This 1969 Chevrolet Corvette is a real-deal 427 car that sadly is missing an engine. It even has the preferred four-speed manual transmission and T-top roof, and the body appears to be in excellent shape. Sitting on redline tires, it looks like a Hot Wheels replica, but even those have a tiny engine under the hood. So, you have the option of dropping in a modern crate engine or tracking down a correct date-coded 427 to try and bring this one back to factory specs. Which would you choose? Find it here on craigslist in Kansas City for $22,500.
The body really is in excellent shape with gorgeous black paint and seemingly minty chrome bumpers. The trim rings on the wheels even still appear quite lustrous, as does the exhaust. This is an odd one, as it doesn’t look like the typical ravaged carcass of a car that gave up its powerplant when it was just a used muscle car in the middle 80s. This appears to have always been a nicely kept example, so outside of the original 427 imploding, it’s hard to imagine why you’d rip it out.
Hell, the interior only adds to the mystery as it, too, is in wholly decent shape. The seats, door panels, and carpet all look to be in good, clean condition. The center stack retains what looks like a period-correct steering wheel. And the polished or otherwise “bright” finishes all have good luster! This strikes me as a car that was kept indoors considering how nice the paint and chrome bumpers still appear to be, not to mention the interior clearly not having been ravaged by the sun. The seller mentions that it has a good, clear title, so it is not likely to be an accident victim.
Given the seemingly tidy removal, with cables and wires marked and tucked out of the way, the loss of the 427 seems pre-meditated. If it needed a rebuild, you’d think it would stay with the car, but whatever the circumstances were, the original engine went missing along the way. Given how original the rest of the Corvette is, I would be inclined to choose the more tedious path of finding a period-correct 427 to drop in. What would your preference be for getting this 4-speed, 427 ‘Vette to move under its own power again?
Real nice one.I’m sure someone will buy it.For me $22,500 is out of this world for a non runner, not to mention one with no engine! I can hear it now,YOU PAID HOW MUCH FOR A CAR WITH NO ENGINE ! And she would be right.
The writer seems to think this car is rather original, yet I see a 69 with a custom paint job, custom seat covers, a missing engine, wiring issues under the steering column, and a moldy dash which brings up all kinds of questions and concerns. The seller can claim it was a 435 car, but even if he had paperwork proving his claims, it will still always be a wrong motor car. $22000, I don’t think so. Drop a used 350 in it, get it running and sell it for a more realistic $15000.
22k is about right someone that wants to have hands on could install a small block and go driving nice car
Plenty of 454’s around….fit right in, and at least look correct. I live in Arizona and a coupe like this could only be driven in winter (if we had a winter), so it has to be a convert for me….real nice car.
Agree the ask is very optimistic, but let’s assume it could be bought for about $17k, put in an LS 427, end up with more power, less weight, better handling and better fuel economy, win, win, win and win…
And here in castle Haynes, nc, they are trying to sell a small 68 fire engine 11,000 miles, big block 427 or a mere three grand and change
I’m with bigbird. Dropping in a rebuilt junkyard 454 is the quickest way to get it going. A small block would necessitate a front spring change at the very least. Either way, $22,500 is too much, but a seller can always come down in price. I’m guessing that’s their plan.