This Corvette sure checks a lot of boxes! It’s equipped with its original 390 horsepower 427 V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, looks fantastic, and is ready to hit the street. The seller notes that a ton of work has been done over the past few years and comes with documentation going back to 1990. If you’ve been on the hunt for a big block C3, you can find this one here on craigslist in Chagrin Falls, Ohio with a $34,500 asking price. Special thanks to Pat L for this sweet tip!
The third generation of Corvettes came out in ’68 with a sleek-looking body and a wide range of engine options. Depending on how you optioned your Stingray, you could have a nice casual Sunday driver or an all-out muscle machine! Big block-equipped cars like this one were very capable performers. This one is powered by the 390 HP L30, which isn’t even the most powerful engine available. If you wanted more power, you could have stepped up to a 435 horsepower Tri-Power 427, but the L30 makes plenty of power for a driver that will still hold its own at the track. The 4-speed isn’t the best option for drag racing but would make this a fun street machine.
The seller states that the engine was rebuilt 2 years ago and the paint was redone in December of 2020. There’s no word on if the interior is all original or has been restored. It looks to be original and they state that the seats are leather. Overall, it looks to be in great shape but it could use a little more detailing and floor mats. It looks like it would be a great place to spend some time.
The C3 saw a number of changes over its 14-year run and while later cars are great, these early cars feature some of the best styling and performance, at least in my opinion. This one looks like a great find and could be a blast to have. So, what do you think of this Corvette? Would you enjoy owning it?
I remember owning a white ’68 roadster in the ’70s and selling it for $5000. Now excuse me while I go have myself a good cry.
My dad and I test drove a very nice 69. 427 tripower convertible, white with black top in 1972 and didn’t buy it, mainly because it just ran ok. Price was $2750. I’m crying too! Probably only needed carb work to get the outside carbs to kick in.
Steve, Also in the 70s, I sold my orange ’71 4 speed convertible to a guy in Vermont for $4000.
He was going to use it for his winter “driver”. Just wrong on so many different levels.
Sounds awful using a Corvette for a winter drivers but most of us in the late 60’s and 70’s only had one car. I drove my 71 Olds W30 in the winter with studded tires. Posi in a performance. car was terrible in snow but if you had studded snow tires they did pretty good. No one then thought about preserving cars for a future collectible. We just used them.
Paid $1,250 for a ’61 283/2-4bbl/4-speed in 1974 … swapped it three months later for a ’55 Tbird which I sold for $1500 to help buy a new ’75 Vette … two good cries here …
Is that the optional factory wooden hood prop?
What I like is the whitewalls, what a joke…
In 1969, these whitewalls were a standard option.
Vettes were also available with wheel covers, as were almost other cars back then …
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/071610_1.jpg
http://www.corvsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Corvette-Ads-8.jpg
As long as the whitewall is ultra thin, it’s ok, tho even with those, the ’73 t/a here looks terrible – avail only for a few months as such …
http://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/21/2009/04/hppp_0904_09_z-chicago_auto_show-1973_trans_am.jpg
I am also not too crazy about the Rockford firebird with rally IIs & much thicker whitewalls.
I think it was an aftermarket Home Depot special hood prop. LOL
So long as it was produced in Canada or Wisconsin.
Nah, their measuring the hood clearance of the air cleaner.
They make new hood supports for cheap money. Probably a wise investment for a car you are selling.
Nice car but I’m skeptical of original engine claim. What does “Match Numbers Date Code” mean. Ad also says “Correct Motor”. I believe this car maybe has a date code correct replacement block. Not a problem if you know that as a buyer. Might have been blown up early in its life and replaced then.
If they rebuilt the engine hopefully the numbers were not taken off the cylinder deck if that is where they are located on the 427. I’m sure someone will clarify. Of course you need to visually check to confirm numbers match. Also receipts showing the type of rebuild this engine received. Head work and dingle ball honing or what I consider a rebuild, honing decking, crank polish or turning. Yea that kind of rebuild.
