A 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 prepared by Race Engineering & Development and entered by Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team is one of the early consignments that have so far been confirmed for RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale later this year.
Built as the successor to the RED team’s ‘Rebel Corvette’, the car was constructed in 1972 to meet FIA regulations after the team’s earlier machine proved ineligible for Le Mans. Using a crashed 1968 roadster as a base, the team created an entirely new competition car around a seam-welded chassis, race-prepared suspension and a Chevrolet L88 V8 engine. The engine was detuned for durability, prioritising endurance over outright power.
Its entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans came only after intervention from Chinetti, who agreed to field the car under NART colours. Driven by Dave Heinz and Bob Johnson, the Corvette started near the back of the field but climbed steadily through the order, overcoming accident damage, fuel system issues and difficult weather conditions to finish 15th overall. More significantly, it secured victory in the Group 4 GT Special over 5000cc class, becoming the fourth Corvette to ever complete the race.
The car’s competition career continued in the United States, most notably with a third overall finish at the 1973 24 Hours of Daytona – then the highest result achieved by a Corvette in international endurance racing. It also competed at the 12 Hours of Sebring that year, running strongly before retiring, and remained active through the 1973 and 1974 IMSA seasons, where it continued to demonstrate the underlying pace and durability that had defined its Le Mans performance.
Restored in recent years by Corvette specialist Kevin Mackay to its 1972 Le Mans configuration, the car now presents in its distinctive NART livery, complete with period-correct detailing that reflects its improvised origins. That ingenuity remains central to its appeal, from its makeshift components to the resourcefulness shown during its Le Mans campaign.
Its subsequent life has included appearances at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Bloomington Gold and the National Corvette Museum, where it has been on display since March 2025. It will also feature in the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion this year, marking 70 years of the Corvette.
The car will be offered as part of RM Sotheby’s auction during Monterey Car Week in August. See the full listing here.
