| This spectacular 1969 roadster is a real heartbreaker: numbers matching, fully restored, documented, with a complete ownership history (including phone numbers!) back to Day One. Oh, and it's absolutely beautiful! Restored in 2002 by C & S Classic Cars in Springdale, Arkansas and driven less than 500 miles since, this 100% matching numbers Corvette is presented in its original Cortez Silver over a standard black vinyl interior with a black convertible top. The effect is subtle and sophisticated, and reminds me that Corvettes had so many options that they could pretty much be configured any way you wanted them. Some were built to be extroverted track stars with big blocks and wild paint, while others, like this convertible, were more like grand touring cars packing a ton of performance with a more upscale look. Heck, even with side pipes, this car just oozes class and understatement, and on a Corvette, the effect is spectacular. During the restoration, this one was also upgraded with a big block hood with chrome vents just for appearance's sake, but the original hood is included should the owner want to take it back to 100% stock condition. The bodywork is first rate. Corvettes get a bad rap for build quality, but now that it's 40 years later, restorers have pretty much learned how to perfect the old plastic fantastic. Flaws that even a new owner might have overlooked are just unacceptable on a restored car today, and as a result, cars like this one are head-and-shoulders nicer than they were when new. This car started out as a super-clean low-mileage original that straddled the line between "too nice to restore," and "too worn to show," the restoration started. By using such clean base stock, the end result is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. The panels are smooth and flat, panel gaps are very good, and there's no orange peel anywhere. The 2-stage paint gives the Cortez Silver a deep gloss that really brings out the very slight hint of blue that's buried deep inside. The early Stingrays (note: one word in '69) also featured great-looking chrome front and rear bumpers, and they're fresh and shiny on this car. The stainless around the windshield has been polished to new condition, the door handles are fresh reproductions, as are some of the badges and emblems. On the deck lid there's a luggage rack—handy, since the C3 Corvettes had no trunks. Lenses are excellent, and it appears that both the vacuum-operated headlights and the often recalcitrant windshield wiper door all function properly. Open the reverse-facing big block hood and you'll find the optional L46 350 cubic inch V8, a $131 option in 1969. Making 350 horsepower and 380 pounds of torque thanks to an 11:1 compression ratio, it cackles and barks through those great-looking side pipes. The block, heads, and intake are Chevy Orange, the "ram's horn" exhaust manifolds have been refinished, there are correct hoses and clamps throughout, and the ignition system's shielding components have been re-chromed and reinstalled. You'll also note that the entire air injection emissions control system has been restored and reinstalled completely intact, something that is incredibly rare, since this stuff was often the first thing a new owner removed when he got his Corvette home from the dealership. Correct decals have been used throughout, from the tune-up specifications tag on the firewall to the '350 Turbo-Fire 350 Horsepower' decal on top of the chrome air cleaner lid. And those are the original cast aluminum valve covers, too. It fires right up, idles nicely, and is a pleasure to drive, especially blowing through those great-sounding side pipes. The optional $184 M20 4-speed manual behind the engine is also the original matching-numbers piece and slices through the gears with precision. The rest of the chassis is VERY highly detailed, with proper markings and tags throughout. Power steering was added to the car sometime in its past, and it is a 100% factory-looking installation that works perfectly. Out back is the original numbers-matching differential. The car rolls on a set of Rallye wheels and reproduction F70-14 Goodyear Speedway Widetread redline tires for a truly authentic look. The interior is another reminder that Corvettes are not crude brutes. Even with the standard black vinyl, this is a very nice place to spend a lot of time. Everything is new, from the seat covers to the carpets to the door panels, and it looks very upscale and high-performance. The '60s were a cool time when manufacturers were trying new tricks, and I really like the trick fiber-optic tracers that light up on the dashboard showing that all the exterior lights are functioning properly, including the license plate light. The seats are very comfortable, and even our VP of sales, who is well over six feet tall, fits comfortably behind the wheel. I also like the gauges in the center console which became a Corvette trademark throughout the C3 era. The AM/FM radio in the dash is correct, the steering wheel is refinished, and the gauges are bright and crisp. I noticed that there is no glove box, just a trio of vinyl pouches in that location weird, but OK, that's how they were doing it in '69. There's even a plaque on the console indicating that this is a 350 horsepower car, separating it from lesser, base Corvettes. Even the factory was getting in on documenting their special cars back then. Overhead you'll find a new black vinyl top that stacks neatly in its well behind the seats and under that hard deck. Documentation is, as I mentioned, extensive. Not only do we have a complete ownership history with names, addresses and phone numbers, but we have title work going back several owners as well. There's an original owner's manual, warranty booklet, tire changing guide, and AM/FM stereo radio manual. We also have several letters from previous owners describing their ownership of the car and some additional details on its title history (it was used for collateral on a loan, for example, which explains why the title was changed several times). There are also pictures from throughout its life, giving you a good idea of just how well-maintained this beautiful car was and how much each of its previous owners have cherished it. The owner also claims that the original tank sticker is still present and fastened to the tank, but of course, we are unable to verify it. However, given this car's condition and low mileage, it's very likely intact. Finally, there are dozens of receipts for restoration and maintenance items throughout the car's life. Any way you look at it, early C3 Corvettes are great cars. They're beautiful, fast, reliable, and easy to drive. They deliver incredible performance for the dollar, and yet manage to be comfortable at the same time. Small block cars like this are my personal favorites because of their favorable handling characteristics, and compared to some of their big-block brothers, they're screaming bargains. When they're as pretty as this Cortez Silver ragtop, it's awfully hard to come up with reasons not to love it. This one has all the right ingredients, too: matching numbers, documentation, a full restoration, and in excellent driving condition. It will be a welcome addition to any show, from your local cruise-in to Bloomington, and you can drive it anywhere with confidence just be sure to pack lightly. 60,778 miles from the odometer. color codes from the owner. Built date is K24. VIN not certain. Was K24. March 25, 2010. |
