Non-expert on C3s, what differentiates 427s?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 7,474
Likes: 116
From: Over there
Non-expert on C3s, what differentiates 427s?
I apologize if this is a dupe, but I searched the forum and didn't come up with anything (admittedly I didn't look too hard 
).
I currently have a newer model, but I have always liked C3s. I know just enough to know that I don't know enough. I can differentiate between years based on apperance, but I don't know what really sets certain cars apart from others (I don't have any experience in classic cars). In particular I was looking at '69, 427 cars, and the prices were all over the place. So my question is why? What separates one 427 from another? Is there a combination of options (4 speed, tri-power, A/C, interior, blah blah blah) that really makes a car worth a lot more?
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
).I currently have a newer model, but I have always liked C3s. I know just enough to know that I don't know enough. I can differentiate between years based on apperance, but I don't know what really sets certain cars apart from others (I don't have any experience in classic cars). In particular I was looking at '69, 427 cars, and the prices were all over the place. So my question is why? What separates one 427 from another? Is there a combination of options (4 speed, tri-power, A/C, interior, blah blah blah) that really makes a car worth a lot more?
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
427 big block Corvettes became available in 1966 & 1967 with C2 cars. Then, they were in C3's in 1968 & 1969. From 1970-1974, the big block C3 cars had 454's in them.
Some of the early 427 Corvettes are considered more collectible than others: ie, L-72, L-71 & L-88 cars with 4-sp trans and especially those with L-89 (aluminum) cylinder heads. Of course, "collectible" mean big-buck$ and museum show-pieces...not driver cars.
The 1970 ZR1 cars (25 made) and the 1971 LS-6 cars are all very special, too.
But, any big block Corvette is great...more desirable with a 4-speed; but automatic big blocks are fun to own, also. The THM-400 transmission (begun in 1968) was bullet-proof and worked well with that power.
Some of the early 427 Corvettes are considered more collectible than others: ie, L-72, L-71 & L-88 cars with 4-sp trans and especially those with L-89 (aluminum) cylinder heads. Of course, "collectible" mean big-buck$ and museum show-pieces...not driver cars.
The 1970 ZR1 cars (25 made) and the 1971 LS-6 cars are all very special, too.
But, any big block Corvette is great...more desirable with a 4-speed; but automatic big blocks are fun to own, also. The THM-400 transmission (begun in 1968) was bullet-proof and worked well with that power.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jan 20, 2016 at 03:40 PM.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,093
Likes: 4,017
From: New Braunfels Texas
390 horse and 400 horse were the same engine, but the 400 had Tri-Power.....the Tri-Power of course makes it much rarer but not as rare as the 435 horsepower.
390/400 were hydraulic cam...2 bolt mains, oval ports.
the 435 horse engines were solid lifter...4 bolt mains, Rec ports.....these are more desirable overall.....
Option combos make for rarities of course.
My 69' that I sold last year was a 427/400 A/C Conv. This particular combo was not common....maybe 800 made....but no way to tell positive.
I would say the 427/390 Auto non A/C takes the bottom on these and the 435 horse 4 speed takes the top.
I am sure the experts will chime in if I am wrong.
Jebby
390/400 were hydraulic cam...2 bolt mains, oval ports.
the 435 horse engines were solid lifter...4 bolt mains, Rec ports.....these are more desirable overall.....
Option combos make for rarities of course.
My 69' that I sold last year was a 427/400 A/C Conv. This particular combo was not common....maybe 800 made....but no way to tell positive.
I would say the 427/390 Auto non A/C takes the bottom on these and the 435 horse 4 speed takes the top.
I am sure the experts will chime in if I am wrong.
Jebby
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,098
Likes: 799
From: Massapequa Park NY
Go through as many posts here as you can. There is lots of info on this forum. Don't rush into buying any car until you feel comfortable with what you know you are looking at.
Great bargains can be found in the C3 market for those who really want to sell there cars. Now is a good time to get into one. Just do your homework.
Best of luck,
Ed
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
390 horse and 400 horse were the same engine, but the 400 had Tri-Power.....the Tri-Power of course makes it much rarer but not as rare as the 435 horsepower.
390/400 were hydraulic cam...2 bolt mains, oval ports.
the 435 horse engines were solid lifter...4 bolt mains, Rec ports.....these are more desirable overall.....
