Some of the things we have run across on Facebook over the years have been pretty wild. We’ve found some crazy LS-swapped vehicles, ever-popular barn finds, and record-breaking race cars and trucks. However, our latest find is genuinely one of a kind and a big part of Chevrolet’s history. 

On October 13, 2021, Joseph Filippi posted an LS1 engine for sale on the LSX Trucks Parts Page Buy and Sell page. And while you might be thinking that there’s nothing special about an LS1, that’s not the case with this particular unit. You see, this LS was assembled back in 1994, three years before the popular powerplant was released in the C5 Corvette in 1997. And to make matters more interesting, the engine is marked as experimental with stickers and tags placed all over the engine. These markings give credit to Bosch, Benteler Automotive, and General Motors. 

So, where did this experimental engine come from, and how did it make it to the public?

Filippi stated in the post, “Almost every single component has its own casting number or “experimental sample” tag with a date back to 1994. I found this from a man who worked on the engineering team for Chevrolet Performance from 1985 to 2001. He was a part of the original development of the LSX platform and was able to keep the engine for personal reminiscence. When he passed away, I had the opportunity to purchase the motor from his brother.”

According to Filippi, here are some facts associated with the engine. First, the unit was factory assembled with no pistons or rods, and the crankshaft has no woodruff key slot. Second, the exhaust manifolds are experimental castings made well before they had a mold. Also, the block and heads are stamped “mock-up.” Finally, the harness you see in the photos was designed by JL and used to test the accessories and sensors on the motor. 

Filippi is asking $70,000 for the engine and has contacts that can prove the authenticity of this piece. Filippi said it best, “This truly belongs in a museum or a collectors inventory.” And while that price tag may seem pretty steep at first, we would expect a collector or museum would certainly scoop this piece of history up.