Rare 1969 Big-Block L89 Corvette Survives Fire, For Sale
Skeleton for sale may be fire-damaged, but the opportunity to own one-of-only-390 1969 L89 Corvette models still stands.
In 1969, the year man landed on the moon, Chevrolet’s St. Louis factory produced a limited number of Corvettes with L89 “big block” engines. Only 390, to be specific. That’s why finding a 1969 L89 Corvette convertible on eBay, listed by seller n2corvettes, is so rare.
At first glance of the photos, you can see the item for sale is a skeleton on wheels. A heavy fire left the car in poor condition. However, as the 1969 sales brochure claimed, there’s no mistaking a Corvette for anything but a Corvette. While the car on eBay doesn’t look like much, the item description makes it clear this Corvette’s L89 engine survived—one of 390 ever made.
The L89 is considered the most balanced of the 1969 Corvette engines, in large part because of the pair of aluminum heads engineered to be lightweight and high flow. Rated at 435 horsepower, the engine is regarded as one of the fastest of all third generation Corvettes. The L89 produces slightly more power than other third generation engines, since its exhaust valves are 0.12 inches larger. It also weighs 75 pounds less.
The L89 engine is what makes the eBay 1969 Corvette listing—complete with a photo of the LP engine code—so intriguing. It would be quite the undertaking to restore this 1969 Corvette to its pre-blaze glory. But given that the big block is part of the package, the opportunity to acquire it for $15,800 may be the right move for certain Corvette enthusiasts.
The seller poses a couple questions that leave us curious: How many 1969 L89 convertible Corvettes are left? And of those left, how many have the original L89 big block engine? For now, we know this one is available for purchase and pickup in High Ridge, Missouri.
Photos: eBay