 1966 HD claim and Rodriguez/Chinetti makes sense. It doesn't fit, I found no FIA entry, for the race and it never ran. Cars were not let out onto the track, unless it was an actual entrant. If it would have been withdrawn, that would show in the records that I have. I got the records I have, when I was doing a North American Ferrari Competition chassis history project. The history without this embellishment, is cool!
Pedro Rodriguez! Anyone that knows Chinetti, knows why I laugh! But it is a notable racer! Just don’t like anything about the beginning history claim! I have the FIA records and no application shows submitting this car!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you just don’t show up and hope to get in! Someone would have had to substitute an entry, and there was no paperwork done related to such. Plus scrutineering has to be done, didn’t happen! Pedro liked to walk around the pits and meet fellow racers, and was willing to get his picture taken! Do you want me to get into drivers suit conversation?
POST BY JIM G MOVED HERE FROM RCR
Originally Posted by jimgessner
1966 Corvette “Lightweight” Development L-88
This “purpose built” Corvette race car is one of Zora Arkus-Duntov’s special projects… built while flying under the corporate radar and the “C-Suite” edict of the GM Corporation not participating in, or, supporting any racing activities. Specifically, this car was assigned job designation #17A. The car was ordered by Mexico’s international racer Pedro Rodriquez. Luigi Chinetti was the Ferrari North American East Coast Distributor at the time of this build and was a partner of Rodriquez in Ferrari’s North American Racing Team (NART). The car was specifically built to race the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring by Rodriquez. At the last minute, a prototype Ferrari became available, so Pedro drove it and sold this car to Don Yenko who in turn sold it to team mate Harold Whims.
Prepared by the Chevrolet Engineering Center in Detroit, the result is this 1966 Corvette “Lightweight” Development L-88. Mr. Corvette Dick Guldstrand told us this car was known as one of the “Four Kings”, “purpose built to do one thing…TO WIN RACES”! Dick picked up a Development L-88 car at the St. Louis factory for Roger Penske in January 1966, which they raced at the 1966 Daytona 24 Hours.
This “Lightweight” was produced with a Prototype 1966 Cold Air Box Hood atop a special Heavy Duty Development 427 L-88 engine. Additional Prototype parts were used in its build. Approximately 9 total cars were built by Chevrolet, some used in drag racing. Research is still underway.
Delivered options include;
-A85 Shoulder Harness
-C48 Heater Delete
-F41 Special Front and Rear Suspension
-G81 Positraction Rear Axle
-J50 Power Brakes
-J56 Heavy-Duty Brake Equipment
-K66 Transistorized Ignition
-M22 4-Speed Heavy-Duty Manual Transmission
-N03 36.5-Gas Tank (Retains its original factory tank)
-N32 Teakwood Steering Wheel
-N36 Telescopic Steering Wheel
Harold Whims purchased this car after the Sebring race . With sponsorship secured from Union 76, this special Corvette raced at numerous race tracks in the Eastern region of the United States. A noted race car its entire life, it was set up for SCCA Road Racing, FIA Road Racing and Hill Climb Racing. The car held the Chimney Rock Hill Climb record in the capable hands of John “Sam” Henderson for numerous years in the late 1970’s to the mid-1980’s.
Some of the numerous race tracks where the car appeared include; Virginia International Raceway (VIR), Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Road Atlanta, Marlboro, Huntsville, Cumberland and Summit Point. Don Yenko raced the car in the late 1960’s at Cumberland. Having numerous successful owners/racers during its racing history, this car achieved many 1st Place victories in SCCA/FIA sanctioned racing, detailed in it’s complete set of SCCA Log Books.
More information and photos are available at; Fourkingscorvette.com
Owner: Scott E. Freese, Omaha, NE
ORIGINAL OWNER HAROLD WHIMS WAS AT THE EVENT AND SHARED THE CARS ORIGINAL HISTORY WITH FANS. SCOTT FREESE HAS BEEN RESEARCHING THE CAR FOR YEARS WHILE RESTORING IT BACK TO ORIGINAL LIVERY.
