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In 1967, the race-oriented L-88 engined reached RPO (Regular Production Order). Development for this powerplant had begun during 1962 by Chevrolet's chief Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov and field-tested as the 'Heavy-Duty 427' engine fitted in Roger Penske's Sunoco-sponsored Corvette which was driven to victory at the 1966 Daytona 24 Hour race. In 1968, the L-88 earned a GT-class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Jerry Thompson and Tony De Lorenzo was very successful in American SCCA racing with the L-88 and won the A/Production title for 1969.
Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team (N.A.R.T.) won its class at LeMans in 1972 with an L-88 Corvette.
In total, just 216 examples of the L-88 Corvettes were built during the model's three-year production run.
This particular Corvette was built by Fred Kepler in 1972 from an original L-71 'Tri-Power' 427 car to race in FIA, IMSA, and SCCA Trans Am and A/Production. The car was prepared to full L-88 specification with the 427 engine offering 650 horsepower and mated to an M-22 'Rock Crusher' four-speed engine, with sponsorship by VelveTouch.
The car contested both SCCA Trans Am and IMSA events wearing numbers 26 and 36 respectively with co-drivers Bob Sharp and John Orr. This Corvette placed 2nd in GTO and 4th Overall at the Bryan IMSA three-hour race in September of 1972. In November of that year, this Corvette finished 5th in GTO and 10th Overall at the season finale IMSA Daytona 250.
In 1973, the Corvette continued to expand its credentials iwht a 10th place finish in the GT Class at the Watkins Glen six-hour FIA race. During the 1973 and 1974 seasons, the car also competed in SCCA Trans-Am at Watkins Glen.
Mr. Fred Kepler won the New York Region SCCA A/Production Championship in 1973 and was invited to compete at the elite-level American Road Race of Champions (AARC) at Road America. However, after leading for the first three laps, the Corvette was classified DNF with brake failure.
In 1974, Fred Kepler sold the Corvette to Tom Rynone who continued to campaign the car in SCCA A/Production, Trans Am and IMSA races. Co-drivers with Mr. Rynone included Neil and Michael Wiernicki, Mike Oleyar, and David Kicak.
The Corvette was eventually retired from racing following an accident at the FIA July 12, 1981 Watkins Glen 6-Hour. During 2000, Mr. Rynone sold the Corvette to the current owner, who had it totally restored with the frame off to its 1972/73 livery and maintaining many of the suspension components and other details from the early 1970s.
After the restoration was completed, the Corvette returned to the track at the invitational 2010 Rolex Monterey Historic Races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with the owner's son finishing 2nd to the fastest Porsche 935. At Sonoma, he took pole position and won its class against the same 935. At the 2011 Monterey Historics, this Corvette was awarded a Monterey Trophy for performance and historic presentation.
Currently, this Corvette is a restored period racing example powered by a proper L-88 427 V-8 offering 650 horsepower. The body, interior, paint, and lettering are all consistent with its active days of competition. It is listed in the Registry of Corvette racecars.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017
Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team (N.A.R.T.) won its class at LeMans in 1972 with an L-88 Corvette.
In total, just 216 examples of the L-88 Corvettes were built during the model's three-year production run.
This particular Corvette was built by Fred Kepler in 1972 from an original L-71 'Tri-Power' 427 car to race in FIA, IMSA, and SCCA Trans Am and A/Production. The car was prepared to full L-88 specification with the 427 engine offering 650 horsepower and mated to an M-22 'Rock Crusher' four-speed engine, with sponsorship by VelveTouch.
The car contested both SCCA Trans Am and IMSA events wearing numbers 26 and 36 respectively with co-drivers Bob Sharp and John Orr. This Corvette placed 2nd in GTO and 4th Overall at the Bryan IMSA three-hour race in September of 1972. In November of that year, this Corvette finished 5th in GTO and 10th Overall at the season finale IMSA Daytona 250.
In 1973, the Corvette continued to expand its credentials iwht a 10th place finish in the GT Class at the Watkins Glen six-hour FIA race. During the 1973 and 1974 seasons, the car also competed in SCCA Trans-Am at Watkins Glen.
Mr. Fred Kepler won the New York Region SCCA A/Production Championship in 1973 and was invited to compete at the elite-level American Road Race of Champions (AARC) at Road America. However, after leading for the first three laps, the Corvette was classified DNF with brake failure.
In 1974, Fred Kepler sold the Corvette to Tom Rynone who continued to campaign the car in SCCA A/Production, Trans Am and IMSA races. Co-drivers with Mr. Rynone included Neil and Michael Wiernicki, Mike Oleyar, and David Kicak.
