There are few automobiles more stunningly shaped than early C3 Corvettes. Drawing heavily from the Mako Shark II show car’s styling, chrome bumper third generation Corvettes are at once beautiful and muscular. Adding to the good looks of these cars was a vibrant array of exterior color choices. Michael, one of our great contributing readers, has provided us with information on a great Corvette of this era that is beautifully painted in stunning Riverside Gold. For sale on craigslist in West Omaha, Nebraska, this 1969 Corvette convertible is near perfect in almost every way. In fact, there is only one thing that should be changed on this $29,000 sports car. Can you guess what it is?
From every angle, this car is absolutely gorgeous. You could practically personalize a Corvette by the options you ordered. Whoever ordered this one must have wanted a Corvette that stood out, but didn’t need a tire melting monster. It is a small block car with relatively few options. Despite this, the combination of gold paint, a convertible top, and side exhaust just plain works. I wonder if the car is originally from the Midwest. Was it ordered by some farmer with a flair for the dramatic?
From any angle, the overall look of the car is spectacular. Another item to note is that gold paint isn’t very good at hiding imperfections or shoddy work. Looking closely at our craigslist quality pictures reveals no blemishes or signs of short cuts in the finish. This car may be an accident free example. The ad states that the car has just 63,000 miles on it. Could that be the original mileage? As usual for a craigslist ad, we don’t have much of a description to go on.
Regardless of mileage or outside condition, any Corvette of this era may be hiding catastrophic rust in the frame or the birdcage area. Being a Nebraska car makes that even more possible. Any Corvette buyer should do a thorough inspection of the car on a lift. It would be even better to bring along a Corvette expert. Once you get into the price level of this car, it makes sense to insure that it is not stolen or rusty. Making sure the numbers match is critical as well. Not just for the engine and transmission, but for smaller items too.
The interior looks to be in as great a shape as the exterior. A quick glance inside reveals a very tidy cockpit that appears to have recently benefitted from a new set of seat covers. The car is also equipped with an AM/FM radio, a manual transmission, optional head rests, and standard hand crank windows. Unfortunately, it is not an air conditioned car.
Under the hood is the optional 350 cubic inch small block V-8 that put out 350 horsepower. Aside from what I believe to be a replacement alternator and a set of blue plug wires, the engine compartment looks stock and relatively unmolested. The car does not appear to have power assisted brakes, and I cannot tell if a power steering pump is installed. The alternator blocks the view, and power steering was an option that year.
So what is the one thing that should be changed on this car? The side exhaust should not be painted the body color. Factory side exhaust on 1969 Corvettes is supposed to have a polished metal finish. More gold paint is just too much. Other than that, it is a very likeable car. While the car doesn’t have many mechanical frills, it certainly appears to be in great condition. It would be great to have more documentation and history on the car. This lack of information may make it very hard to sell this beautiful Corvette for the asking price.
Is it worth $29,000? Let us know what you think.
Swap the side pipes for a luggage rack and take off for the weekend. It looks like a clean car, but 29K?
“Swap the side pipes for a luggage rack…” So your luggage is on the side of your car? Just kidding.
It looks clean and nice. If it checks out, and you plan on keeping it, it will grow into the $29k price. A little steep now.
One more thing, when these C3s show up, the rust in the frame or the birdcage comment is always included. I live in Wisconsin and have never seen any. I know you should check but is it really that common?
Regarding birdcage/frame rust, i find it very hard to believe anyone drove these in the rain or even left them out in the rain. I wouldn’t! I never seen 1 out in the rain in the 60’s/70’s or later. I see now why they didn’t offer a smaller steering wheel. The tach & speedo are HUGE & a smaller wheel would block them.
In the later ’70’s, the wheel got smaller, thicker & closer to the dash, but the speedo & tach were smaller.
Odd they didn’t offer a fixed roof option. & they should have made a useful trunk lid for this car, instead of a 1 piece expensive to repair rear end. Of course there were hatchback conversions, but i never seen a trunk lid on 1 of these.
I live in Connecticut, and I assume my ’79 has too for all it’s life. No frame or birdcage rust beyond the average surface corrosion any new car frame will have in a few years. No pitting.
