Produced on December 11, 1968, and delivered new to Bard Chevrolet in Newburgh, New York, this 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe known as “Automatically Yours” is one of only 216 L88s produced from 1967 through 1969 and one of just 17 equipped with the optional M40 heavy-duty 400 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Deceptively rated at 430 HP yet capable of well over 550 HP, the L88 engine was the centerpiece of a comprehensive performance package designed for the purpose of dominating the competition in SCCA and FIA racing. Opting for the automatic transmission in place of the standard road racing-purposed M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed manual gearbox made the L88 Corvette the weapon of choice for Bard Chevrolet’s service manager Ron Laubenheimer, who drag raced the car when new. Body-off restored by the Naber Brothers in Houston, Texas, it has won both Bloomington Gold Certification with a remarkable 99.5% score and multiple NCRS Flight Awards. The car was previously owned by businessman and philanthropist John Moore of the San Diego Padres and was donated, along with 26 exceptional automobiles, which included 13 1953 Corvettes as well as CERV II (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) and two Ferrari N.A.R.T. Spyders, to the Scripps Research Institute to benefit the Institute for Childhood and Neglected Diseases. The Scripps Institute reportedly sold the Corvette several years ago at the Christie’s Auction at La Jolla, California. In addition to Bard Chevrolet, Laubenheimer and Moore, this L88’s previous owners include such luminaries as John Leonard of Georgia, Ken Heckart of Pennsylvania, Paul Jones, Dana Mecum, Mike Vietro, Glen Konkle, Chuck Ungurean and Terry Michaelis, who for 20 years has cared for the car as part of his renowned ProTeam Personal Reserve Collection. More recently, the car was invited for a special exhibit entitled “Greatest Generations-Corvette-The Evolution of America’s Sports Car” at the Gilmore Car Museum, aka “North America’s Largest Auto Museum” in Hickory Corners, Michigan. Purpose-built for world-beating performance and extraordinarily rare, this well-known 1969 L88 coupe has it all: matching numbers engine and transmission, 3.70:1 Positraction differential, aluminum heads, K66 transistor ignition, J56 heavy-duty SS disc brakes and F41 special heavy-duty suspension. Expertly refinished in the original Riverside Gold with a black interior, its few factory options include tinted glass, headrests, shoulder harnesses, radio delete and F70-15 red-stripe tires on Rally wheels. This exceedingly rare L88 automatic coupe is offered with extensive documentation that includes NCRS-validated GM internal paperwork, Bloomington Gold and NCRS judging sheets, NCRS Confirmation of Existence of Judging Awards, the owner’s manual, sales brochure and owner history, including recent email correspondence and period race photos from Bard Chevrolet’s then-service manager Ron Laubenheimer. Beautifully preserved and presenting with most all factory-correct-type components, including the spare, jack, jack tools, T-Top bags, F41 shocks, seat belts, washer system, smog system, shifter, air cleaner and T-3 headlights, “Automatically Yours” is a breathtaking example of one of the most sought-after models in Corvette history.
