A piece of American motorsport history with ties to Hollywood royalty is now up for grabs. The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 convertible, one of only three built for James Garner’s American International Racing (AIR) team, is being offered for sale on dealer consignment with decades of provenance, vintage racing credentials, and its original AIR-stamped engine block.
Originally ordered through General Motors’ COPO system and delivered to Fred Gledhill Chevrolet, this L88 Corvette was driven from St. Louis to California by Dick Guldstrand and prepped for competition at his Culver City shop. The car debuted at the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona, where it shared the class front row and completed the endurance race under the hands of Guldstrand and Ed Leslie before succumbing to differential failure.
Though it was later sold and campaigned independently at Riverside Raceway and SCCA events, its racing DNA remained unbroken. It underwent extensive modifications over the years, including a period-correct replacement 454ci LS7 big-block V8 and a “rock crusher” M22 four-speed manual transmission. The current 3.90:1 Positraction rear end, side-pipe exhaust, and roll bar add to the authentic race-ready spec.
Cosmetically, the Corvette has been returned to its AIR roots, finished in its original Le Mans Blue with the distinctive red and white striping used during its Daytona appearance. Its original engine block, stamped “AIR 427.003” and bearing a Traco logo, is included in the sale—an artifact from one of the most storied Corvettes to hit the track.
With its celebrity ownership, racing pedigree, and vintage livery, this L88 represents a rare opportunity to own a tangible link to Corvette and endurance racing lore.
This historic Corvette is being sold by Corvette Mike of Anaheim. Visit their website to see more great Corvettes for sale
