350 Crate Motor: 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

When you take the low and aggressive lines of an early C3 Corvette and combine them with a coat of black paint, the result is a car that displays genuine menace. When you throw a GM Crate Motor into the equation, the result should be a car that displays as much “show” as “go.” That would seem to be the case with this 1969 Corvette Convertible. It has plenty of strong points as a project car, but it is a classic that its new owner could drive immediately while tackling any restoration work as time and circumstances allow. It needs a new home and an owner who can lavish it with TLC, so the seller has listed it for sale here on eBay. The ‘Vette is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and frantic bidding has pushed the price to $18,100 in a No Reserve auction.

The seller describes this Corvette as a “good 10-footer.” That indicates that while its factory Tuxedo Black paint looks good from a distance, closer inspection reveals a flaw or two. There’s no doubt that the entire car would benefit from a repaint, but the buyer will need to address some panel imperfections before they tackle that aspect of the project. These are mainly confined to the front clip on the passenger side and shouldn’t require a pile of time or money to rectify. The car comes with a nice soft-top, along with a factory hardtop that wears immaculate Black vinyl. The seller has lavished some attention on the often troublesome headlamps and wiper doors, and these features now work perfectly. The exterior chrome looks suitable for a driver-grade car, while the spotless Rally wheels and the near-new BF Goodrich tires add a stylish finishing touch. The owner indicates that as well as the 1970 big-block hood with the 454 badges currently fitted to the car, he has the factory original and an unpainted L88 reproduction hood. He includes these and a stand for the hardtop in the deal.

Its interior is one aspect of this Corvette project that is unlikely to prove a financial black hole. It seems that during his seven years of ownership, the seller stripped it out and set to work returning it to its former glory. His first port of call was to add a new wiring harness to banish any electrical faults to the pages of history. He then bolted in a new heater core and blower motor before adding a new dash. The next item on the agenda was a rebuilt steering column before fitting a new console and carpet set. He doesn’t mention replacing other upholstered items, but the seats and door trims look spotless. The only item the buyer may need to tackle is the headliner for the hardtop. It is blue, which would look odd against the existing black upholstery. The buyer may need to think carefully because a replacement will lighten their wallet by around $780. The current headliner is in excellent condition, so it may respond positively to applying a high-quality vinyl dye. This approach would cost considerably less, and if applied with care, the results can be impressive. The owner indicates that everything works as it should, including the replacement clock. Interestingly, while this ‘Vette features a tilt/telescopic wheel, a blanking plate suggests that its original owner chose to order the car without a radio.

When we lift the hood of this Corvette, we are confronted with the only aspect of this classic of which the seller is not 100% certain. He confirms that this is a small-block ‘Vette, meaning that its engine bay housed a 350ci V8 when it rolled off the production line. It isn’t clear which version it was, but it meant that the driver had at least 300hp at their disposal. The power made its way to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission, and this combination would have made the Corvette a satisfying driver’s car. The vehicle is no longer numbers-matching, and there’s a degree of uncertainty surrounding the existing motor. The seller says that it is a GM 350 Crate Engine, and he thinks it is a “ZZ” motor. However, it isn’t clear which version this might be. If it is, as I suspect, a ZZ4, that should deliver around 355hp and 405 ft/lbs of torque. If that is the case, that leaves the way clear for this Corvette to lay down a sub-15-second ¼-mile ET without raising a sweat. The seller states that this classic doesn’t get much use, with only the occasional weekend outing. He says it’s fun to drive, suggesting that it is ready to provide its next owner with miles of classic motoring pleasure.

If ever you had any doubts about the popularity and desirability of these chrome-bumper C3 Corvettes, you only need to look as far as the bidding history on our feature car to gain clear insight. The seller initially listed the vehicle to open at $500, and it took less than two days for forty-six bids to push it to its current level. There is still plenty of time left on this auction if you fancy making your play. If you do and are the winning bidder, I hope you will keep us updated on its progress. I would love to see the finished product, and I’m sure that our readers feel the same. What do you say?