66-C- The Zora development Mule!
This one is complex. A whole book was written, and I don't see enough to agree. I really really like this car. It was super well done, but to claim the greatest Corvette find of all time, we need more. I think the book has too much fluff, and not enough proof. I do believe the Mule existed. I am skeptical that it did everything claimed thou. I do believe Zora would use the heck out of a car for development, but this one getting bodies changed etc. is just a little much.
Claimed Vin # 194375s114444 Zora’s Mule (info shared here was like the chassis and body were from different cars etc. Many think recreation like me, and many think real! I haven’t got into this car much, but I have torn into the book, and everything posted! But fantastic car too! It is just that they are trying to hit the ultimate homerun, tying everything and more to just this one singular chassis! Yes Duntov would tend to develop the crap out of his project car as I just said above, but too much in the book was a stretch! The chassis was painted blue, and we found a blue chassis and the dates look right, etc. is just a little weak. They could roll multiple pilot line cars down the line, and do similar changes or things to multiple cars in one day, so the chassis could be off any of several cars that were slated for development work. There was no engine found with it either. And PS- someone got a hold of Zora’s files “”””” After he died!””””” But I do love this car! It is bad azz, cool!!!!!! I really really wanted it to be real. I bought the book and immediately started hearing negatives about the authenticity, so I didn't crack it open for 9 months (uncharacteristic for me). I have gone thru it pretty thoroughly, and there is a lot that doesn't fit.
I can tell with that book, they were trying too hard! Hey everyone, we will throw all kinds of CEC engineering numbers in a book since 1953, a bunch of other fluff, and try to slide a car by the Corvette world, while we are at it! Heck no one will deep read and study the book! Heck everyone will be so dazzled by the amount of info, that no one will get suspicious!
The book author’s book, makes me mistrust this car. Did he mess up?
Last edited by TCracingCA; 01-03-2021 at 05:53 PM.
1- Jan 1977 (Vette Vues Vol. 8 Ed 3 on pg. 75- JR Whitmar of Oklahoma kind of starts the craze advertising for sale his Goodwood Green Coupe VIN 194377S105260 based on Radio delete as an L88/89 car! Articles followed in Motor Trend and Corvette
67-2- 194677S103637 Rally Red Roadster (Team Chevrolet; Pasadena, CA possibly) owned by a guy named Red Farris who advertised to exchange pictures of this claimed L88 for pictures of other enthusiast cars. He ran that ad in Vette Vues for quite sometime during the mid 1970s. I saw this car in person as a teenager, but have no other info on it. I almost sent away for these back then and should have! This is my role model ideal of an enthusiast. he wasn't treying to sell it, but was looking for fellow enthusiasts!!!
PS- could be an L89 car! :hide
Last edited by TCracingCA; 09-24-2019 at 08:13 PM.
I will work on this slowly!!! Not a lot of free time in my life! To add in cars! I will pull in posts I made in other threads and try to assemble them all here!
If you guys want to help, create a similar format like above, and write Vin, some data about it, and a picture. If you don’t have a picture, describe it, as in my literature I might have it!
Last edited by TCracingCA; 01-06-2021 at 12:46 AM.
I have this too, but this is super helpful to speed up the process! In record time, Corvette Forum will have a better Registry than anybody!
Eventually I will remove all of the commentary, but need it posted up to stimulate involvement, challenge folks some! If the guys that share only among their own circle, want to keep things hidden, then we will make our registry more awesome than theirs, and maybe they will come around!!!
PS I talked about my edits and scrutiny, my discretion so check out Post #6’s first contribution! The Vin is too early for an L88! I hope you like it! Thanks Sincerely!!!!!!
Last edited by TCracingCA; 08-22-2019 at 05:37 PM.
