|
Generation: C3 Year: 1969 VIN: NA Race Numbers: 57, 7, 90, 2 Ownership: Or Costanzo (1969 to 1971); Toye English (1971 to 1972); Alex Davidson (1973 to 1974); Dr. Charles West (1975 to 1991); Kevin Mackay (1991 to 2000); Larry Bowman (2000 to present). Sponsors: Goodyear; Tri-City Corvette Club (FL); Cibie Drivers: Or Costanzo, Dave Heinz, Bob Johnson, Don Yenko (1969 to 1971); Leldon Blackwell (1969); Or Costanzo/Dave Heinz/Bob Johnson (Marietta)and Don Yenko (1971-72) Bob McClure (1973); Alex Davidson (1973-74). Status: Restored for historic racing as the REBEL car by Kevin Mackay in 1993 Original Color: yellow Tires/Wheels: 15" Goodyear Engine: RPO L88 For 1969 (fall of 1968) new open chamber heads had been developed, primarily to help meet new emission requirements. To gain real-world experience with the new heads, GM’s engineers secretly released four of these new engines to selected racers (see story on the lightweight cars for listing of the recipients of the other three cars). These lightweight cars included the new L88, ZL-2 cold air induction hood, heavy duty clutch, smaller flywheel and a heavy duty cross-flow aluminum radiator. The K66 transistor iginition with pulse amplifier and a special coil improved ignition control. Driveline: The M22 rock crusher transmission was ordered for race purposes. A good choice for the gears was the G80 positraction with standard 3:36 gears. RPO J56 included the heavy duty brakes with semi-metallic linings and special proportioning valve. F41 suspension option included special front and rear springs and shock absorbers. Top: Removable hardtop Interior: RPO C48 deleted the heater-defroster and was mandatory with the L88. This option also included the deletion of all sound insulation, the radio, and rear cargo area carpet... hence the lightweight nomenclature. Condition: Restored as the "Rebel" # 57 car. URL: Unique Characteristics: The Distance Group package included FIA approved fixed dual headlights in lightweight brackets and pre-formed plexiglass covers. Large fender flares (not approved by SCCA) were available from GM. At one point in time, Chevy's engineers were working to have these parts shipped with each L88 as part of a Trunk Package, but this did not come to fruition. As an aside, Gib Hufstader reports that they were within an inch of having the documentation completed. Modifications: Notes/Race History: See Stories by Walt Thurn: SCRAPPY REMEMBERED, Corvette Corner Magazine, Vol 2, No 6, March 1977. THE ROAD TO LEMANS, Corvette Fever, June 1992. RACE FOR THE RECORD, Corvette Fever, Vol 15, No 2, February, 1993. REBEL REBORN, Corvette Fever, February 1995. This car is one of four delivered to selected racers with the new 1969 L88 open-chamber (second generation) heads. Or Costanzo was the first owner and he raced the car from 1969 through 1971. Leldon Blackwell, Bob Tent and Dana English prepped this car for the 1969 12 Hours of Sebring. With Toye English as team manager, drivers Or Costanzo and Dave Heinz finished 3rd in class, after breaking a crankshaft and being DNF'd. In 1970 this car ran in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. In 1971, Or Costanzo, Bob Johnson and Dave Heinz finished 6th overall and 2nd in class at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The team went on to win four of five IMSA events in 1971 and captured the first IMSA Championship. Mid-way through the 1971 season, Toye English bought the car and its parts from Or Costanzo. The new team was crewed by Dana English, Steve Leonard, and Warren Clapp. The car was repainted from its yellow and red livery to red with a Rebel paint scheme. Toye chose this style because the team was located in the south and they were competing against the Greenwood team from Michigan...running the Stars and Stripes livery. The new team's first race was the Six Hours of Watkins Glen (1971). Dave Heinz and Don Yenko brought the thundering L88 up from its 22nd start point to 6th overall and 2nd in GT, behind Greenwood. At the 1972 24 Hours of Daytona, Heinz and Johnson finished 8th overall and 1st in GT on the new Goodyear Racing Radial tires. Goodyear had become the team's primary sponsor and announced this win with a two-page spread in the Wall Street Journal. At the 1972 12 Hours of Sebring, Heinz qualified the Rebel 13th fastest and second in GT, behind the # 88 Rinzler Corvette (ex-Owens-Corning). Heinz passed the pole position Corvette on the first lap and led GT for the entire 12 hours, finishing 4th overall and 1st in GT. This record stood until Pratt & Miller finished foruth in 2003 (Greenwood had finished 3rd in 1973). The Rebel ran in two more races after Sebring...Mid-Ohio (DNF's) and Watkins Glen (DNF'd). It was sold to Alex Davidson at the end of the 1972 season. As noted by Walt Thurn, this car was also given the "Scrappy" nickname. Many parts were pirated for the new-build that was going to LeMans in June of 1972. This second car (# 4) replaced the first (Or Costanzo) car as the team's main car. After LeMans, the new-build was repainted back to a Rebel paint scheme and run for the next few years as the primary car (see story on # 4 RED). Despite its ignominious slide to obscurity, in 1972, the Rebel car was the # 1 production road racer in America. Registry ID Number: 145 View Original Size  Wayne Ellwood |