c5goodlife

What do you guys think about this one please? What's a good price to pay for this?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/2908471775.html

REDUCED 1969 Corvette 427 435 convertible - $57000
This is a documented 427 435 hp 1969 Corvette. The car has its original Pro tecto plate and was sold new at Jack Douglass Chevrolet in Hinsdale IL. The car is a original side pipe car and also comes with its original Vinyl top hard top. The car is a matching number car with its original trans and rear. This is a very original car with one repaint.l
The engine was rebuilt less than 5000 miles ago and runs and drives perfectly.

Faster Rat

Nice looking car. If everything checks out, the price sounds too good to be true. These cars have sold in the low 6 figure range. Doubtful that it has been rebuilt and restored. You better have a real '69 L71 expert (who has actually restored one correctly) to thoroughly look it over before you pull the trigger.

redrdstr72

Looks like a very interesting car! How knowledgeable about the details of these cars are you? There's MUCH to know. If it were me, I'd start by asking if the car has been judged (recently) by Bloomington Gold or NCRS. If so, ask to see the judging sheets and use them, along with some very knowledgeable expert inspection/advice before jumping in.

The price seems good for a high caliber '69 BB convertible. Don't be slow - the season's upon us and good cars go fast.

Easy Mike

In either case, the seller would almost certainly mention that item in the ad.

Looks like a nice 69 and might be the real thing. Seller appears to know what it is.

Alan 71

Hi c5l,
I agree with rr72.
When I see some orange overspray on the water pump bypass hose I think that the engine has been restored with judging in mind. BUT, no mention of it?
I seems like too low a price for what the car APPEARS to be. He uses some of the right words but doesn't really say very much in total.
An inspection by a VERY KNOWLEDGABLE person would put your mind and wallet at ease.
Regards,
Alan

Roughrider

I have a '69 L71 convertible in at least as good shape as that one...with documentation going back to the window sticker, bill of sale and copies of all prior titles. It was evaluated and appraised by Tony's Corvettes (for much more than $57k) before I tried to sell it about 18 months ago. I couldn't get offers near $57k so I decided to keep the car.

The market changes...Spring is a good time to sell a car and I tried to sell in the Fall...a bad time.

Maybe the market for these cars has improved. If it has I may try and sell mine again...I know of a two year old Callaway that may be for sale soon (the owner wants a new ZR-1)...I'd have to sell my '69 to justify it.

69FASTFUN

I beleive that car was on the for sale forum and he stated that it has a NOM.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3s-...nvertible.html

Alan 71

Hi 69FF,
GOOD memory!
And, an important piece to the price puzzle in that thread!
Regards,
Alan

Mike Ward

Nowhere does the ad state that the car has it's original engine- only the ubiquitous 'matching numbers'.

BBCorv70

Waaaaaaayyyyyy too much money for a NOM.

vettebuyer6369

But is he playing "English games?":

"The car is a matching number car with its original trans and rear"

Does this mean its matching numbers (engine) AND the trans and rear... OR is he saying its a "matching number car with" meaning ONLY the trans and rear?

marshal135

I would think its too much $$$ for that unit.
You could get a 390 car and buy the 435hp manifold and 3 carbs
if you really had to have a tri power for a heck of a lot less $$ than
57k.
Just a thought.
But on a serious note with higher end corvettes if your going to get into that kind of $$ you better know more about that unit than a potential seller before delving into the high hp cars that fall pry to fakery these days. Scary thought to get burned for 57k
Thee Marshal

c5goodlife

Appreciate all of the input gentlemen. It's a new territory for me so certainly I will take all of the advice very seriously.

fberus

Ask for pictures of the trim tag and engine stamp pad.

3JsVette

You're right! I remembered it also.

"1969 Corvette conv 427 435hp 4 speed blue with blue interior very nice solid original car with pro tecto plate sold out of Jack Douglass Chevrolet in Hinsdale Illinois. Options include Vinyl hartop, side pipes, tilt telescopic, power brakes and amfm radio. The engine is a nom number matching restoration motor with all date codes correct including carbs heads and block with less than 3000 miles on it, the trans and rear are original to the car. 70,000"

That was almost 2 years ago to the day 4/18/10 using the same pictures.

Mike Ward

The latter, otherwise he would have said original engine, trans and rear.

vettebuyer6369

I tended to agree with you Mike. And you were right.

I emailed him and he said "it is the original trans and rear. The motor was decked and possibly the right one when rebuilt. It was restamped."

So, description is intentionally vague, and it is a restamped "matching number" block.

Socalrebell

I too own a 1969 L71 with PB, PW, PS, K66, M21 and have the vinyl hardtop, documented with the tank sticker and the car is NCRS Top Flight.

Buy the Black Book and check every #, fly there if you need to, but every # on my car matches, EVERY #. It is easy to spot a block re-stamp by the fonts on the stamp. Don't be foolish with a large purchase like this.

BTW when I bought my restored L71 in 1998 I paid $26,000


.

c5goodlife

Thanks again fellas. I can always count on CF to help out. I hate being taken so definitely appreciate all of the input.

Mike Ward

Whoa- got to disagree with your there. The bad restamps are easy to recognize, but there's lots of good, very good, and excellent restamps that fool most if not everybody almost all the time. An NCRS award is no assurance whatsoever that a car is/is not genuine.