I know I am going to have problems finding my Mann Chevrolet car picture racing!!!! I distinctly know I have seen one with a big #1 on the side. I will keep trying to remember what book, magazine etc. that was in. I know I have it. With my literature collection, I could find it in one month or 20 years from now.
The other is the Gorries 1966 car. I have plenty of found pictures on their 1965 car, but not of the 1966.That one will be difficult as I have never followed Canadian racing outside of the Can Am, the Trans Am northern swing, the F-5000 series, the Formula Atlantic days, and have only followed a few of their defectors that came here to the States like Dale Armstrong, etc!
Also anyone that can shed light on the car Yenko was supposed to get, where the transfer dealshership kept it (the Dealership) instead of sending it on, would be appreciated. If that car was white, then it is probably the Whim car. If that car was red, then the claimed story on Pedro is still wrong, as Yenko is claimed to be the originating dealership and who got that to Chinetti! Now that I am onto that story of Yenko's car being shanghaied (the one he planned to race at Daytona, not for Pedro ), I am sure I can find stuff on that story in print. If the four Kings story was actually true, it would include the Yenko car, that was kept by the transferring dealer! As the one car they say went to Chinetti, for Pedro—— so that car wasn’t lost, and it was riding around on transports heading to a famous race it never entered. So it definitely is not the car that didn’t make it to Yenko. And then Pedro didn’t want to race it, and didn’t even want to drive it around as his personal ride. Then Chinetti was so poor (got to be kidding on that), he begged Chevrolet to buy it back as Whim the Union 76 gas station owning Yenko friend’s real one burned up. Their King story talks up Daytona, OK so Pedro/Chinetti didn’t want to race it, Yenko was there with his Volvo friends. I am sure a Yenko would have bought it on the spot! And if the car was transported for the Sebring race, then how could it be a for the Daytona event King car? The story has more holes than Swiss cheese! What bothers me, is in the book about the claimed Mule car, they are so desperate to validate, they throw this into that cars story, to attempt creditability on both. PS should have taken the frame Vin pictures, when the chassis was blue!!!!!! And then they go on an change the whole story on the Riverside Performance Car comparison article! Oh they had the 4th King car out for seat belt/harness and aluminum head testing (could have done that in Detroit). Ya I am sure DeAnza and Harry Mann would conduct that at Riverside to Chevrolet’s specifications. And this other Riverside thing coincidently was happening, and Zora and Elfi’s charm made them want to include suddenly an American Car in this all European car article thing they were doing. OK then explain the Shelby Cobra! By then they were not even considered AC cars anymore! No these cars were invited! It just didn’t happen by luck! June 11, 1966 is a long time after the 1966 Daytona and Sebring Race! This super late date, kind of messes with the concept of the Four Kings (Special built 4 cars to dominate the Racing World (Aluminum Head testing way after the World Premiere debut races), but they don’t do anything public with it, except this aluminum head test. Ya! But it becomes a great player in the story, because of Steve McQueen! It is getting thick! PS Steve McQueen the Road Tester after having the finer points of this car described to him by Zora, in the article says the “Turbocharged Corvette!!!!!!!!” Steve thought this Corvette was Turbo charged, because of the Turbo-Jet stickers. I guess Zora explaining it, McQueen must be a dunce (low IQ?)! I love the factory secret blue bow tie sticker! Damn that is so special, I am suprised McQueen took it off the car with an Xacto blade, after getting it from Harry Mann! Damn I wonder what happened to the Pedro car secret blue sticker? My favorite part from the Author after the car supposively delivers to Chinetti, rides on transports, and only a few weeks passes after Sebring, Whims Car burns (the Whim record in the white car will prove that wrong), that Yenko knows where there is a replacement, setting still on the very same Dealership lot, MacGrotty Chevrolet Flushing NY. I assume they have a Special Order return policy! Good thing, as it seems like it never left! Chinetti was probably able to cancel the financing he badly needed!
Top row of the transport are 2/10 1967 275 GTB/4 NART Spyders (one sold at Monterey a few years back for 27 million). The car on the bottom is one of three of the 4 liter 1964 GTO Series 2 cars. That is probably worth more than the NART Spyders in the modern.