My ’70 convertible had rot in the common areas:
The kick ups in front of the rear wheels needed to be repaired, and the whole top of the windshield frame had to come off and another expertly welded to the remaining birdcage, which was in good condition.
I’ve been told that it was a common sight to see Corvettes with snow tires driving around in the snow.
Love the color.
Hate those pipes.
Back in 1979, looked at and tried to buy a 69 Roadster, 350/350 4 speed and had a hardtop with it. Gray exterior, black interior and top. That sucker ran like a scalded dog and other than one scratch looked great! Offered $3K for the car and $400 for the top if I got the car. Seller sold it to someone else for $3400 including the top, boy was I ticked off on that one. Later talking with my insurance agent found it would have cost more for insurance each year than the cost of the car. Didn’t care, I still had wanted it.
This one looks good overall though too rich for my blood.
Not to me. Never liked ’em.
Hello, very nice. most 350 horse cars have been blown up. numbers match on the engine that’s a big plus. The stainless steel ignition shielding is missing. Does it have a protective plate? I think it’s in the ballpark. 26 to 27 if everything else checks out
It looks like a pretty nice 69, and Riverside Gold is a good looking color, but $29K is pretty optimistic, in my opinion.
The seller claims that it has “rare factory side exhaust”, but it really isn’t all that rare. About 4,400 69’s came with side exhaust, and probably twice that many have had them added since 69. The factory side pipe covers were chrome plated white metal, and like all chrome plated die cast metals, they tend to pit and the chrome tends to peel. The covers on that car are fiberglass replacement covers, probably because the chrome plated die cast ones, cost $2.500 a pair.
Under the hood looks fairly original, but it is missing the ignition shielding and A.I.R. pollution equipment. It’s hardly what I’d call detailed though, which for $29,000, I would expect it to be.
By the way, the headrests were not “optional” in 69. Federal law required that all car’s front seats had headrests, starting in 1969.
Depends on your definition of rare
About 11% of all 69’s had side pipes.
Did all ’69s come with the A.I.R. equipment installed, or only the ones sold in CA?
Not just a Kalifornia problem anymore for auto makers by 1968, at least as far as emissions equipment. So I believe yes is the answer for 1969 vehicles sold in the US ofA. Bummer.
If they all came with it, then it must be super rare to see one with this equipment installed.
I’ve only seen one, it was a ’72.
Also from the north. Yes frame and undercarriage rust is an issue with many. Also the rivets in front of the head lamp lids begin to deteriorate and make dimples on the deck.
Why do so many people like older cars but have no love for period correct colors. I would not buy this on a new car, but its great on this.
Here is what looks like a stock ’69 350 with the A.I.R.
https://azure.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1969-CHEVROLET-CORVETTE-CONVERTIBLE-132734
Black vinyl- covered hard top and no one will ever notice the side pipes.
I agree totally with the sidepipes comment. That was the first thing that caught my eye before I read the story. I also agree with Steven M’s comment about period correct colors. I believe they called it Laguna Blue during this era – one of my favorite colors. But the LeMans Blue on my current Corvette would look out of place on a C3.
This is a nice find, but a little pricy imo.
about 10K too high for this one, if he would spend the money for the correct side exhaust covers, he might just find a buyer at his asking.
Reminds me, in color mostly, of the Corvette that got driven into the lake in the movie Billy Jack. Haha! Cringed every time I saw that Vette going underwater.
I rather like the painted side pipes and the gold color is very close to that on my 72 Camaro.
Only thing wrong with this car is the price!
Nice some of you or just jealous. Try finding a nice one. a 50 year old car that’s perfect demands a high price. try restoring a car yourself and you’ll see how much it cost to do.
It looks like a clean car of it’s age group. It is missing distributor cover. Gold painted off road exhaust doesn’t fit car. If numbers match , and no rust through on frame, and paint looks good up close, price is not bad.
Hate the paint hate the car! Lol, I just don’t like corvettes! :-)
Simple solution. Stop looking at them and reading through the comments. Then do something worthwhile with the time you have saved.
I actually like how the side pipes are painted ?
I think the painted sidepipe covers look nice and goes together well with the paint color of the car. $2500 would be a tough pill to swallow for correct replacements for any blue collar old car fan.