Option combos make for rarities of course.
My 69' that I sold last year was a 427/400 A/C Conv. This particular combo was not common....maybe 800 made....but no way to tell positive.
I would say the 427/390 Auto non A/C takes the bottom on these and the 435 horse 4 speed takes the top.
I am sure the experts will chime in if I am wrong.
Jebby
390/400 were hydraulic cam...2 bolt mains, oval ports.
the 435 horse engines were solid lifter...4 bolt mains, Rec ports.....these are more desirable overall.....
Option combos make for rarities of course.
My 69' that I sold last year was a 427/400 A/C Conv. This particular combo was not common....maybe 800 made....but no way to tell positive.
I would say the 427/390 Auto non A/C takes the bottom on these and the 435 horse 4 speed takes the top.
I am sure the experts will chime in if I am wrong.
Jebby
What bout the 427/430hp ??
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
I apologize if this is a dupe, but I searched the forum and didn't come up with anything (admittedly I didn't look too hard ).
I currently have a newer model, but I have always liked C3s. I know just enough to know that I don't know enough. I can differentiate between years based on apperance, but I don't know what really sets certain cars apart from others (I don't have any experience in classic cars). In particular I was looking at '69, 427 cars, and the prices were all over the place. So my question is why? What separates one 427 from another? Is there a combination of options (4 speed, tri-power, A/C, interior, blah blah blah) that really makes a car worth a lot more?
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
).I currently have a newer model, but I have always liked C3s. I know just enough to know that I don't know enough. I can differentiate between years based on apperance, but I don't know what really sets certain cars apart from others (I don't have any experience in classic cars). In particular I was looking at '69, 427 cars, and the prices were all over the place. So my question is why? What separates one 427 from another? Is there a combination of options (4 speed, tri-power, A/C, interior, blah blah blah) that really makes a car worth a lot more?
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 7,474
Likes: 116
From: Over there
Fair enough.So I was doing some research and it looks like the L71 or L89 cars are the ones that I would be interested in. If memory serves, the L88 is the super expensive car that seems to be more of a collector item than a driver's car. The L89 was just an L71 with aluminum heads, is that correct? That seems like a small difference for a big price gap, but I guess that's what makes me ignorant of older cars
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,093
Likes: 4,017
From: New Braunfels Texas
I did not include it because there were so few made and they command about 300k for admission....
But....the L-88 was an aluminum head, rev port, solid lifter, 1x4 carb on a high rise aluminum intake....it was a thinly veiled version of a racing engine and had a lot of cutting edge tech for the time.
Jebby
But....the L-88 was an aluminum head, rev port, solid lifter, 1x4 carb on a high rise aluminum intake....it was a thinly veiled version of a racing engine and had a lot of cutting edge tech for the time.
Jebby
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,304
Likes: 278
From: Ocala FL
390 horse and 400 horse were the same engine, but the 400 had Tri-Power.....the Tri-Power of course makes it much rarer but not as rare as the 435 horsepower.
390/400 were hydraulic cam...2 bolt mains, oval ports.
the 435 horse engines were solid lifter...4 bolt mains, Rec ports.....these are more desirable overall.....
Option combos make for rarities of course.
My 69' that I sold last year was a 427/400 A/C Conv. This particular combo was not common....maybe 800 made....but no way to tell positive.
I would say the 427/390 Auto non A/C takes the bottom on these and the 435 horse 4 speed takes the top.
I am sure the experts will chime in if I am wrong.
Jebby
390/400 were hydraulic cam...2 bolt mains, oval ports.
the 435 horse engines were solid lifter...4 bolt mains, Rec ports.....these are more desirable overall.....
Option combos make for rarities of course.
My 69' that I sold last year was a 427/400 A/C Conv. This particular combo was not common....maybe 800 made....but no way to tell positive.
I would say the 427/390 Auto non A/C takes the bottom on these and the 435 horse 4 speed takes the top.
I am sure the experts will chime in if I am wrong.
Jebby
Code:
390 400 435
1967 3832 2101 3754
1968 7717 1932 2898
1969 10531 2072 2722
total 22080 6105 9374
If you desire it from a collectible point, the 400 is the way to go.
