The last time one of these threads were started, the unrestored documented convertible failed to meet reserve...but still had a respectable bid.

So...how do you think this one will do? Read the description and comment on what is revealed...or more importantly, what is not even mentioned.

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...gn=FL0113_S172

 

Don't think I read anywhere that it had the orig. engine in it,could be wrong but since I'm not looking to buy an l-88 I'm not going to reread it.

 

You have to learn to "translate" these descriptions.

Apparently the biggest L-88 experts in the hobby have sprinkled holy water on this car and have determined that it came from the factory as an L-88. I believe that is all they attested to. Says nothing about the car today other than it was born as a factory L88.

They tell you it was a basket case when found, and the restoration was described like this:

"performed their magic" which means they transformed a basket case into a car that looks better than new. Pause for a moment and think about how that is accomplished...


The description continues:

original trim tag
original M22 4-speed


I believe those are the only 2 things (parts) that are described as "original"... They also use "original" in front of owner, which I find a little annoying because it makes me wonder how many owners have there been since 2008... not a big deal, but...

and of course the description starts with,
"Finding a genuine original Corvette L88 is always a Big Deal" which is a statement of fact, not a description of this car as a genuine original Corvette L88 but even if it was, they are simply stating that the car came from the factory originally as an L-88.

So based on that description, I don't know for sure, but I would guess that the car is made up largely of replacement if not restoration parts that were not on the car when it left the factory. Very nice, beautiful car, was born an L-88, but I am not sure what it is now, aside from worth a lot of money!


Reminds me of this:

This here is my grandfather's hammer.
My dad replaced the head.
I replaced the shaft.
This here is my grandfather's hammer.
(or was it an ax?)

 

There were plenty of pictures around when this car was 1st found. The car was a real mess. Of course now it looks perfect. All original? Numbers match?

 

I don't think I would have ordered a Red on Red vert as an L88 back in the day. And even if I had the cash today I would not have it. The combo does not work well and even less in a car (L88) that is made for going fast

 

Nice car but not the original motor.

 

All you naysayers should venture on over to pro team corvettes website. Read about the man who owned the car and his exploits with it. BS? Probably a little, more than likely a lot of truth in there too. The street raceing of the era was real, that's for sure. The information page on how the car arrived at pro team specifically states original engine and transmission.

 

what bothers me is that the car is claimed one owner. reading the ad show it was bought from the original owner in 2008, so who owns it now?.. the second owner.. it is a now 2 owner car. you would be the third owner if you bought it.

duh... how many L88's have their original motor? zero?

 

I would like to see the 'before' pictures!

 

Look, the car is documented. Go to pro teams website. http://www.proteam-corvette.com/Corv...N-WOW-Pre.html

 

Good point Joe, but 1 guy did own the car for 40 yrs, so I'd say it was a 1 owner as well.

According to proteam, they have at least 3 l88's with original engines.

 

I'm almost certain that this car has a numbers matching engine. Why would you guys suspect otherwise?

 

Could you help me out? I can't find the part about "original engine"

Going back to the auction description, which is the car in its current post-restoration state, they describe only the trim tag and the transmission as "original". That tells me that every other piece of that car could be a replacement piece. Even the frame. I don't know, and they haven't presented anything as original other than the car with that vin came off the assembly line as an L-88, and the restored car they are selling has the original trim tag and original transmission, which could be the case with vin stamp only, while the guts of the transmission might also be "restored" with non-original parts.

Granted, a great restoration of a car like that using parts that can pass for original (ie, OEM or parts from a different L88 or really well made reproductions) is an expensive proposition. The restoration could have cost over $100k. But I personally wouldn't pay the $700k+ I bet they are looking for.

 

the link in first post lists N11 exhaust, but why ?

-ALF out...

 

I agree...they do make a point of showing the transmission stampings, but not the engine stampings unless I'm missing something. It will be interesting to see what it sells for if it does sell. It has had a Nabers brothers restoration, has made Bloomington Gold and NCRS top flight (and all the hoo ha that goes with that) but going with the assumption that the motor is not original, will someone pay 600K for it, ie, what is a NOM L88 worth?

 

Maybe because its nowhere stated, unless I missed something.

 

What Mike is saying, and I agree, is that even if the car does not have it's original engine it almost certainly has an extremely accurate restoration engine which would include all the same numbers that the original engine had. This type of re-created, restoration, or .... if you want, "counterfeit" engine is also a numbers matching engine. Remember, "numbers matching" does not mean "original", in fact the way things have gone in the hobby it seems more often than not "numbers matching" means NOT original, or you had better ask that question separately.

 

Interesting....I am reading between the lines here, but what I am getting is that this may be a restamped block? So that now we have numbers matching........

How is this judged at NCRS and Bloomington?

Say it aint so Joe

 

You can count on it.

 

Found here..
http://www.proteam-corvette.com/Corv...W/NSN-WOW.html