Chinetti’s Headquarters circa 1966
He was even struggling back in the late 1950s. Many second hand cars pictured
1967 Daytona line up, to combat the Ford GT-40s
Still struggling into the 1970s
The impoverished dealership immortalized in painting
Chinetti’s 1969 Countryside lot. Nice two 312Ps, 206 Dino, New Daytona, but the race version, 250LM, etc
1966 Sebring last minute car (365 P2). A 4 liter upgrade combined with the latest Drago designed aero body! Thank God Chinetti owned his own transport airplane, and didn’t have to go UPS.
As a sideline project, I am getting closer to knowing everything Yenko did during this period from the Grady team days to his last race. I found the very last race car he drove in competition (non-corvette) photo. I do need to catalog his race appearances.
I decided not to post the race car competition histories, as that takes a lot of time, and I am not interested in improving the investor portfolio's of current Ownerships. Some cars like the Whim car's (plural), I am doing that naturally to unlock the secrets of the whole story.
I also have been adding my own little aggravating notes in with these cars, as that is just my process, how I do it. I will make crap comments, so best to remember where I left off, and what was bothering me. I am good at that!
Some interesting side notes-- I still have yet to settle on the Mike Summers #45 Best Photo car, having an IK or IT block. I tend to think now it was IT. On a side note, looking up at the race wins claimed, I am not liking what I see. I will be checking to see what it's racing history actually was. I see Riverside, so I will start there. I am a little rusty on some histories, had them memorized in the past, but too many years ago. I will have to refresh on Rex Ramsey and Doug Hoopers early 1966 cars. Where they got them precisely (no guessing!). Summers Yenko supplied car won Riverside, interesting. I never locked onto that before.
I think the two CEC engines were used for the Penske Team or if that lost Yenko car thing can ever be clarified, one might have went there. I wrote extensively on the Traco, and track happenings during that weekend (some of that actually came from Frank Travers of Traco himself). The engine that went to Traco was loose assembled, nothing torqued, just screwed together to make the trip. Therefore one CEC assembled engine could have been in the Penske car at pickup, and then other CEC assembled engine into the Yenko. Thus Traco might have gotten raw parts (loosely screwed together), as that is what they did. They spec everything, decide on the torques, they make changes to clearances, they may machine something, debur, radius, balance and blueprint. This was going to be the race engine, so I am sure (as I have had them do work for me), it was totally gone thru, and then assembled. If they would have received a totally bolted together engine, then they normally take it apart anyways, so why bother!!!!!! The only guy I have ever met that could be taking spec measurements with dial indicators, and calipers, etc., CCing heads, checking clearances, and talk at the same time, telling you all about the 1950s Indy car races.
Last edited by TCracingCA; 08-26-2019 at 03:32 PM.
I above started adding in my post, my Book Review on the #58053 Book.
ya!
Chapter 5- another favorite, the early T-Top retention method! No!!!!! Zora was planning on driving the damn thing at high speeds, and the tops were coming off, so he pop riveted those T-Tops on. Easier than going to get another car set up, that wasn’t a T-Top car.
And we just have to talk about the copper plated connecting rods please!!!!! Us racers types just can’t give that a pass! Oh please!!!!
And and and the Holley choke!!!!!!!!! Please, let’s talk about that from this book! Ever hear of mechanical secondaries??? Holley put the chokes on the other side!!!!!
In this whole book, did they forget about the 1967 L88 Engine Prototype test car????
Pssssssst! Guys you forgot the crossflow drilled special prep crankshaft!
I never did get to the end, due to falling asleep trying to read the zero frame Chapter! Instructions from CEC, find one darn good frame, can’t anyone in this friggen Union, friggen weld straight! I know a guy in Huntington Park, CA who did accident damage and could have gotten a crashed car to zero! I saw a Gas Monkey episode doing that to an F-40 Ferrari.