The Corvette was eventually retired from racing following an accident at the FIA July 12, 1981 Watkins Glen 6-Hour. During 2000, Mr. Rynone sold the Corvette to the current owner, who had it totally restored with the frame off to its 1972/73 livery and maintaining many of the suspension components and other details from the early 1970s.
After the restoration was completed, the Corvette returned to the track at the invitational 2010 Rolex Monterey Historic Races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with the owner's son finishing 2nd to the fastest Porsche 935. At Sonoma, he took pole position and won its class against the same 935. At the 2011 Monterey Historics, this Corvette was awarded a Monterey Trophy for performance and historic presentation.
Currently, this Corvette is a restored period racing example powered by a proper L-88 427 V-8 offering 650 horsepower. The body, interior, paint, and lettering are all consistent with its active days of competition. It is listed in the Registry of Corvette racecars.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017
2017 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Pacific Grove Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $300,000-USD $400,000
Lot was not sold
1973 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Chevrolet Corvette C3
(Data based on Model Year 1973 sales)
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1Z67J3S420688 Sold for USD$156,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#: 1Z37J3S431008 Sold for USD$33,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 454 LS4 CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1Z67Z3S403599 Sold for USD$41,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#: 1z67j3s400030 Sold for USD$26,400 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE Chassis#: 1Z37Z3S433192 Sold for USD$30,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE SPEEDVETTE Chassis#: 1Z67J3S420688 Sold for USD$183,700 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z37j3s407895 Sold for USD$13,200 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z37j3s405945 Sold for USD$16,500 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z37j3s403542 Sold for USD$26,400 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | |
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE L82 Chassis#: 1Z37T3S412431 Sold for USD$15,400 2023 Barrett-Jackson : New Orleans | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#: 1z67z3s408930 Sold for USD$34,100 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023 | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#: 1z67t3s410381 Sold for USD$28,050 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023 | |
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1Z67J3S409998 Sold for USD$33,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1Z67J3S400030 Sold for USD$33,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z37j3s406756 Sold for USD$19,800 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible Chassis#: 1z67j3s407060 Sold for USD$39,600 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z37j3s404176 Sold for USD$24,750 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Sold for USD$16,250 2023 Spring Carlisle | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z37j3s430771 Sold for USD$19,800 2023 Mecum : Houston | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z37z3s417505 Sold for USD$30,800 2023 Mecum : Houston |
Chevrolet Corvette C3s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1973 Chevrolet Corvette C3's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973 Chevrolet Corvette coupe | 1z37t3s423789 | 2024 Mecum : Glendale | $20,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible | 1z67z3s423252 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $40,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1z37j3s404499 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $19,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1z37z3s410394 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $32,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible | 1z67j3s419088 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $27,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1z37j3s403542 | 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | $19,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1z37t3s415642 | 2023 Mecum : Dallas | $15,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1z37z3s421153 | 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023 | $70,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible | 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | $60,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette | 1Z37Z3S421948 | 2022 GAA : November 2022 | $22,000 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible | 2022 Mecum : Chattanooga | $60,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 2022 Mecum : Chicago | $29,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray | 1Z37J3S411995 | 2022 GAA : July 2022 | $16,500 | ||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible | 2022 Mecum Indy | $52,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 2022 Mecum Indy | $45,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee | $25,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee | $18,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette | 2021 Fall Carlisle Auction | ||||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette | 2021 GAA : July 2021 | $52,500 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | $19,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Motion Manta Ray GT | 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | $85,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 | |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | $23,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible | 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee | $23,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible | 2019 Collector Car Productions The Manitoba No Reserve Collection | $22,500 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 2019 Mecum : Harrisburg | $28,000 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 2019 Mecum : Harrisburg | $11,500 | |||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette | 2019 Spring Carlisle Auction | ||||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette | 2019 Spring Carlisle Auction | ||||
1973 Chevrolet Corvette | 2019 Spring Carlisle Auction | ||||
1973 CHEVROLET CORVETTE | 2019 Leake OKC 2019 | $15,000 |
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1993 MITSUBISHI 3000GT VR4 TURBO Chassis#:JA3BN74K7PY020318 Sold for $23,100 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
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1929 Ford Model A Chassis#:a3856122 Sold for $23,100 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
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2024 Triumph T120 Bonneville Custom Elvis Presley Tribute Chassis#:SMTD40HL1RTBN2423 Sold for $23,000 2024 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | |
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1974 CHEVROLET NOVA CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#:1Y27K4L195139 Sold for $23,100 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1999 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA Chassis#:WP0AA2992XS621754 Sold for $23,100 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ |
1973 Chevrolet Corvette C3
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