On our showroom floor here at the Classic Auto Mall is a 427ci V8 powered 1969 Chevrolet Corvette. Beautiful lines for this year, the real racing form was taking shape. A numbers matching big block car in need of some TLC, but complete and drivable in its current condition or take it to the next level and create a show winner.
Exterior
It's 1969 and this Corvette is bathed in color close to Monaco Orange over the fiberglass moldings that make up the body. Numerous chips are present in both the fiberglass body as well as paint finish as well as some noticeable paint cracks. Bring on the french curve as this design utilizes some wonderful lines, has a retro throwback with the shark "gills" in the front quarter, and uses glorious chrome. (soon to go away!). That chrome leads the way with a V shaped front bumper and surrounding grille supports, all in nice condition. Stingray now one word is showing up in badging just above the "gills". Chrome window surrounds and body colored side view mirrors are there too, along with a stainless-steel rocker covering emphasizes the exaggerated coke bottle design of the sensuously curved sides. To add even more bling to the lower body we note chrome side pipes. A T top, which has removable with fiberglass panels works flawlessly and shows no leaks and in back, a vertical rear glass has the long "flying buttress" B pillars that gently land on the rear deck which is adorned with the crossed flags gas filler cap is in the very center. The rear of the car leaves an impression also with the split chromed bumpers, round taillights and cut outs in the roll pan on each corner from when the exhaust was routed out the back. 15 inch deep dish trim ringed rally wheels wearing smooth chrome center caps are on all 4 corners and all are wrapped with raised white lettered Cooper Cobra rubber.
Interior
In wonderful contrast to the exterior Monaco Orange, we offer up a black and white vinyl covered sporty interior. This neat black first makes its appearance on the door panels. Cleanly molded and sculpted with white woven vinyl center panels for highlighting, the window cranks, lock turn knobs, door actuator, and armrest are housed here. Slipping into the high back thin design buckets we have smooth black vinyl bolsters and screen textured tuck and roll white vinyl inserts. These chairs show some wear in the inserts with degradation of the underlying foam. The center console moves towards the dash in molded black plastic to cover the hump. Also here is the shift lever, handbrake, temp wheels, and ashtray surrounded in back plastic with shiny surrounding trimmings. These panels show some dirt and wear. Moving up from the console we have the radio which is a factory AM/FM system. Also 5 gauges are lined up above in a panel that monitors everything but your blood pressure (as the brochure says!). A nice black rally steering wheel with a trio of satin chromed center spokes which come together in the center and mount up with the black center steering column. An angled dash houses dual deep inset round speedo and tach as well as eyeball air vents, and a few simple pulls. Padded black vinyl covers the dash and dash top and is all in excellent condition. Black carpeting is on the floors and presents with minor fading and soiling and the carpeted storage area is showing with loose carpet and a slew of added speaker wiring all leading back to the aftermarket AM/FM/CD player mounted between the seats.
Drivetrain
A 427ci V8 crowds the engine bay and is numbers matching in its patina glory. On top are 3 Holley 2-barrel carburetors and aluminum intake manifold, both lurking under the chrome triangle shaped air cleaner. Bolted to the back is an era-correct Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission which is not numbers matching. The rear axle in the very back weighs in with a 3.08 assumed ratio as the axle stamping code is obliterated.
Undercarriage
Slight wear and patina are seen underneath, but overall, a solid frame all steel undercarriage is looking great and mostly surface rust free. All independent SLA forged aluminum upper and lower control arms with coil springs is the suspension for the front. On back full independent suspension with frame anchored differential unit. Transverse leaf springs are noted as well. Disc brakes are all around and all is structurally fine underneath on this 69.
Drive-Ability
She fires right up and drives off beautifully with neck snapping acceleration and great handling synonyms with a Corvette. All functions were operational at the time of the drive including the wiper cowl and headlamps, however we noted that the brake pedal is very soft and drops to the floor upon application, but the car does still stop.
