Generation: C3
Year: 1968
VIN: 194378S408067
Race Numbers: #4
Ownership: George Filipinetti (1968) Franco Sbarro (1968-1969) Jo Siffert (1970). Joe Kretschi (1971-72) Walter Stierli (1973) Bruno Gerber (1974) Robert Dubler (1976 to present)
Sponsors: Scuderia Flipinetti Shell Champion Ferodo Trico Sev-Marchal
Drivers: Sylvain GARANT, Jean-Michel GIORGI (1968 LeMans) Joe Kretschi (1971-72) Walter Stierli (1973) Bruno Gerber (1974) Robert Dubler (1976 to present)
Status:


Original Color: red
Tires/Wheels: 15" Goodyear
Engine: Original RPO L88 from the factory; ZL1 installed by subsequent owner
Driveline: M22
Top:
Interior: stock Corvette + roll bar and safety equipment
Condition: restored for historic racing
URL: 1.Using Google Image, looking for "Filipinetti Corvette" 2.Robert Dubler website www.dubler.net. 3.(French) publication from 1968-1975 era - Auto Passion Nr 80-May 93: Les Corvettes à Greder, 4.The recently published autobiography of Henri Greder: “Only one Life, Mine”
Unique Characteristics:
Modifications:
Notes/Race History: In 1968, Bob Lutz and Henri Greder convinced Swiss financier George Filipinetti to sponsor a two car team at Le Mans. There originally discussed having three cars, but only two materialized. The first two 1968 L88 Corvettes were registered for Le Mans, by Filipinetti: •(VIN 19437S410300) Number 3 - Henri Greder and Umberto Maglioli (Maglioli •(VIN194378S408067) Number 4 - The second car that Filipinetti registered at the 1968 Le Mans 24 Hour race was VIN 194378S408067. Sylvain Garant & Jean-Michel Giorgi were the drivers. It was this car that Garant crashed, in the "Dunlop Curve" during the 16th hour of the race. The car was sufficiently damaged that the team decided it was a write-off. The wreck was bought by Scuderia Filipinetti's chief mechanic Franco Sbarro , who straightened and repaired the chassis, fitted new bodywork and a "lesser" Chevy V8. In 1970, Solar Production and Steve McQueen needed cars for their movie "Le Mans". They especially needed cars that could be used to mesh actual race scenes with other parts of the film. This part of the film was recorded after the Le Mans race, so an enterprising Swiss, racing driver Jo Siffert, (who was driving the 917 for the official Gulf-Wyer Porsche), bought the Vette from Sbarro, and rented it to Solar Production. The car was re-sprayed Yellow with Black top to look like Greder's 1970 Le Mans entry. But the real Greder car (194679S706401) was a convertible (thus the 6 as 4th digit in the "VIN") with hard-top. Simply watch the movie and you'll notice the differences in roof section and wheel arch extensions . For the 1971 season, Siffert sold 408067 to another Swiss driver named Joe Kretschi who raced it with success in 71-72. Yet another Swiss, Walter Stierli, entered it in some races during the 1973 season. In 1974 Bruno Gerber buys this car, installs a ZL1 engine, obtained through Edy Wyss. In 1976, after the Hemberg Hillclimb, Gerber sells the Vette to Robert Dubler (who still owns it). Dubler races it on tracks and hillclimbs between 1978 and 1984. After a minor accident at the Oesterreichring, he puts the now obsolete racing car into storage until 2003. The C3 Corvette was now eligible for FIA Historic Racing. Since 2004, Dubler has again been racing it in Historic events such as the Le Mans Classic and other hill-climbs. Visit the owner's website (www.dubler.net) for pics and more info.
Registry ID Number: 142

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