One of the more disingenuous sales pitches you’ll find these days is where a seller tells you that a specific car is a genuine special model because it had some important or highly sought-after facet – though that facet is no longer present. I refer to those types of cars as “Yousetabees” you know, because it used to be something of interest or special collectibility but now, it is no more. Take this 1969 Chevrolet Corvette for example. The seller proclaims, “This is a 1969 Corvette convertible Real Deal 427 435 car…“. But is it still? Let’s take a look and see what this car’s true story is. Located in Jackson, New Jersey, this ‘Vette is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $10,100 with the reserve not yet met.
One of the first things to note is that this Corvette convertible does have a removable hardtop (no soft top however) and some notable ’70s traits such as aftermarket side pipes, slotted aluminum wheels, and rear wheel openings that have been seriously flared. The front openings have undergone a similar treatment but it’s not as obtuse. Another noteworthy item is the L-88 cowl induction hood, an item once rarely encountered but now seems to adorn anything on wheels that has purported sporting intentions. The seller mentions that this Chevy has not run in years and it definitely looks like it has been sitting for many moons. The finish (said to be, or have been, LeMans Blue) is faded and peeling though the fiberglass, at least what I can glimpse, still looks sound as in no bonding strips letting loose. There are a couple of shots of the underside and I can see scale and surface rust but nothing worse. The birdcage? Unknown condition.
Back to that 427-435 claim, what the seller is telling us is that this Corvette rolled off of the St. Louis assembly line with a 435 gross HP, 427 CI “Turbo-Jet” V8 – the top dog in ’69 if you ignore the very rare off-road-only L-88 powerplant. Corvsport tells us that only 2,722 of the 39K Corvettes assembled 54 years ago came equipped with the triple carburetor fed 435 HP 427 engine which was also known as RPO L71. So that’s about 7% of the total output and is considered, today, to be a very prime example of a C3 Corvette. The problem, however, is that the uber-performer Mark IV big block motor is lost to the ages, and a non-descript small block V8, one of approximately 110M produced since 1955, is holding a non-operational residency. Yes, it’s a Youstabee and it’s connected to an automatic transmission – no details on its provenance.
The interior is an interesting study as it is occupied by some very non-original seats. Additionally, it can be seen from the console that this was originally a four-speed manual transmission car – which makes sense considering its claimed born-with powerplant. The interior looks totally grody, one would think that the windows were left down, in a damp environment, for some extended period of time.
My thought is that what this “real deal” used to be doesn’t matter any longer – now it’s just a forlorn-looking Corvette with a non-running and incorrect engine. Should this car carry any special value because of what it was? Not in my mind but I’m not a ‘Vette aficionado and know Corvette guys and gals have very particular opinions about Chevrolet’s iconic fiberglass two-seater. What’s your thought, any special value here, or is it just move along time?
So mon original 350 engine means non original and hence the big dollar car is no more.
Now just a future hot rod.
Corvettes have matching numbers and this has left.
“The interior looks totally grody..” Wow! Haven’t heard that for awhile-but absolutely a perfect description, Jim.
Every machine is special in one way or another to someone, but it’ll take a someone special that’s willing to lock themselves in the laboratory for a long time to bring this Frankenvette back.
**A Corvette’s Lament**
**Part I**
Oh, woeful steed, once swift and grand,
Now but a relic of a bygone land,
Your once proud body, now a tattered sheet,
Your once bright chrome, now dull and fleet.
Your engine coughs, your tires screech,
Your paintwork flaking, like a lizard’s bleach,
Your seats are torn, your carpet stained,
A sorry sight, indeed, you’ve gained.
**Part II**
Oh, wretched Corvette, once so adored,
Now but a laughingstock, ignored,
Your once proud stance, now slumped and low,
Your once fierce growl, now a whimper slow.
Your once sleek lines, now warped and bent,
Your once gleaming wheels, now marred and rent,
Your once proud spirit, now forlorn and lost,
A shadow of your former self, at most.
