1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible

The impressive-looking example is one of just 116 units produced in 1969, when it was custom-ordered by the son of a wealthy Kentucky-based tobacco family, who decided in the end not to take delivery for personal reasons. The vehicle ended up in Tennessee and this is when Bryan Cooper, the promoter of Knoxville Corvette Expo, who offered it to Corvette authority Paul Kitchen, bought the car in 1977. The two men dropped the gas tank and discovered the sticker for verification, which remained with Kitchen when he sold the car, but it was reunited with the model in November 1987.

The classic Corvette was placed in storage for almost 25 years, until February 2012, when it was delivered to Roger Gibson, a renowned restoration expert, who spent 5,100 hours restoring it, in a 19-month period. This is when the drop-top received the correct fresh LeMans Blue paint and the matching Bright Blue interior, along with the black vinyl auxiliary hardtop. Original components were preserved during the process and these include the open-chamber head L88engine, producing 430HP and connected to the aluminum-case 4-speed transmission.

The 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson's 45th Scottsdale event, which will be held between January 23 and 31, 2016. Besides the vehicle, the new owner will also receive several signed documents, noting its past history, receipts and two three-ring binders detailing the work made by Gibson, NCRS shipping report, NCRS validation service, "Prove It" report and, of course, the original Tank Sticker.