1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

This 1969 model year Corvette was built at the St. Louis, MO assembly plant in July of 1969 and was originally Cam Am White over Bright Blue vinyl interior. Original equipment included: 350 V8 motor, 3-speed Turbo Hydramatic AT transmission, 15-inch wheels, and air conditioning. Not much is known of the car prior to it being acquired by the current owner in 2015. At some point prior, the car was given a quality repaint and color change to LeMans Blue Metallic and fitted with a period correct L68 427ci /400hp V8 with tri-power and a big-block cowl hood. In 2017 the car was taken to Brads Custom Auto (Hot Rod shop) of Seattle and began an extensive 6-year restoration. Every aspect of this car has been rebuilt and upgraded. The L68 engine was sent to C&D Machine of Kirkland, WA, a well-known engine builder here in the Northwest, and received a complete overhaul to the tune of $11,324. The block was ground and surfaced, bored to .060, the heads and crank were magna fluxed and polished. A competition engine kit was added including: new pistons, moly rings, performance camshaft, roller rockers, new rod bearings, hydraulic lifters, and upgraded push rods. Meanwhile Brads Custom Auto had the transmission rebuilt, serviced the posi-traction rear end, replaced all suspension components-shocks, rear leaf spring, bushings, ball joints, etc, replaced all brake components, fitted new engine and trans wire harness, rebuilt vacuum system for headlamps and wipers, repaired interior fiber optic lights, fitted new fuel tank, pump, hoses, and hard lines, rebuilt the Holley tri-power carburetors, replaced the wheel bearings and did much electrical work.

Many upgrades were also fitted including MSD ignition, complete new Vintage Air HVAC system which blows hot and cold and works much more effectively than the original system, Magnaflow mufflers were added for better sound and breathing, New QA1 coil overs were installed up front and the whole suspension was lowered a bit, new BF Goodrich 225/70/15 redline tires were fitted, Performance aluminum radiator, SK-1 performance shift kit for the transmission was also added to improve shifting. The interior was enhanced by new seat belts, new carpets, new windshield, 14-inch thick black leather 3-spoke sport steering wheel, blue vinyl storage bags for the t-tops, a new Retro-Sound Bluetooth stereo was installed that looks like the original and new Kicker speakers were fitted to finish modernizing the sound system. All gauges work correctly and were rebuilt or replaced as needed including converting the clock to quartz movement, a new 160mph Speedometer was sourced and installed and the mileage displayed of 578 reflects since restoration.

Everything now works as designed and all systems are in excellent condition. All in all over $100k was spent on making this Corvette into the ultimate LeMans Blue on Bright Blue 69 427 tri-power car you see in front your eyes today. With build costs and time constraints with most shops today this car is a great opportunity to buy one that is finished, dialed in, and ready to run! Included with the car are: extensive restoration invoices showing over $100k of expenses, owner's manual, car cover, removable t-tops w/ storage bags, original steering wheel, Corvette logo floor mats, original factory sales brochure, original tank sticker showing build specs, and installation manuals for all systems fitted.

The C3 Corvette was produced from 1967-1982 which had the most swoopy and curvaceous styling of all the Corvettes. This era Vette was styled after GMs concept car the Mako Shark II designed by Larry Shinoda who would also style the Ford Mustang Boss 302 Mustang among some other well-known models for other brands. In 1969 the name Stingray was brought back after a 2 year absence and today these 69 model year cars are some of the most sought after because they were pure and raw and did not suffer from the later smog emissions strangled models of later years.