#1- 194377-00-IT-EX. 702 Goodwood Green Coupe Prototype (Rathman Chevrolet Melbourne FL) build without J-56. Towers added J-56 in the 1970s! As Rathman handled the tradition of Astronauts getting Corvettes, it is claimed this car was gifted to that Dealer! I don’t think we had made it to the moon yet! I am pissed off that Towers didn’t get this car into some of the recent Astronaut movies. Write it into the script!
Guys guys guys, book author guy!!! This car!!!!
Last edited by TCracingCA; 09-17-2019 at 07:34 PM.
I know that the one story (Corvette Fever?) that I read on Tower's green coupe did NOT recite a VIN or any Trim Tag data. Does he claim that it does NOT have such? I realize that he also claims to have Betty Skelton Daytona Beach car but will not release the VIN or that car either.
I know that the one story (Corvette Fever?) that I read on Tower's green coupe did NOT recite a VIN or any Trim Tag data. Does he claim that it does NOT have such? I realize that he also claims to have Betty Skelton Daytona Beach car but will not release the VIN or that car either.
All of the 50 articles and Hardbound book I have on this car, I don’t recall a Vin ever! The CEC/Prototype tag or whatever we can call it, is shown! I will try to post that up!
Guys I took the tutorial on picture posting and passed with a C+ grade. I can continue posting pictures!
This Towers guy I like!!! Met him way back briefly! He has very cool tastes! I have pictures of his garages, in some of those articles!
I personally don’t know how much L88 was in this L88. So they pick a Mule, give it some ID to track, and to have something to put on the paperwork! So they are testing L88 engine for production mind me, not racing. The Mule was the L88 engine, and the Penske car etc for racing. The Tower’s car, I don’t think was tasked to get race tortured. They were more after the street manners! The J-56 was ill mannered for street operation, I have like 3-5 set ups of J-56 package parts, so I would know! So I believe from seeing Towers—— Parts wanted ad, as he was restoring this car, wanted J-56 parts, so I personally don’t think it had them, I don’t think they wanted them on the car for real World driving! So that makes me wonder about the totality of the special parts. Naturally the brute engine so would guess was a given, to add the M22. I heard the install of this cars M22 wasnt done the same as Production car M22s of 1966 vintage! But don’t know the nuisances of M22 installs! I have articles on that, that just put me to sleep!
Last edited by TCracingCA; 08-24-2019 at 01:59 PM.
Also let me reemphasize that this work, is a Corvette enthusiasts best attempt at identifying all of these cars! I run no Corvette business or investor related business! I derive zero dollars, from sharing! I don’t hang in the Secret Circle! I just read stuff, literally had a Corvette outside our house since being born! One of our C1 drag Cars was sold to Ron Cassile (L88 guy #92 car former Owner). One C2 car is of ours is pictured in the 1960s JD Catalog, etc etc. and I am probably best known for trying to keep my dying Father entertained, posting up stories, pictures of his C3 (Dana Chevrolet car with the J-56 Small block dealership modified, and GRA club car) before he finally passed! I like history! Just trying to help the story! Get the stories to the point, of better accuracy!
On the 1967 L88s I list them oldest to newest! I will eventually attempt that as I get further along with the 1966 HD cars.
PS I am open to more car shares.
I plan to put up like a bunch of L88 clone cars, that I like. Some are like old friends now! I see them get an article or picture.
Last edited by TCracingCA; 08-24-2019 at 11:00 PM.
Thanks I spent the last hour, adding some more pictures (Washburn Bonneville HD car, some more McQueen pictures and data, commentary, and added the Doug Hooper car!
08-22-2019, 01:41 PM
1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Registry Work
This is new and could replace one on the list, but I believe another racer I have my eye on, could replace a known car on the list and there is another Canadian car that I have been thinking of as a possible real car, and one from Puerto Rico is thought by many to be a real one, listed with the Race car Regustry.
Did he mess up?
