Most fans of the muscle car era remember the third-generation Corvette as a car that didn't quite qualify as a muscle car and that was generally underpowered in relation to its aggressive exterior styling. But there are a few little-known exceptions to the C3's disappointing engine options, including the ultra-rare L88 package that carried over from the outgoing second-gen Corvette in 1967. And now, a video has popped up on YouTube demonstrating just how underrated the L88 Corvette actually was for its time.
How Fast Is Too Fast?
As documented by CorvSport, the L88 began as a limited-edition package on the C2 Corvette spearheaded by Zora Arkus-Duntov, who was directing GM’s performance division at the time and believed that the Corvette needed more high-power options in the lineup. Officially, the L88 produced 435 horsepower from the factory—in real life, the car produced somewhere between 540 and 580 horses, good enough for 11-second quarter-mile times and an appearance at Le Mans, where Dick Guldstrand took the car to a new record speed on the Mulsanne straight at 171.5 miles per hour.
When the C3 hit the market in 1968, the L88 package remained on offer, though it now produced a claimed 430 horsepower, placing it below the L71 and L89 packages despite its clear superiority.
The Why
General Motors billed the L88 so low because it didn't want customers clamoring to purchase such a radical, track-specific vehicle. Most of the cars were purchased by racing teams. These days, an L88 can easily eclipse the seven-figure mark at auction, so it's all the more awesome to watch one hit the drag strip to take on other stock muscle cars—at 1970 Camaro Z28, a Chevelle SS396, and an Oldsmobile 442 W30 don't stand a chance against this beast. Turn the volume up to 11 to get the full benefits of the video.
Sources: Youtube, Corvsport