Bigcat, you are right to be skeptical. The seller is using language that is typically if someone with a non-matching numbers car. Owners of legitimate matching numbers cars will be direct. For an example, read the ad from yesterday for the green 71 454 Corvette. That owner is very specific and includes the numbers in the ad, that’s what sellers with nothing to hide do. Those that go out of their way to use non-specific language, do so for a reason.
Steve R
It’s a $35K car, not a $135K car. Who cares if the numbers match? Just drive it!
I re read the ad and I’m just speculating but I think the seller is inferring the transmission is date correct
As much as we have become jaded to the twelve shades of “road” that has become the norm over the past decade, this Vette looks gorgeous in Silver. Very pretty car.
Not worth the ask if #’s don’t match. IMHO, ad is deceptive
“This one is powered by the 390 HP L30, which isn’t even the most powerful engine available. If you wanted more power, you could have stepped up to a 435 hp dual quad 427”,….. The 390 was RPO L36, not L30, and the 435 had a tri-power carb set up, not dual quads.
Like Bigcat above, I too found the seller’s description of the engine questionable. I do see some things to like about this car, and a few that concern me. I have to wonder why someone would go to the trouble to repaint the car, and not replace the missing nose flags, and I wonder if this was just a quick repaint to sell the car. A yardstick’s holding the hood up, but the hood prop is there, but it’s at a strange angle, making me think it’s the wrong prop, or not it’s attached for some reason. Finally, the nose is sitting way to high, suggesting that it has either new springs that haven’t settled yet, the wrong springs, or the front springs aren’t seated right in the a-arms correctly?
Why would this huge engine need to be rebuilt at just 90k miles? Missed a few oil changes? Or maybe just for the hell of it – or wanted some upgrades?
& why a repaint? Car was not always garaged? Or does ’69 GM paint not stick well to fiberglass? I do know the silver paint on ’87 montes was kind of lousy.
Good ground clearance here.
Too Cheap!
It looks like the car is in a decent shop with a lift. Too bad they didn’t bother to take some pictures under the car.
Yet another car that is sitting too high.
Whiners. As one comment reads, it is not $135,000. When people are spending $100,000 on a 1968 Ford POS Bronco, this beauty is the deal of a life time. The front springs could be still new. Having owned Corvettes since 1976, and all having original engines, I tend to think this car lost its original engine. So what. Life is short. Drive it.
Uh OH…. I dont see any Air…other than roll down window air…. sure would
get warm on the old legs without it
I see a lot of restored Vettes as I’m in the auto business. They always look like they have four wheel drive as they are so up in the air! I’m probably the only nut that notices this.
Why would you not clean and detail that engine. The pics I see here on the engine are horrible. Air Cleaner looks like POO, valve covers are dirty. Come on MAN!
Corvette didn’t come out with a big block dual quad intake. Small block did. The 400 horse 427 had oval ports and 3 two barrel carbs, the 427/390 was a single 4 barrel Quadrajet, the 427/430 had a single big Holley L-88 and the 427/435 had 3 two barrel carbs. The L89 option was only for the aluminum heads square port.
Cheaper than a Toyota Camry, and more fun
Car is in ohio- must look good at the frame and birdcage. Presents well. You would have to do your homework as far as the numbers go, if it hangs you up.
Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
You are right gbvette62 , the 5- 427 Corvette engines are as follows -427/390 horse L-36 , 427/400 horse L-68 , 427/435 horse L-71 , 427/430 horse L-88 or L-89 W/aluminum heads still rated at 430 horse but closer to 500 , then you had the beast -the ZL-1 427 -all aluminum engine which put out close to 525- 550 horse . Only the 427/390 had a 4 barrel Quadrajet , the L-88 had a single big Holley , everything else had a tri-carb set up , since there were very few ZL-1’s I think you had a option on the carb , not sure on the ZL-1 , gbvette62 can you comment on the carb set-up .?