MotorTrend Picks Mike’s L89 as One of the Best Classics at The Quail 2024
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Photo Credits: Mike Floyd/MotorTrend
Corvette Mike Vietro, a seasoned expert with over 40 years in buying and selling Corvettes, has long been a key figure in the Corvette community. His Southern California shop is renowned for offering original, low-mileage Corvettes, making it a destination for enthusiasts and collectors alike. Among his most prized acquisitions is a rare 1967 Marina Blue Corvette Coupe with the L89 option, one of only 16 ever built. After a 30-year pursuit, Mike finally became the car’s owner in 2023.
The Corvette’s first owner, Don Stankovsky of Berkeley, California, ordered the L89 option, which added aluminum cylinder heads to the already powerful L71 427/435 HP V-8 engine. Often dubbed “the L88 for the streets,” the L89 package allowed for a more driver-friendly setup compared to the L88, as it could include a heater and radio. The aluminum heads reduced the engine’s weight by 75 pounds, improving handling by lowering the front-end load. While GM rated both the L71 and L89 engines at 435 horsepower, the L89’s enhanced airflow likely pushed its true output closer to 500 horsepower.
In addition to the L89, Don selected the K19 smog equipment, mandatory in California, as well as the F41 suspension, the M21 close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission, N14 side mount exhaust system, K66 transistor ignition, and J50 Power Brakes. These performance upgrades added $805.75 to the car’s price, bringing the total cost significantly above the 1967 Corvette Coupe’s base price of $4,388.75.
Don ordered the car through Cochran & Celli Chevrolet in Oakland, and it was assembled on the final day of 1967 Corvette production. Only two Corvettes were equipped with both the L89 and K19 options; the other, a green coupe, has not been seen in decades.
After passing through several prominent owners, the car was restored by the Nabers brothers in Houston and eventually ended up with Michigan collector Bob Rowe. In 1994, Houston collector Larry Martin acquired the car, and it was at this time that Corvette Mike became aware of its existence. After 30 years of pursuit, Mike finally acquired the L89 in 2023, bringing it home to California with just 38,000 miles on the odometer.
The Corvette came with extensive documentation, including its original tank sticker, a Protect-o-Plate, and the original dealer invoice. The car had also earned a 99.27% score at the NCRS Cypress Gardens meet in 1989 and appeared twice in the Bloomington Gold Special Collection, underscoring its exceptional quality and condition.
Mike began his own judging campaign with the car, starting at the NCRS Lone Star Regional Meet in Frisco, Texas, where it scored 98.4. The next step was the NCRS Performance Verification Judging at the NCRS Las Vegas Regional in April 2024. This grueling two-hour test pushes vehicles to their limits, with only 1,685 Corvettes ever receiving the Performance Verification Award. Mike’s L89 passed with flying colors, earning a coveted yellow ribbon.
The final test for Mike and the L89 was at the NCRS National Convention 2024 in Hampton, Virginia, where the Corvette was judged on its exterior, interior, and mechanical conditions against the standards of a typical 1967 Corvette L89 as it would have appeared straight from the factory. The car scored an impressive 99.08 and was awarded the Duntov Mark of Excellence, a testament to its quality and the care it has received over the years.
After returning from Hampton, Mike displayed the award-winning L89 at The Quail Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week. The car was featured prominently on the lawn of the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, drawing admiration from automotive enthusiasts worldwide. MotorTrend writer Mike Floyd included the L89 in his article titled “The Most Mindblowing Classic Cars We Saw at Monterey Car Week,” praising it as one of the rarest and most desirable Corvettes ever produced.
Although the L89 is currently listed on CorvetteMike.com, it is marked as “Not For Sale,” indicating that Mike plans to enjoy his dream car for years to come.
Source:
CorvetteMike.com