An overall nice condition car in the form of a numbers matching big block Stingray. With some minor wrench turning this could become your daily driver or you can take it to the next level and compete with the big boys at the national shows. The choice is yours, but you better not dally as big block Corvettes don't last long in our Hallowed Halls.
Exterior
It's 1969 and this Corvette is bathed in color close to Monaco Orange over the fiberglass moldings that make up the body. Numerous chips are present in both the fiberglass body as well as paint finish as well as some noticeable paint cracks. Bring on the french curve as this design utilizes some wonderful lines, has a retro throwback with the shark "gills" in the front quarter, and uses glorious chrome. (soon to go away!). That chrome leads the way with a V shaped front bumper and surrounding grille supports, all in nice condition. Stingray now one word is showing up in badging just above the "gills". Chrome window surrounds and body colored side view mirrors are there too, along with a stainless-steel rocker covering emphasizes the exaggerated coke bottle design of the sensuously curved sides. To add even more bling to the lower body we note chrome side pipes. A T top, which has removable with fiberglass panels works flawlessly and shows no leaks and in back, a vertical rear glass has the long "flying buttress" B pillars that gently land on the rear deck which is adorned with the crossed flags gas filler cap is in the very center. The rear of the car leaves an impression also with the split chromed bumpers, round taillights and cut outs in the roll pan on each corner from when the exhaust was routed out the back. 15 inch deep dish trim ringed rally wheels wearing smooth chrome center caps are on all 4 corners and all are wrapped with raised white lettered Cooper Cobra rubber.
Interior
In wonderful contrast to the exterior Monaco Orange, we offer up a black and white vinyl covered sporty interior. This neat black first makes its appearance on the door panels. Cleanly molded and sculpted with white woven vinyl center panels for highlighting, the window cranks, lock turn knobs, door actuator, and armrest are housed here. Slipping into the high back thin design buckets we have smooth black vinyl bolsters and screen textured tuck and roll white vinyl inserts. These chairs show some wear in the inserts with degradation of the underlying foam. The center console moves towards the dash in molded black plastic to cover the hump. Also here is the shift lever, handbrake, temp wheels, and ashtray surrounded in back plastic with shiny surrounding trimmings. These panels show some dirt and wear. Moving up from the console we have the radio which is a factory AM/FM system. Also 5 gauges are lined up above in a panel that monitors everything but your blood pressure (as the brochure says!). A nice black rally steering wheel with a trio of satin chromed center spokes which come together in the center and mount up with the black center steering column. An angled dash houses dual deep inset round speedo and tach as well as eyeball air vents, and a few simple pulls. Padded black vinyl covers the dash and dash top and is all in excellent condition. Black carpeting is on the floors and presents with minor fading and soiling and the carpeted storage area is showing with loose carpet and a slew of added speaker wiring all leading back to the aftermarket AM/FM/CD player mounted between the seats.
Drivetrain
A 427ci V8 crowds the engine bay and is numbers matching in its patina glory. On top are 3 Holley 2-barrel carburetors and aluminum intake manifold, both lurking under the chrome triangle shaped air cleaner. Bolted to the back is an era-correct Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission which is not numbers matching. The rear axle in the very back weighs in with a 3.08 assumed ratio as the axle stamping code is obliterated.
Undercarriage
Slight wear and patina are seen underneath, but overall, a solid frame all steel undercarriage is looking great and mostly surface rust free. All independent SLA forged aluminum upper and lower control arms with coil springs is the suspension for the front. On back full independent suspension with frame anchored differential unit. Transverse leaf springs are noted as well. Disc brakes are all around and all is structurally fine underneath on this 69.
Drive-Ability
She fires right up and drives off beautifully with neck snapping acceleration and great handling synonyms with a Corvette. All functions were operational at the time of the drive including the wiper cowl and headlamps, however we noted that the brake pedal is very soft and drops to the floor upon application, but the car does still stop.
An overall nice condition car in the form of a numbers matching big block Stingray. With some minor wrench turning this could become your daily driver or you can take it to the next level and compete with the big boys at the national shows. The choice is yours, but you better not dally as big block Corvettes don't last long in our Hallowed Halls.