**Part III**
Yet, in your sorry state, there’s still a spark,
A hint of greatness, left in the dark,
A flicker of hope, that still remains,
That you might rise again, and break the chains.
Oh, Corvette, I pray you find your way,
To shed this wretched state, and see the day,
When you can once again, with pride be seen,
A legend resurrected, on the racing scene.
**Part IV**
So let us raise a glass, to what you were,
A beacon of speed, a blur,
And hope that someday, you’ll reclaim your throne,
And be the Corvette, that’s truly known.
That poem is so true.
Thanks for sharing.
I have never heard it before.
Going to write it down.
That hood looks like an aftermarket hood/replacement. Tri-power cars didn’t come with that hood. Just look at the console tag to see exactly what engine was supposed to be in there. L88’s had radio/heater delete and also had the dual pin J56 brake calipers. Not that hard to figure out what that car originally came with……..
Big block, small block, no block. A very rough car and that gen-you-ine big block might be seized- rust in the cylinders would warrant a full rebuild if you want to keep it “NumBeRS MATcHinG” and not swap another engine in.
If you’ve got money, you could definitely restore this. If you are part of the low-buck club like me, this isn’t very feasible.
$3500, and they can keep the rodents, bugs, moss, and whatever other toxic substances are lurking in it.
My thoughts exactly. How many high schoolers owned this car in the 70s and 80s who thrashed and trashed this car is unknown, but probably around 15.
Ready 4 Scrappin’ is offering 1,000 for whatever husk of a Corvette this is.
I concur. Thank you for your well informed insight, Kohler
Frank, you’re being too kind.
I’m getting in the Christmas spirit!!
Frank,
Your price at $3,500 is just about right, maybe a hair high. The drivetrain is an unknown from the engine to the rear differential. Making a hot rod out of this abused machine would run the buyer a minimum of $30,000.00. We are looking at getting the drivetrain in order, overall I will bet the electrical will need to be redone, interior, suspension, body & paint are major costs. In the end, you got a one of a kind that only the person who sucked his bank account dry would love.
Some say ‘hard pass.’ This one’s easy to pass. Sorry, Mr. Seller. Unless you do the legwork to find the missing engine, complete with the tri-carbs, the 4-speed trans and a wheelbarrow full of Benjamin’s what you see is what you’ve got.
I know, why is it called hard pass when it would be very easy to pass it up?
WOW, 10k+ for a youstabee ! Someone must have fell in love with the youstabee trimmings !! Good luck with this retirement project.
Cann, at least come down to reality with your offer! GEEZ, same old mindset, I do not understand why people get on this site and provide or offer non reality advise/offers to everyone else! IF you want something shiney and brand new look somewhere else. Anything from the 60s and 70s especially a vet, has a tremendous value, catch it if you can!
Buy it cheap, sort it for safety, clean it up and do a spit shine (like Derek Bieri on Roadworthy Rescues), new wheels and tires, stuff in an LS and storm the next open track day/Concour ‘De Lemons.
“Mad Max: Road Warrior” is what I am channeling!
Would be a blast…. 👍🤓
I have to go along with the rest of our gang and say that this car is a has been, youst-a-bee. However, if the price of this one doesn’t go too high, you can have one hell of a good looking resto-mod. GM crate 502, 5 speed Tremec, tasteful upgrades. You may not end up buried in this car, if a person does most of the work at home. Start with a good rust inspection, it is after all a Jersey car.
I’m surprised that someone has ostensibly bid 10K for this. But who am I to judge. From my perspective I wouldn’t waste my time or money on this monstrosity. I’m not a fan of hacking up Corvettes and think that the fender flares are ugly. And I don’t give a rat’s behind what was in the engine bay back when. What’s there now could be a mooring anchor for all anybody knows. And the interior looks like a toxic waste dump. You couldn’t give me this POS. Harsh maybe but like Jim pointed out, the seller is trying to accentuate a meaningless “youstabe” when most people will see nothing but a money pit in this. Great tag, Jim! I got a chuckle out of it.
Definitely not for the weak of heart. If you had enough spare parts laying around and a couple of spare engines, it could make a good track car.
