Finding a chrome-bumper C3 Corvette Convertible with a freshly built big-block under the hood is always going to be a good thing. When it is being offered for sale with No Reserve, it suddenly becomes a whole lot more attractive. That is the story with this 1969 Corvette, which is located in Miami, Florida. It has been listed for sale here on eBay, and the bidding currently sits at $18,100. I would class the action as being frantic on this classic because there have been 67 bids submitted at the time of writing.
The Monza Red Corvette presents well, and the side exhaust adds a touch of menace and purpose to the vehicle. The paint looks nice, with no significant flaws to report. The car has recently received a new convertible top, but this seems slightly saggy. It may improve over time, but it might also have been installed incorrectly. The wheels generally look good, but I believe that the trim rings may have started to deteriorate. If this is the case, then it should not be a drama. Replacements are easy to find, and a high-quality set will cost under $110. The owner describes the car as being solid, which suggests that there are no rust problems with the frame or birdcage. He says that the headlights function, but the wiper door only operates manually. This is a pretty common occurrence, and getting it fixed should be easy. The exterior trim and chrome seem to be in good condition for a driver-quality classic, while there are no visible signs of any dramas with the glass.
The interior of the Corvette continues the “driver-quality” theme with this car. There are no horrendous issues, but there are a few items that might not be to the liking of anyone who is seeking complete originality. The most obvious of these are the Hurst shifter and the cloth covers on the seat. Both of these items could be replaced with something more appropriate without breaking the bank, and personal preference will determine whether or not this happens. The seat covers, in particular, do leave me torn. While I would love to see original covers there, I can vouch for the fact that cloth is a more comfortable proposition in hotter climates. The other noticeable change has been the replacement of the original radio with a CD player. This is not the first Corvette that we’ve seen from this seller, and I’m beginning to think that he must have received a package deal on this brand of CD player! As was the case last time, I don’t find the quality of the installation to be that great. There is an adaptor available to make these players fit into the dash in a more integrated fashion. I would be forking out the $30 for one of those because it would make quite a difference to the overall appearance. Otherwise, the rest of the interior looks tidy and has no urgent issues.
Powering the Convertible is a 427ci V8, which is hooked to a 4-speed manual transmission. It isn’t clear which version of the 427 this is, but it should be pumping out at least 390hp in good health. That should definitely be the case with this car. The owner states that the engine and transmission have accumulated under 10,000 miles since both were rebuilt. That means that if you were to point this Corvette at a drag strip, then the ¼ mile journey should take no longer than 13.8 seconds. The recent mechanical work means that the vehicle runs and drives very well. The owner notes that it does also have good brakes and tires.
If you are searching for a Corvette Convertible that can be driven immediately, then this is a car that is worth a closer look. If you are looking for one that could be restored to its original splendor easily, then once again, this is a car to consider. If you want a Corvette that is capable of impressive levels of performance, this would seem to tick that box as well. With 67 bids already made, it appears that there are plenty of people looking for at least one of those characteristics. And honestly, I can’t say that I blame them.
To start with, I don’t believe this was originally a big block car. Only small blocks came with the aluminum expansion tank and the sealed radiator without a water inlet. Also, it has an aftermarket, hand layup L-88 hood, not a press molded fiberglass one, like the factory used. If it is a 427, then it would be a 390 horse one, since that was the only one that used the low rise, single 4bbl, cast iron intake.
I don’t know of a $30 DIN radio adapter to use with the stock gauge bezel, but there is a replacement DIN radio gauge bezel available for $240. It must have a new rear spring, which is what causes Corvettes to sit high in back. The top looks like it was installed by a blind man, and it’s rarely an “easy” fix, to get a non functioning wiper door to work.
I suspect this is a quick paint job and a new top, to make a fast buck by a flipper. It might be a nice driver for someone, but from what I see, I think a more realistic price would be around $15K.
I have a 1969 L38 big block car with the tank sticker and it came with the sealed radiator and the remote tank. What get me is the cast iron intake. Mine has an aluminum low rise intake for the quadrajet. As far as I know, all of the 1969 big block Corvettes were aluminum intakes. The Chevelle, Camaro and Nova had cast iron on the non-solid lifter big block cars. Maybe the intake is painted?
Sorry L36 typo. The engine in that Corvette, if a 427, looks like an LS1 335hp out of an Impala SS.
You’re right, my mistake on the radiator. I was thinking 69 big block’s used the same radiator as 68’s, and that 70-72’s used the aluminum expansion tank (air cond. big blocks used the tube shaped copper tank).
As far as the intake, 69 390’s used the aluminum “801” casting, and that is clearly not an 801. I assumed it’s a later LS-4 or LS-5 cast iron intake.
You have it backwards on the expansion tank.
Good observations, and a very accurate assessment of this being a flipper car with a pretty resale red paint job. However, this one could possibly be a big block car with the 5600 RPM tach and disconnected expansion tank tucked in the passenger inner fender.
With regard to the expansion tank you are thinking of the 68’s. In 69 they reversed course with expansion tanks for BB’s and open radiator for SB’s.
It’s also missing the fuel return line from what I can see in the picture, so it may well have been a factory L68 400HP tripower which shares the same tach redline as the 390HP. Only way to further verify is the HD caps on the half shafts and the presence of a rear sway bar.
The aftermarket high rise L88 style hood is on it to hide the fact it has an incorrect iron intake manifold which is too tall for the factory big block hood. I would suspect the motor is most likely not original also.
Regardless, if anybody is seriously interested in this car, it would be adviseable to take along somebody very knowledgeable in early C3’s with you to inspect it before purchase. Just my two cents. Everyone have a great weekend!
I thought all 427-390 hp had the cast iron manifold?
I’ve driven a vette once with side pipes like this, and good luck getting in and out without getting burned. No chance of wearing shorts either. Can we say good bye leg skin??
Please lower the rear back to normal..personally I never liked the hot rod stance on a Corvette..they look better at stock height or a bit lower to me anyway
All that and the bid is only at $19K?! I want….
1969 big blocks came with aluminum expansion tanks first off, convertibles were black painted brass. Due to the cast iron manifold I would go along with this not being the original motor as who would switch out the factory aluminum Winters manifold for a cast iron? Obvious new springs in rear. A good amount of $$ to put this back to factory stock and still probability on not numbers matching. You would be underwater on this
Great information from all of you in the preceding comments. Especially for someone like me that loves these cars (And even owned a couple) but doesn’t always see what’s between the lines relative to what’s not right.
My observations only extended to the elevated ass-end and the Walmart installed radio and inappropriate Hurst-handle.
Either this car has been pictured here in a previous iteration (seems to me like it was pretty scruffy looking) or this same location has been used for photo ops. I suspect the seller is a Corvette flipper and put some lipstick on this pig.
You’ve pretty much just touched the tip. Of the iceberg. Check the ebay feedback, it tells the story.
It’s a shame these cars got cobbled up, but no one has a crystal ball 🔮.
I doubt that it is original.
That said, at the right price, a fun driver/project. 👍
Rebuilt engine is potentially a major and powerful selling feature – I think barnfinds and others need to find a way to quantify “rebuilt”.
Having been in the automotive service business I have heard the term “rebuilt” used incorrectly, loosely, ignorantly and deceitfully more times than correctly.