The Rarest, Most Exotic and Valuable Corvette in the World Comes to Corvette Mike!

In the summer 1967, as scrappy 12-year old Mike Vietro–sightless in one eye from a stickball accident– was acquiring bruises on the streets of blue-collar Everett, Massachusetts, across the country in Oakland, California, a young man named Don Stankovsky was acquiring a unique ’67 Corvette coupe. Decades later, Corvette Mike Vietro would acquire this marvelous car, culminating a 30-year hunt for it. How did Mike become aware of this rarest in the world, unusual Corvette coupe, which triggered Mike’s single-minded, all but obsessive quest for it? Buckle up!

Stankovsky’s Corvette coupe was delivered factory fresh to Cochran and Celli Chevrolet in Oakland, CA on July, 28, 1967. Don had specified his ’67 coupe uniquely out of the 22,940 Corvettes built for that model year. As with all Corvettes sold in California at that time, option code K19, air-injection reactor (smog equipment) was mandatory. Don focused on performance options, including F41, stiffer suspension; close ratio 4 speed manual transmission, M21; side exhaust, N14; transistor ignition, K66; power brakes, J50; and key to the car’s legacy, aluminum heads, L89, atop the 435 hp rated, 3×2 carb’d 427 cubic inch V8, L71. For aesthetics, Don went with marina blue paint (code 976) with black stripe and black leather interior ($79); tinted glass, A01; and AM/FM radio, U69. At some point, telescopic steering was added, likely during restoration. With a VIN ending in 22908 and a unique ‘JH’ engine pad suffix, this car was assembled on the last day of ‘67 production, merely 32 units from the last C2 generation example produced.

Aluminum heads provided freer flow through larger exhaust valves, and better heat dissipation, adding power to an already potent motor. The engine options together totaled $805.75, fully 18+% of the base price of the car, $4388.75. Stankovsky must have known he had spec’d out a fire-breathing beast, yet he couldn’t have known just how rare his car was. He was one of only 16 ’67 model buyers who opted for the L89 aluminum heads for the 1967 model. Moreover, with the smog equipment, this car was one of only two built with the K19/L89 combination. The other one, a green coupe, has been missing for decades.

It appears Don moved on to other cars rather quickly as the L89 coupe’s known history places ownership with a lucky few including Chris Marcom’s collection in Oklahoma, before landing in 1987 with Bob Rowe, a prominent Corvette collector in Michigan. With the guidance of Jim Purvis, Rowe’s car was sent to Houston’s Naber brothers for a full restoration. Rowe would relinquish the car in the ‘90s, to the bank holding a lien on it. Proteam Corvettes was about to offer it in early 1994, but notable Houston collector Larry Martin swooped in and bought the treasure directly from the bank.

Meanwhile, following a mid-70s stint in the US Marine Corps, Vietro bought himself a 1978 25th Anniversary coupe, his first Corvette. He worked as a hotel security guard and at a Toyota dealer while playing host to Corvette shows that drew Corvettes from all over the region. Then in 1982 Mike hung a shingle as Corvette Mike in Orange County, California. In those days, Mike traded in whichever cars made sense to keep the doors open. An entry in Mike’s 1988 diary notes first mention of the L89. Mike filed visions of the blue coupe in the back of his mind. When he became aware that Larry Martin had bought it in 1994, his quest truly began.

Over the ensuing 29 years, the L89 coupe never strayed far from the forefront of Vietro’s awareness. Intermittently, he would call Martin, and discuss the car with him briefly before moving on to other business. This routine was repeated countless times over the years, to reinforce the idea in Martin’s mind that Mike was sincere in his continued pursuit. At last, in 2023, Martin relented and agreed to part with the unicorn Corvette. Mike’s perseverance had paid off, yet again. “I’ve chased down many rare Corvettes in my time, but bringing this L89 coupe home represents the pinnacle of my career. With all the awards and original documentation, the unique JH suffix original motor, plus a stunning restoration by the Naber brothers in their heyday, there’s no other Corvette I’d rather own.”

Indeed, the blue coupe’s history is very well appointed, commencing with a pristine original tank sticker, one of the least damaged Mike has ever seen. It was likely removed early in the car’s life and has been recently validated by the NCRS. Also, there is the original Protect-o-Plate with Stankovsky’s name and Berkeley address, as well as the original dealer invoice.

As for awards, it was campaigned shortly after the Naber brothers, Ken and Gary, restored it circa 1988. It scored 99.27% at the NCRS Cypress Gardens meet in 1989. It has appeared twice in the Bloomington Gold Special Collection, unexcelled accolades with descriptions that highlighted the L89’s rarest, desirable qualities. Most recently, in 2023, after 30 years of careful storage by Martin, Mike took it to the NCRS Frisco Texas Regional Meet, where it scored an amazing 98.4%, a glowing testament to Nabers’ expertise. Veteran Corvette collectors know how special it is for a restored Corvette to hold up so well for so long. The authors of a photo book titled Corvette: Five Decades of Sports Car Speed featured this L89 as a paradigm of the C2 generation. Indeed, today the car appears to be perhaps five years off the factory floor, with fewer than 38,000 original miles on the odometer. (Enthusiasts can look for a more detailed story of this splendid L89 in the pages of a lifestyle magazine. Watch the website for further news!)

With this champion stallion now in his stable, you’d think Mike might rest easy. No way. Mike will continue to serve his customers for as long as he is able, as the concept of retirement is foreign to him. “My mentality is work, work, work. I really don’t know what else to do with myself.” He’s overcome plenty of obstacles in his life, including untold family problems, several downturned economic cycles, and more recently, COVID-19, which in June 2020 laid Mike out flat in the hospital with double pneumonia. “Damn near killed me!,” he says today.

“All of it got me where I am today, grateful for everything, and now the L89. I have one good eye, good friends, a thriving business and a loving, beautiful girlfriend. Life is better than good. I earned it and the sublime marina blue L89 is the perfect symbol reflecting so many years of hard work.”