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390 Horsepower! 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

I’ve been sitting here trying to think of more enjoyable experiences than slipping behind the wheel of a classic convertible on a sunny day for a spot of top-down cruising. To be honest, not many options come to mind. Those are the opportunities that await some lucky individual if they decide that parking this 1969 Corvette Stingray Convertible in their driveway would be a smart move. This Convertible is finished in one of the rarest colors offered in 1969, and it features its original big-block nestled under the hood. All good things must come to an end, so the owner has decided to part with the Corvette. It is located in Gadsden, Alabama, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $32,875 in a No Reserve auction.

The owner claims that the Tuxedo Black paint that the Corvette wears is a rare color. While this claim would be easy to prove on any Corvette up until 1968, that sort of data is not available for the 1969 model. However, Black was the least popular shade with Corvette buyers up to that point, and the take-up rate generally hovered just below 3%. If this trend continued into the 1969 model year, then it is possible that as few as 1,000 cars wore this shade. When we look beyond the numbers, what we find is a classic that presents superbly. The Black paint shines beautifully, with no evidence of any significant flaws or problems. This covers a fiberglass body that doesn’t appear to have any issues. I can’t spot any cracks or crazing and no evidence of any problems around the bonding strips. The chrome bumpers sparkle magnificently against a Black background, while the remaining trim, the soft-top, and the glass all appear to be excellent. There’s a lot to like here, and the news is just as positive when we take a peek underneath the Stingray. There are the occasional light spots of surface corrosion on the frame, but these are the exception rather than the rule. There’s no penetrating rust to be seen, and if the birdcage is in a similar state, potential buyers could be onto a winner here.

Some people like to slip behind the wheel of a classic sports car, grab it by the scruff of the neck, and become deeply involved in the driving experience. That’s all well and good if you are in that mood, but what if you aren’t? That’s where a car like this Corvette can have a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. With 390hp at the ready from its 427ci V8, there’s no doubt that the Stingray can provide blinding performance if an owner chooses to poke it with a stick. However, with that motor, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes, the option is available to sit back and undertake some effortless touring. That seems to be an excellent compromise, and that thought will attract many potential buyers. They can then choose to be relaxed and carefree, or in the blink of an eye, they could demolish the ¼ mile in 14 seconds. The owner says that the Corvette is a numbers-matching car and that it has a genuine 61,000 miles on the clock. He doesn’t indicate whether he holds evidence confirming the mileage claim, but he does say that the vehicle runs and drives extremely well.

When the original owner ordered this Convertible, it appears that they had their focus firmly set on comfort. That explains the drivetrain that should provide effortless motoring and helps to explain the choice of supple leather upholstery for the interior. The color of choice is Saddle Tan, and it provides a striking contrast against the Black exterior. It is also in excellent condition, with no significant wear or problems with any upholstered surfaces. It looks like there might be some wear on the wheel, but that is one of the few items that I would place a question mark over. The dash and console look excellent, as do the door trims and carpet. As well as the leather trim, the original owner chose to tick the boxes next to the tilt/telescopic wheel and the AM/FM radio.

I admit it. I would love to park this ’69 Corvette Stingray Convertible in my garage. The thought of cruising down some country road on a sunny day behind the wheel of this classic is hard to resist, and it seems that I’m not alone on this. An incredible 48 bids have already been submitted, and there’s plenty of time left on the listing. However, it helps that this is a chrome-bumper C3 Corvette, and they will always attract plenty of attention in the market. With all of those thoughts swimming around in your head, are you tempted to submit a bid? It’s a No Reserve auction, so today could be your lucky day.

Comments

  1. Avatar nestor

    Do convertibles have “bird cages” ?

    Like 0
    • Avatar Joel S.

      All C3 and C3 Corvettes do.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    If you’re into big blocks with automatics, this is a fine looking car. I like the color combinations, very impressive. Only issue I have is the same ones I have with most big blocks, they can be very thirsty IMO.

    Like 1
    • Avatar ed casala

      Thirsty? Come on man, my 68 with a 502 can pass several gas stations on the same drive!

      Like 1
  3. Avatar Ron

    That’s why Toyota created the Prius, for those that are worried about fuel consumption per mile…

    Like 10
  4. Avatar dogwater

    If someone is worry about the gas mileage on a classic they might want to find another hobby

    Like 18
    • Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

      Last guy on one of our cruises couldn’t go the 200 miles without stopping somewhere for gas, and then it was High-test to boot. My 86 may not be the fastest one out there, but it’s fun to drive and gets 20+ mpg and run fine on 87 or 89 octane. I can go on a cruise and buy lunch for less than he could for gas alone.
      Just my feelings.

      Like 3
  5. Avatar Laurence Kent

    Seems like a nice car. One can turn it into a dual automatic/manual by doing two things: give it a shift kit and modify it to hold in every gear. To drive as an automatic in heavy traffic you just put the Turbo 400 into 3/drive. To drive it as a three speed manual you just start out by putting it into first, then into second and finally into third. It will be just like a manual gearbox except with no heavy clutch. My other comment would be that in 1969 real leather wasn’t an option. I read in a Corvette book that it wasn’t until 1970, when John Delorean got involved, that leather and fake wood became options.

    Like 2
    • Avatar John F. Perotti

      Real leather was a $79 option in 1969. 3,729 ‘69 Corvettes had genuine leather seats according to the Corvette Black book.

      Like 2
    • Avatar Ralph

      Wrong, leather was available in the previous 1963-1967 Corvette as well as the fake wood steering wheel

      Like 0
    • Avatar Steve Loeppky

      Are you the previous owner of a 73 convertible 454?

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Gene Bokovitz

    The car is over priced as usual. $12k to $15k. All day long. Sorry for $32k you can get more car in a newer c5 or c6. Just sayin !

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Laurence

    Reply for Gene Bokovitz: I am not saying you are wrong, but the price is low compared to a C-2, which is much the same car under the skin. Different Corvette generations are commanding different prices. The free market decides the values. While you believe you are getting more car with a C-5 or 6, others may not like more modern generations, even though technologically/power-wise/fuel consumption-wise and reliability-wise they tend to be better. Personally the only Corvette I would want to buy is a chrome bumper C-3 convertible, as that is my favourite and the others don’t do much for me. It’s a case of to each his/her own.

    Like 3

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