1969 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

Brightly-colored Corvettes are always going to be popular, and you know we love them here at Streetside Classics. This 1969 Chevrolet Corvette coupe represents the opportunity to buy an early C3 with lots of charisma for not a lot of money, and if history is any indication, there are going to be a lot of guys out there trying to take advantage of this offer.

The swoopy styling of the C3 has actually aged rather well and today offers a retro look that's immensely popular. Painting that dramatic shape bright red only helps the cause, because if you're going to own a '60s icon, you may as well go all-in. For an early C3, the gaps are quite good and the fiberglass is in very good shape, and the guys in charge of making it shine did a pretty darned good job, although it was several years ago. The tag says this one was originally Monza Red, but the car shows slightly lighter now than it did new, a welcome change made during the restoration. Revised side "gills" add some contrast that only enhances the Corvette's sporting look, and it still carries all its original badges, just in case you can't tell what kind of car it is. Chrome bumpers are a big part of the early C3's appeal, and these are nicely polished, along with the bright rocker panel trim and emblems that are almost too nice to be 47 years old.

The black interior is pure Corvette, which means it's both luxurious and sporty with enough creature comforts to make it a great long-distance cruiser. The seats are in good condition and the carpet looks almost new, so you know someone has been looking after it properly. Original door panels might be showing their age and replacing them would pay big dividends. All the gauges appear to be original and it is equipped with somewhat rare power windows, which are a nice addition to any early 'Vette, as well as A/C. FM radio was starting to come into its own in 1970, so the original owner was wise to spec an AM/FM radio, which still entertains from the center of the dash, and there's an aftermarket Alpine CD player in the storage compartment behind the passenger's seat. The cargo area is also in fantastic shape, including a pair of discreetly-mounted speakers that really improve sound quality.

The 350 cubic inch V8 is coded with an HX suffix, suggesting that it's the original 300 horsepower Corvette unit and it's a strong runner. It's not detailed for show under the hood, but it's easy to get in and turn the key for just about anything, making this Corvette daily-driver-friendly. It does have a bit of chrome to dress things up and it's very stock, right down to the original smog pump still mounted up front. The A/C has been converted to R134a refrigerant, but needs a recharge, which is common with conversions like this. The TH400 3-speed automatic is probably original to the car and the underside shows off a lifetime living someplace warm, because even a Corvette chassis can suffer in winter climates. A newer exhaust system gives it an appropriate V8 burble and factory Rally wheels wrapped in 225/70/15 front and 235/70/15 rear radials have the right look.

Affordable, fun, and nicely optioned, this is a Corvette that delivers big fun along with a decent pedigree, so you can buy with confidence. Call today!