To each his own I suppose,this looks like a vice grip garage revival all day long,ole Derick would get er running and and drive her 600 miles home and park her out in rusty acres…just to keep her out of the crusher,if u don’t care about originality it does have potential for a cool ole dragger on Sunday afternoon…
Looks like they’re cooking pancakes under the hood. I’m not having any. And I love pancakes.
Oh to have unlimited resource …. I see a Corvette that is crying out for a good home and a loving hand. Imagine opening a totally unprofitable shelter for abused Corvettes, the SPCC. Cars would be cared for and rebuilt, and brought back to usefulness and given good homes. No I am not in a CBD coma, just in love with the Corvette. This one would be fun to “Derek” or even semi restore, without the hindrance of numbers matching, just make it a well cared for driver. Every time I see one of these C3s or even C2s that got the shizz beat out of it, the SPCC pipe dream comes to mind. Just imagine the size of the Morton building it could be to save our Fiberglass fantastics! Oh to have unlimited resource ……
Looks to me like it was once on fire…..or maybe that’s my imagination working in the future.
This thing is parts car only and not too many of them.
First off, somebody has a current bid in for over 10 grand & the reserve hasn’t been met? That in itself is insane for a non running butchered ’69 Vette. Convertible? I realize that back in the day people didn’t know what these cars would be worth some day if left original. No use crying over spilled milk. This to me is a blank canvass to build one badass machine. No use in trying to restore it to original specs since the original engine (if it ever existed) and 4 speed manual are long gone. My opinion is 8 grand tops for this Vette as is because at the end of the day it’s a misrepresented ’69 beat down Vette. Not the most desirable year Vette to begin with, but certainly in that realm. This blank canvass could be turned into a real neck snapping head turner without having the guilt of ruining a beautiful machine. My advice to the seller is to be more honest and transparent and stop thinking that you have a unicorn!
If it was a big block and an automatic that would be a surprise but Keats say it was a big block car. The only way to make it right is with the original, probably can’t find it, OR a service replacement engine which would have a manufacturer date coinciding with the warranty dates on this car. Those engines could have been put in many cars under warranty or purchased through the service department. I’m fortunate enough to have one that lived in a boat and is now planned for exactly what I described. A corvette big block car with the wrong engine.
If that top bid of $10,100 is legit, the seller should end the auction early and grab the $$ before the bidder changes their mind.
It could be valuable to the scientific community. It is VERY likely that new and exotic life forms are living in that upholstery. Just think of what may be crawling up your back or squirming its way into your nether regions. This would have been a find if it had actually been stored in a barn instead of near an EPA Supersite. It seems hardly likely that it will ever gain see motion under its own power. What a pity.
I’m of the age when these were highly sought after. It’s like seeing a 76 year old Playmate-of the Month from 1966.
I don’t want it myself, but I do think it can still be put back into a nice looking street driver. I still like those flares. Has had 33 bids, now up to $10.1K and reserve not met. This could turn out to be one of those auction cars where the owner won’t accept what someone is willing to pay and wind up sitting and deteriorating until it’s too far gone to be repaired. I hope not..
A little TLC? This clown needs a dictionary. One comment was incorrect. All L88s from 68 to 69 had no radios, but only 67 had no heat and defrost. By 68, federal regs required defrost, etc. This 69 needs a ton of money and work and will never be matching numbers because that’s all Corvette people care about.
I would not say “move-in time.” Despite the abuse and neglect, the car is still intact and revivable. I have revived a car that is much harder to revive…and Corvettes of any series will have more than enough aftermarket support to bring them back to original (or better) condition. I’m not saying that merely because I have a soft spot for this generation of ‘Vettes, though that is true; I’m saying it because it’s a fact.
That said, I’d say that, with all the cannibalizing that had been done to this car over its many years, plus its dead-Dalek condition now, the seller ought to consider accepting the current high offer as the reserve. They are not going to get museum-level bids to meet their current pie-in-the-sky reserve, whatever that figure may be.