Missing L88's???
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: WI
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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We're kidding, CudaKid. GM documentation does not exist for any VINs attached to options and the L-88 was an option.
You have a similar L-88 post regarding VINs. Is your interest in the L-88 cars, or do you think you've found something?
You have a similar L-88 post regarding VINs. Is your interest in the L-88 cars, or do you think you've found something?
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Belmar NJ
Sadly the jokes about more now than then are only funny to a point. The restorstion hobby has made making "tribute" or "clones" that can pass for the real thing easy. It doesn't take too much need for greed to sell what should be a $40k car for $250k.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Tolland CT
So far as fakes selling for original prices I'd say that's going to be true for any collectible be it a painting or a car. The high prices being paid for some originals will encourage counterfeiters. It's the responsibility of the buyer to be skeptical, have the car checked out very carefully when paying the huge sums some do for high performance, rare, originals. No guarantee, much like any other collectible.
I have no problems with the clones or tributes so long as they are presented as such.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Belmar NJ
Let's see, block restamping (with factory dies and fixtures), build sheets, protecto plates and dealer invoices are all a phone call and credit card away. Turn small block base cars into big blocks, and big blocks are big bucks. And it's not just L88's. Any "desirable" combo has more now than GM ever built (look at '67 427/435 cars). Sadly, it's also not unique to Corvettes. It's a lot harder to forge fine art.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Butler Pa
Let's see, block restamping (with factory dies and fixtures), build sheets, protecto plates and dealer invoices are all a phone call and credit card away. Turn small block base cars into big blocks, and big blocks are big bucks. And it's not just L88's. Any "desirable" combo has more now than GM ever built (look at '67 427/435 cars). Sadly, it's also not unique to Corvettes. It's a lot harder to forge fine art.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hey, it's a free country. If some rich dude wants to pay big bucks (or an apparent bargain price) for a supposed L88 that suddenly and mysteriously appears in a completely restored condition (unrestored cars are hard to fake) after being hidden out of sight for 43 years...more power to him. A fool and his money are soon parted.
That is where provenance comes into play. I would venture to say that virtually all of the 216 real cars that still exist have been verified and their ownership trails followed for a very long time. If I had that kind of money, that is the only kind of L88 that I would spend it on.
That is where provenance comes into play. I would venture to say that virtually all of the 216 real cars that still exist have been verified and their ownership trails followed for a very long time. If I had that kind of money, that is the only kind of L88 that I would spend it on.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: N'Awlins
Know a guy that bought '68 L-88 in early 70's quit driving it when OPEC gas prices kicked in (second owner.) Original paint, motor... sits in garage with boxes and stuff on top and all around. And he and his son are mechanics, says that's his retirement project!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
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From: Tolland CT
Let's see, block restamping (with factory dies and fixtures), build sheets, protecto plates and dealer invoices are all a phone call and credit card away. Turn small block base cars into big blocks, and big blocks are big bucks. And it's not just L88's. Any "desirable" combo has more now than GM ever built (look at '67 427/435 cars). Sadly, it's also not unique to Corvettes. It's a lot harder to forge fine art.
I'll go on to say clones or tributes have their place, making these cars affordable to buyers without deep pockets, who want to drive them, not collect and store away.
Like any other collectible, guns, paintings, cars, etc, if a buyer is paying a hefty premium for the item they had better pay an expert to look it over, be as sure as possible it's not a fake. Otherwise they take their chances and possibly get burned. If there's big money in fakes, people will produce them.
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Team Owner
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From: Western NY
The "jackass" who currently occupies our White House once made the mistake of saying that there are 57 states in America, when EVERYBODY knows it's actually 50.....
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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Burning Brakes
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Last edited by elle88; Mar 10, 2011 at 01:49 PM.