350/4-Speed: 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

While I admire many new cars, I remain something of a traditionalist. If you offered me the choice between owning a new Mustang or a 1st Generation car, I’d pick the latter any day. While these newer offerings are undoubtedly more refined and more accomplished performers, the vehicles from which they are descended possess a purity that modern models can never recapture. That is why I look at this 1969 Corvette, and I like what I see. It is a car that would seem to need nothing, and it offers its next owner a winning combination of comfort and performance. The owner purchased the vehicle 36-years-ago, and it appears that he has cherished this classic for all of those years. He has made the tough decision to part with it, so he has listed the Corvette for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in San Carlos, California, and could be yours for an extremely reasonable $25,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder rex m for referring this spotless classic to us.

The shine on the Monza Red paint that this Corvette wears is nearly enough to justify wearing sunglasses. It looks deep and rich and doesn’t appear to feature any significant flaws or problems. If I am disappointed with anything, it’s the owner’s decision only to supply two exterior shots. They leave me wanting much more, but I guess that beggars can’t be choosers. The owner doesn’t indicate whether he has treated the car to any restoration or repaint work, but it has the appearance of a vehicle that has been treated with respect throughout its life. The fiberglass shows no evidence of flaws or cracks, while the tinted glass looks as spotless as the paint. It appears that the Corvette has spent most of its life in California. The owner mentions no rust issues with the frame or birdcage, and the lack of visible corrosion across the rest of the car gives us cause to be optimistic on that front. The trim and chrome hold a winning shine, while the original Rally wheels look factory fresh.

I will give the original owner credit where it is due. His decision to be 1-of-12,846 buyers in 1969 to choose to equip his new Corvette with the L46 version of the 350ci V8 was a wise one. It might not offer the brute strength of a big-block, but at $131.65, it provided outstanding value for money. The 350hp from that V8 finds its way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed M20 manual transmission, and the addition of power steering and power brakes should help reduce the physical effort of the driving experience. With a ¼-mile ET of 14.1 seconds, this Corvette would lag around a ½-second behind the best that the big-block Corvette could achieve over the same distance. However, this car would feel significantly lighter and more agile when it was pointed at a stretch of twisting tarmac. The engine bay presents well for a vehicle of this age, although I did note that the ignition shield is missing. The owner doesn’t provide any information on the car’s mechanical health, but he does indicate that it has 130,000 miles on the clock. It is refreshing to see a vehicle of this type where the owner isn’t making some outrageously low claim when it comes to mileage. While we receive no concrete information, the car’s overall physical condition gives us some cause to be optimistic about its mechanical health.

I can’t expressly strongly enough how badly I want some better photos of this Corvette. What the owner provides is a tantalizing glimpse that leaves me hungry for more. The interior is upholstered in Black leather, and it generally looks impressive. There is some of the usual wear on the faux-chrome console trim and some scratches on the steering column below the ignition switch, but those are the only flaws that I can spot. It looks like the owner has fitted an aftermarket radio/cassette player, but factory appointments include power windows and a tilt/telescopic wheel.

When you look at this 1969 Corvette, it is easy to see why the chrome-bumper models remain a firm favorite among enthusiasts. They have a styling purity that slowly disappeared during the lifecycle of the C3 Corvette. Today, they also seem to represent a rock-solid investment in the classic car market. Values continue to increase steadily, and it is common to see those in above-average condition nudge beyond $40,000. A pristine example can threaten $60,000, which is a figure that was unheard of only a few years ago. If this Corvette is as good and mechanically sound as the photos suggest, its asking price looks pretty competitive. It has been on the market for less than a day, and I think that interested parties might have to act quickly if they want to park it in their garage. Are you considering pursuing this classic further?