mattnjvette

Next year I will start my hunt for my (attainable) dream car. A 1969 350/350 L46 Coupe with the 4-Speed Manual in Tuxedo Black or LeMans Blue with Factory Side Pipes. (427/435 if I could afford it!)

Found a Numbers Matching '69 350/350 with the 4-Speed Manual Trans with Factory Side Pipes in Fathom Green. What a beautiful car. Runs perfect mechanically with no visible cosmetic problems and very close to where I live! This car is listed on a no reserve eBay Auction but has a list price on FB Marketplace and Autolist at $22,500. If I could afford it at this time I would buy it in a heart beat. Unfortunately I will be starting to look this coming spring (2019).

What I want to know is, Will I ever be able to find a '69 350/350 (with Factory Side Pipes) for that good of a price again? I am worried I will never come across another like that for $22,500 or less. Not looking to spend more than that.

Can I ever find one for that price again?

vettebuyer6369

Dynra Rockets

Unless the auction comes with very detailed pics no C3 should be purchased sight unseen. As far as price, yes, if you are diligent in your search and will be happy with a driver quality then you should be able to find one for that.

mattnjvette

The auction/listings come with very detailed photos and it is very close to where I live. If I were looking to buy right now, I'd be over there looking at it.
Thank you so much for the response. Wish me luck for Spring 2019, 69 Vette here i come!

Iceaxe

I stay up-to-date on L46 prices and $22,500 for a nice car is a very good price. And for what it's worth, all L46's were 4-speeds as automatics were not available with the high winding L46 or LT-1. If we are looking at the same car on eBay you are going to look long and hard to find another L46 in that condition (at least from the pictures) for $22,500. The numbers guys will like the car as it has the original factory documentation, or so he says. The way the ad is worded I believe the side pipes were added later. Hope that helps.

But on the bright side, there is always another car at a great deal if you look.

Easy Mike

How would anyone know? But...... Never say Never.

mattnjvette

I wish I was able to afford it now! It is exactly what I am looking for. I am just worried I will not be able to find another deal like that when the time comes. Especially with how specific I am (Coupe, Tuxedo Black or LeMans Blue, Factory or Factory Styled Side Pipes). Let alone finding another one so close to where I live, and just in New Jersey for that matter!

Wish me luck!

mattnjvette

I am keeping my fingers crossed one pops up in the Spring!

mattnjvette

Do you think $22,000 is a high enough cap to find a '69 350/350 in good shape? I'm still young and that's as high as I can go.

Gold Dragon

Small block vettes are still fairly plentiful, and you have given yourself a decent budget. I would be looking at cars priced in the 22 - 30 thousand range. lots of cars on the market with motivated sellers. Remember, asking price is not the selling price. Best of luck.

Hemi John

I really can't love the green but looks like a clean car. And looks like a no BS no reserve auction. Keep looking OP, you will find the right car when the time comes. Just keep watching....

savewave

Vettebuyer6369 has more experience and expertise on this subject than me. I've always heard that nobody will buy a green Corvette and it will adversely affect prices when trying to sell one. While I believe that generally may be so and Corvette has produced some shades of green I did not care for, I think fathom green was a pretty color and I'd be proud to have a fathom green '69.

When I'm shopping for Corvettes, I'm looking to make myself happy, not potential future owners. YMMV.

avalonjohn

If you are not concerned that the side exhaust is "factory" then just look for a nice L46 Coupe in the colors you want. You can always add the side exhaust later. Real side exhaust 69's ( from the factory) are not all that common. The vast majority of the ones seen today were added on so unless you are a purist, don't sweat that when looking.

PS, I have a LeMans Blue, black interior,L46, from the factory side exhaust.

Iceaxe

Depends on what you are looking for. The L46 you are looking at brings roughly a $3000 premium over the same 4-speed car in a base engine. The minute you start restricting yourself to specific colors or options your pool of cars shrinks greatly. In my humble opinion (and I follow L46's closely) a nice car like you describe will sell more in the $25k to $30k range, at least where I live. If it needs a little work it will sell for a little less. The three most important items when buying a car are condition, condition, condition.

When I was looking for a car my must haves were 4-speed, chrome bumpers and no luggage rack and it still took me two years to find what I wanted, at a price I considered fair, in the condition I wanted.

Honestly the reason I'm a big fan of the L46 is I think it was one of the best small blocks GM ever produced. Plenty of HP, could be had with AC and yet is very streetable around town. I also think the L46 has been somewhat overlooked which works in your favor as it keeps the price down a little.

YMMV

stingr69

There are more cars out there. If you can not do it now anyway, the answer is less important. That auction still has a lot of time left so who knows what it will eventually sell for. It could still go higher.

Just gotta watch this one and keep drooling. :~D

ajrothm

One quick note.... whatever you do.. Don't buy a car that needs paint. What I mean is, don't buy a $10k car that "only needs a paint job"..... Because you will drop $15k MINIMUM for paint. I am going through this right now with my 71' that I've owned for 12 years...time came to paint it, and oh my lord....sticker shock is an understatement. I will have WAY more in paint and trim items then the car is worth. So FYI, buy the nicest car you can possibly afford up front, it will save you a TON in the long run.

gleninsandiego

I couldn't agree more!

Glenn in San Diego

Hayes69

You are probably looking 20-25k for what you want. it all depends on condition. also factor in the cost of shipping. It can be pricey. I got my 69 L46 4 speed convertible in Lemans blue (not original) with matching engine for 19.5k last year. The paint was excellent and after going through it a lot now I still feel like it was a great deal.

Hemi John

X3!! Great advice!!

dragonist2

I think this Craigslist listing might be the car OP is talking about: https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/...614903207.html

I might just jump on it unless he calls dibs. Do members think it is worth buying a car that hasn't had a frame off restoration done to it? The seller said that there was some surface rust on the frame that had been treated with rust inhibitor and painted over.

What do y'all think? Good car at a fair price or not?