They say to buy the best car you can find, so is this the top-of-the-heap project 1969 Corvette? Probably not, but it’s on eBay in Janesville, Wisconsin without a reserve and a $8,100 bid. It’s not running and was painted yellow over the Riverside Gold original. The mileage is said to be 66,000. The owner touts the rare options, including a four-speed manual transmission, Tri-Power manifolds, two-barrel carbs (three of them), and GM Performance aluminum heads on the non-original big block engine. “The car was in storage for quite some time,” the owner says. “The frame is solid. The manifold and carbs, not to mention the heads, are worth some good coin. Clean title in hand!” That’s about it for information. The motor looks fairly rough and obviously hasn’t rotated a piston in quite a while.
The C3 1969 Corvette is not among the most desirable models, and Classic.com puts recent average sales at $60,106. One L88 auction yielded $990,000—but that was for two of ‘em in 2019.
The 1969 Corvette refined the all-new 1968 model. The base engine was a 300-horsepower, 350-cubic-inch V-8. The ignition moved to the steering column, and the push-button door opener was now integrated into the pull handle. Wheels went to 15 inches from 16, and a side exhaust was now an option. Because of labor unrest, the 1969 model got an extra four months, which accounts for higher sales numbers that year (especially compared to 1970). Total sales were 22,129 coupes like this one and 16,633 convertibles. The latter are obviously more valuable.
The basic coupe sold for $4,781, and the convertible was $4,438. The convertible was cheaper than the coupe? According to this and this, yes. Hagerty puts the current price of a base 1969 coupe with the 350 at $25,300, meaning that the buyer of this one shouldn’t go hugely higher than the current amount if not going underwater is a consideration. Prices are actually declining, but not drastically.
The photos, while showing a fairly intact structure with only surface rust, also reveal a car that hasn’t exactly been babied. The paint and interior are rough (dig those ugly and very dirty period vinyl seats), and the engine is a totally unknown quality, and not original. Of course, Corvettes are an object of desire for many red-blooded Americans. But don’t let your heart rule your head.
For all those recent sidepipe discussions and burning your leg, these are the ones that will burn your leg… side mount headers. Will be interesting to see what it sells for. The seller cracks me up… “Rare options include Manual trans 4 speed number 3925661, Gm tri-power manifolds 3937795, 2 barrel carbs 3 of them”
Jim do you actually know what your talking about!!!??🤷
I was wondering that myself.
ALL chrome bumper C3’s are desirable.
Yep. Sidepipes are the first thing to go. Wonder what size big block. If the price stays around where it is, it would be worth putting together. May not be original but still would be a blast to drive.
I’d ditch those 1984 era wheels first!
That was exactly my first thought too!
I love it when they don’t even bother to take it off of the U-Haul trailer before trying to flip it.
When they strapped/chained it down to the trailer they put at least one chain around a rear half-shaft. Hopefully it didn’t bend the tube. I don’t mind the color or the sidepipes, I’d just get it running, de-sconge the interior, and install carpet.
How must for the rock next to the intake ?
You can complain about those header sidepipes all day long but damn they sounded terrific on the 1968 427 Corvette Stingray I used to drive
It’s rough but has good bones, retromod project car.
First thing I did to my C4 was ditch them wheels even uglier on a C3
Should have ditched the C4 all together!