VIN 194678S405186

Car Year:	1968
Car's approximate birthday:	November 24, 1967
Owner:	Bob Smithers
Country:	United States
Purchase date:	01/01/1970
Status:	Current Owner
State:	Race Car
Exterior:	976 LeMans Blue	(16.53%)
Interior:	Other Color
Softtop:	Other Color
Wheels:	Other Color
Delivery Dealer Zone:	Unknown
Delivery Dealer Code:	Unknown
Options:	RPO	Option	Percentage Sold [%]	Sales Price [$]
	19467	Base Corvette Convertible (BB 430hp)	65.22%	4,320.00
	L88	427ci, 430hp Engine	0.28%	947.90
	M22	4-Speed Manual Transmission, close ratio, heavy duty	0.28%	263.30
	Total		0.000000000240334% (1 Cars)	5,531.20
Factory job nr.:	Unknown
Export Car:	Non Export Car
Car history:
Race Numbers: # 46, 59, 58 Ownership: James Garner; Bob Wingate; Bob Smithers; Bob Ryan; Charlie Slover; Bob Radke. Sponsors: Goodyear, American International Racing (AIR) Drivers: Bob Wingate; Bob Smithers; Bob Ryan; Steve Anderson Status: Restoration is nearing completion Original Color: LeMans Blue(AIR livery) Engine: RPO L88. Three factory-built L-88 cars left the St. Louis plant for delivery to James Garner's American International Racing (AIR) team in November of 1967. These three LeMans Blue Sting Ray convertibles were pre-production, or COPO, models featuring the new L-88 engine (first generation heads) which would not be available to the public until April 22 of 1968. These three cars were part of GM's field test program, whereby specially prepared cars were provided to very special customers for real-world testing. Driveline: M22 Condition: Restoration is 99% complete URL: See Bob Radke's web site at: www.airl88.com Unique Characteristics: These three L-88's (# 45 VIN 194678S405120, # 44 VIN 194678S405175, and promotional car VIN #194678S405186) were ordered through Gledhill Chevrolet in Harbor City (CA), with the help of Bob Wingate. The cars were actually ordered in Herb Caplan?s name. Caplan was a well-known west coast SCCA National Champion with many wins under his belt. Dick Guldstrand also had connections at Chevrolet that insured these cars would get special attention, but in fact, Caplan had fronted the money before the sponsor funds arrived. One of the three cars was intended to be used as a promotional car and was eventually taken to Daytona as a parts car (but never cannibalized). In fact, this car was titled in the state of California. The other two cars were race-prepped for endurance racing. The cars were prepared at the AIR headquaarters, just two doors down from Guldstand's new shop GULDSTRAND ENGINEERING, in Culver City. After the Daytona race the cars were quickly rebuilt in anticipation of Sebring. However, they never made it (Corvette News, Vol 11 No 5). The cars were never to see another race under AIR. Sebring was run with the Lola T70 Mk II coupes. Notes/Race History: The promotional car was conscripted into road racing duty by Bob Wingate, out of San Dimas (CA). Using one of Clippinger's promotional event as the come-on, Wingate sold the car to Bob Smithers who did some slalom and street racing with the car. Unfortunately, he also blew the engine on this car. In 1972 it was sold to Bob Ryan, who raced it in SCCA Solo 1 and some club racing. Ryan won the Cal Club regionals in A/P in 1976 and was Southern Pacific Division National Champion two years in a row... 1977 and 1978. Ryan's best year was 1977. He won nearly all the National races that he finished in 1977 and 78. His first head-to-head meeting with Steve Anderson was at the 1977 National at Riverside. They would meet again at Road Atlanta in October where Anderson (#45) would dominate. Ryan also ran a Trans-Am event in Canada at Westwood (BC). The final race was also an SCCA Trans-Am race at Portland (OR) in 1978. Here he wrecked the car. Charlie Slover acquired the car with the intention of racing it in IMSA GT-1. But this never happened. The car was subsequently acquired by Bob Radke of Los Angeles (CA)and is under restoration. February 27, 2009.
For Sale:	No
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