If you desire it from a value point and a reselling point, then 435 hp is the way to go.
CF Community Team
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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If you want a C3 427 go for a 68 or 69 L36 427/390. They can be purchased more reasonably than a 400 or 435 tri-power car and make all the low end torque they do, plus you only have 1 carb to fiddle with. I have owned all 3 variants and my favorite for driving is the 390 horse single carb motor.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 7,474
Likes: 116
From: Over there
Not quite true.
As to desirability, the 390 hp was more than twice as desirable when new. Part of it is the driveability. If you want to drive a lot, the 390 is the way to go.
If you desire it from a collectible point, the 400 is the way to go.
If you desire it from a value point and a reselling point, then 435 hp is the way to go.
Code:
390 400 435
1967 3832 2101 3754
1968 7717 1932 2898
1969 10531 2072 2722
total 22080 6105 9374
If you desire it from a collectible point, the 400 is the way to go.
If you desire it from a value point and a reselling point, then 435 hp is the way to go.
Thanks for all the input everyone. Any more insights are of course welcomed.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
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I'm with Cape Vettes,
I have a '68, 427/390hp, 4spd, AC, P/S ,P/B, T-Top car.
It's everything I wanted without paying for more than I need.
It is extremely fun to drive, gets lots of thumbs up.
I can chug through a school zone in 4th gear at 15mph just fine,
then power out of the zone in 4th.
If you get a BB definitely P/B, P/S is a plus.
These are very desirable driver features.
If you have a newer car than the C-3 will be a completely different experience.
If you have L-71 or L89 $$$$ to spend you can get one heck of a
427/390 and have $$$$ to spare. Nice ones are 20-25K right now.
Do you want to drive it as I do or do you want a car that sits in a garage in a climate controlled environment and become thee
custodian till it passes to the next owner?
Your call....
Get a nice 390 car with updated vintage air system, P/S, P/B,
4speed a must. You'll thank me later
Carry on and may the force be with you.
Marshal
I have a '68, 427/390hp, 4spd, AC, P/S ,P/B, T-Top car.
It's everything I wanted without paying for more than I need.
It is extremely fun to drive, gets lots of thumbs up.
I can chug through a school zone in 4th gear at 15mph just fine,
then power out of the zone in 4th.
If you get a BB definitely P/B, P/S is a plus.
These are very desirable driver features.
If you have a newer car than the C-3 will be a completely different experience.
If you have L-71 or L89 $$$$ to spend you can get one heck of a
427/390 and have $$$$ to spare. Nice ones are 20-25K right now.
Do you want to drive it as I do or do you want a car that sits in a garage in a climate controlled environment and become thee
custodian till it passes to the next owner?
Your call....
Get a nice 390 car with updated vintage air system, P/S, P/B,
4speed a must. You'll thank me later
Carry on and may the force be with you.
Marshal
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Just curious...why do you specifically want a '69 427? Have you ever driven one? What are your expectations, other than making the most money on your investment? I ask this because a real, documented L71 with the original drivetrain is already a bunch of money. The high compression motor requires higher octane fuel (forget about 93 E10), the solid lifters require periodic adjusting and the triple carbs can be difficult to keep in tune and leak free. If you want to periodically drive the car, it is not the best choice.
FYI, the L36 thru the L88 (427 motors) used the same cast iron block. The higher revving solid lifter motors had extra holes drilled for the 4 bolt main bearing caps.
Last edited by Faster Rat; Jan 23, 2016 at 09:31 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,451
Likes: 326
From: Indy Indiana
In particular I was looking at '69, 427 cars, and the prices were all over the place. So my question is why? What separates one 427 from another? Is there a combination of options (4 speed, tri-power, A/C, interior, blah blah blah) that really makes a car worth a lot more?
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
What no one is saying here is that what separates one 427 from another is if the car has its original engine. prices vary drastically due to this concept.
a real L71 car with its real original engine are the expensive ones.. L89, L88, LS6, ZR-2.. are really hard to find and should be outside the consideration of the rookie C3 owner.
But also keep in mind that many many of the L71 cars out there are faked or have some excuse with its history, title, or engine dates or stamping that make it questionable of being counterfeited. A correctly coded and originally stamped L71 will sell for far more than any other.