1969 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

There are Corvette guys who love the C3, and among them, there's a clear division between early C3 lovers and the ones who prefer the later, plastic-bumper models. So if your penchant for fiberglass runs towards the early Mako Shark look, then perhaps this 1969 Stingray warrants further investigation.

The body tag says this car was original Fathom Green, but it's a simple fact that few cars wear black better than the swoopy Corvette. Somehow the earliest C3s seem more compact and muscular than the later versions, and it is especially evident with this crisply detailed example. It's not perfect, but rather neatly preserved with an older repaint that still looks great. Underneath the shine, there's original fiberglass in good shape, with nice gaps and panel alignment all around. Fans of the chrome bumpers will be pleased with how snugly these fit with the nose and tail, and the bright, shiny surfaces provide wonderful contrast to the black paint everywhere else. The vented hood is one of those trick Corvette features that everyone digs, and the flying buttresses on the C-pillars always look dramatic. Add in the traditional round taillights, eggcrate grilles behind the front tires, and a set of lift-off T-tops and you have one of the most timeless designs in automotive history.

Stylish black buckets are the center of the Corvette's driving environment, and even for 1969 they're comfortable as well as supportive. The woven inserts help keep drivers cool, and the shape of the seats make it easy to get in and out despite the 'Vette's outrageously low profile. All the gauges feature clear lenses, sharp, bright markings, and bright pointers, and this car carries the optional speed minder system, which reminds you not to speed (yeah, right). The center stack houses the auxiliary gauges, as well as an aftermarket AM/FM/cassette stereo obviously designed for just this application, as well as the cool fiber-optic lamp monitoring system. On the center console, you'll not only find the shifter for the 3-speed automatic underneath, but also controls for the factory A/C, the engine plaque, and more fiber-optic monitors for the taillights. For 1969, this thing packs some interesting tech! Seats, door panels, and carpets are in very good condition with no upgrades needed, and hopefully the designers of the upcoming C7 took a look inside and found inspiration.

The engine is the original, numbers-matching 350/300, which was new for 1969. And while it might be the "base" engine, nothing with 300 horsepower and 10.25:1 compression is simply ordinary. The engine bay shows a lot of originality, which Corvette fans always seem to appreciate, and there are no signs of modification, neglect, or abuse. Heck, even the original smog controls are intact, and the factory ignition shield remains in place. It starts quickly and runs well, just as you'd expect from a seasoned Chevy small block, and since Corvette engineers figured their customers would enjoy all the engine's performance, they gave it a heavy-duty TH400 automatic to cope. The chassis is extremely straight and clean, showing signs of life in a warm, dry place, and those wire wheelcovers with 225/70/15 whitewall radials are uniquely Corvette.

A fun, tidy, well-maintained early C3 in the baddest color combination. What's not to love? Call today.