By Scotty Lachenauer – Images by the Author
“For years I had been trying to buy this certain 1968 Corvette. It had been living in a gas station on the corner of Lincoln Highway outside Philadelphia for years. Many others tried to buy it as well and failed. It disappeared for a while. Then, while I was attending a show in Carlisle, a friend called and told me the Vette was sitting outside the station with a For Sale sign on it. I couldn’t get there fast enough, so I sent my wife, Marnie, over to make a deal. Sometimes you just have to send in the blonde cutie to get the job done.”
That’s Mike Rusden of Ivyland, Pennsylvania, describing how he finally got his hands on this slick ’68 Corvette that he had his eyes on for decades. Mike has lived his life as a car-noisseur of sorts, always on the lookout for rides that stimulate his senses. “I’m always searching for cars that interest me, and they’re usually the muscular type,” Mike confesses. “My wife understands my disease and tries to keep it in check. But that doesn’t always work!”
When it comes to brands and models, Mike doesn’t show favoritism, as he’s owned rides from all the major players; however, vintage Corvettes are high on his list. He’s scored quite a few nice C1, C2, and C3 Vettes over the years, and like many people, those of the big-block variety are always on top of his wish list.
So, as you can guess, Mike was over the moon when he got the opportunity to make this one-owner muscle ride his own. Taking a quick look at the Chevy, it’s easy to see what makes it so desirable. It started life as an aluminum-head L89 tri-power 427ci car, now showing just 20,000 original miles on the odometer. That alone is remarkable, given that only 624 examples of the Corvette were produced that year. Add to that its racing pedigree, shown by the window full of Atco decals on the quarter-glass, and lastly, the slick period-perfect paint job from its racing days.
Mike uncovered records detailing the Corvette’s early racing history and its original owner. Shortly after being sold new at Potamkin Chevrolet, a prominent Chevy dealer in the greater Philadelphia area, the car quickly became a force in A/SP competition, making aggressive passes at several local quarter-mile dragstrips. In early 1968, just a few weeks after it was purchased, the car ran a low e.t.’s of 11.89 at 117 mph at Vargo Dragway in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. That was accomplished by just adding a pair of slicks, four-into-one header side pipes, and installing a set of 4.56 gears.
In 1974 the original owner noticed the Corvette not performing as it had previously, so he pulled the original L89 and installed a freshened 1969 L88 mill built by the world-famous Steve Kanuika Speed Shop in Concordville, Pennsylvania. Later, Bash Speed Shop in Philadelphia rebuilt the engine.
The engine was built to stock L88 specs with an original steel crank, forged aluminum pistons, forged rods, and original GM Winters aluminum heads by the Kanuika shop. Bash later added the 1967 aluminum factory tri-power intake along with the three original L89 two-barrel carburetors. The results were instantaneous. In 1975, the Corvette went onto become the New Jersey State Champion at Atco Raceway, running an elapsed time of 11.68 in the quarter-mile.
The Corvette’s stunning paintjob was done in 1973 by Barry Hackert Auto Body in Warminster, Pennsylvania, replacing its original 986 code Silverstone Silver skin with wild Deep Water Blue paint and flame graphics. The car originally came with a few creature comforts, including power windows, power brakes, tinted glass, an AM/FM radio, and a telescopic steering wheel. When the Corvette left the dealership, it wore a set of rally wheels that were quickly replaced with wide aluminum slot mags out back and American Racing Torq Thrust wheels up front for racing. Today, the Chevy rides on Torq Thrust wheels all around, 15×5.5 up front and 15×10 out back. They are shod in 7.10 R15 American Classic skinnies and 28×12.5x 15LT M&H Racemaster slicks, respectively.
Suspension was also modified for racing over the years. Along with those 4.56 gears, the original owner added two additional leaf springs to the rear setup. Other choice add-ons included rear racing shocks and 90/10 shocks up front. He also installed a Motion Performance Superbite traction bar to stabilize the rear suspension. The Corvette’s original paint markings are still legible underneath, and the car still has remnants of the masking tape used to hold the body mounts in place while going down the assembly line. The four-wheel disc brakes are original.
Inside, the factory upholstery, door panels, and carpet are still in excellent shape. The one main change is the well-worn Hurst shifter in the console with line lock attached. The Corvette still has its original convertible top and removable hard top, which are both in excellent shape. When Mike purchased the car, the owner handed over the born-with side pipes along with the rally wheels and Firestone Wide Oval tires.
Today, the Corvette is a true road warrior, as Mike often takes it to local shows and cruises.
The Corvette’s original L89 engine was sold to a friend of the first owner and installed in a 1966 Corvette convertible. Mike’s mission is to locate this car with the L89 engine so he can reunite this Corvette with its original drivetrain.
Good luck, Mike. This would be a reunion for the ages.
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Tech Check
Owner: Mike Rusden, Ivyland, Pennsylvania
Model: 1968 L89 Corvette
Engine
Type: 1969 L88 (originally L89)
Displacement: 427 ci
Compression Ratio: 12:5:1
Bore: 4.600 inches
Stroke: 4.500 inches
Builder: Steve Kanuika Speed Shop (Concordsville, PA) and Bash Speed Shop (Philadelphia)
Rotating Assembly: Stock L88 forged crank, forged rods, forged aluminum pistons
Valvetrain: Stock L88
Camshaft: L89 solid lifter
Heads: GM Winters aluminum L88
Induction: 1967 aluminum tri-power intake, 3×2 barrel Holley carburetors
Exhaust: Headers, side pipes
Ignition: MSD
Valve Covers: Chrome big-block
Output: 550 hp
Drivetrain
Transmission: M21 four-speed
Shifter: Hurst
Driveshaft: Stock
Rear Axle: Original IRS with 4.86 gears
Chassis
Front Suspension: Stock with 90/10 shocks
Rear Suspension: Two extra leaf springs, racing shocks, Motion Performance Superbite traction bar
Brakes: Stock disc front and rear
Wheels and Tires
Wheels: American Racing Torq Thrust, 15×5.5 front, 15×10 rear
Tires: 7.10 R15 American Classic skinnies front, 28×12.5x 15LT M&H Racemaster Slicks rear
Interior
Upholstery: Stock
Front Seats: Stock
Gauges: Stock
Steering Wheel: Stock
Shifter: Hurst
Exterior
Bodywork and Paint: Barry Hackert Auto Body
Paint: 1967 Chevelle Deep Water Blue with custom flames
Bumpers: Stock
Hood: Original L88 hood
Headlights and Taillights: Stock
