1968 l89

[Tuna Joe]

Here is a car I thought I’d share with the forum.
Picked this up off a used car lot on Venice Blvd. in LA a few weeks ago.
Got a call from my buddy Jonathan (runs the L89 Corvette registry) who told me about it.
The next morning I made a call to the used car dealer and told him I was interested. He asked for a $1000 CC deposit and that would hold the car for me and put me in a first position to buy it.
So I make the 1.5 hour drive into LA and take a look at it.
I crawled around the car for about an hour and decided to pass, just because I have several other projects and the idea of starting another one……..
I’m sure a lot of you can relate.
Plus the TI stuff was missing, as was the tri power setup.

I get home and after looking thru the NCRS judging manual I realize that most of what I was looking at is original to the car. Stuff like the radiator, shroud, interior, etc
I’m very unfamiliar with 68’s as 69’s are more of what I’m familiar with .

So I end up texting the dealer the following morning and we come to a deal.
I drive back into LA with my enclosed trailer and after recruiting a Corvette buddy to help.

[dykstra]

Congratulations!! Let’s see some pics!!

[Too Many Projects]

Congrats on the purchase, beautiful car !!

[Tuna Joe]

I love the 70’s vibe, but the car is going back to original.
The car has its original engine , trans, and rear.
Assembly line shocks, 40482 fuel pump, radio, dated T-top bags.
Original alternator, radiator, shroud.
Body appears to have never been hit….one re paint.
2 owner car.
The second owner bought it in 1970 and had it till his death recently.
Been stored for the last 20-25 years
Dennis the used car dealer somehow came across this car and bought it.

I’ve requested an NCRS shipping report and I’m really hoping it came from Harry Mann.

I have a perfectly dated set of carbs coming from Eric Jackson and have a March of 68 797 tri power manifold.
Have bought all the TI ignition stuff.
Had a BB hood in my inventory of parts. Btw, the hood on the car is an original L88 hood.

[Too Many Projects]

So you've had this for a while and have been collecting parts..
What is "original " ? Is the yellow original ?
I was looking at that L88 hood, should be a valuable asset.

[AnthonyS]

Hah! I've been to Dennis' shop! Very cool.

[markinnaples]

That's amazing. I'm guessing that the Used Car Dealer knew it was an L89?
Congrats, that's an epic purchase.

[Tuna Joe]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

So you've had this for a while and have been collecting parts..
What is "original " ? Is the yellow original ?
I was looking at that L88 hood, should be a valuable asset.

I’ve had the car for 2 weeks.
“Original” to me means installing the stuff that was on the car when new.
Tri power, TI ignition, original hood, date correct rims with trim rings and center caps, white stripe tires, original hardware, etc.

Eventually I’d like to do a re paint in the original Safari Yellow.

As far as collecting parts, I made a list of what I needed and was able to pretty much get what was needed in one trip from a fellow with a lot of corvette parts in LA.

Edit***
Too many projects asking about originality got me thinking again about the best way to approach a car like this.
I really struggle in terms of what way to go with a car like this. I love original cars, but sometimes I wonder if the best way to approach is to just clean the car up, get it running and leave it alone.
I wish I knew more about the history of the car.

[Tuna Joe]

Originally Posted by AnthonyS

Hah! I've been to Dennis' shop! Very cool.

He was a great guy and easy to work with. I guess he’s a pretty good musician. He did throw in a CD of his band playing but haven’t listened to it yet.

Originally Posted by markinnaples

That's amazing. I'm guessing that the Used Car Dealer knew it was an L89?
Congrats, that's an epic purchase.

Thank you.
Super excited to have it.
Apparently, when he bought it, he did not know. Only until he got it back to his lot and started looking at it did he realize what it was.

[Steve Shauger]

Congratulations great find! Keep us posted with the progress and updated pics.