When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I recently was given a 1969 corvette convertible top. Was told the original color was red. The car is believed to be an original big block car with power brakes, power steering, and factory A/C. Is this a rare care? Car is in need of heavy restoration does not have the big block motor with it.
Edit* Mostly asking about rarity due to curiosity felt like A/C with big block would be very unusual for year. Does have the larger springs and appropriate rear end for a big block. But any input on value is also welcome.
Like I said heavy restoration needed but wanted to provide photos for those asking. Thanks for all the feedback!
Last edited by Csting99; Nov 10, 2023 at 09:18 PM.
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Nice, roadworthy 1969 427/390-horse convertible Vettes are selling in the mid- $30K range. You can't get the car shown into any kind of roadworthy condition, much less "nice" roadworthy condition, for anywhere close to that number. Doesn't matter if it's "rare" or not: That car is a "total." Unless you have the ability to do absolutely ALL work yourself (including the massive amount of body and paint work that car needs), have the ability to build and piece together a complete correct-appearing drivetrain with engine and tranny, and you do not put any price on the 2 years of labor it's going to take you, you will be in a massive upside-down cost situation to even attempt to piece that thing together. Part it out for what you can get for the frame and the few usable parts it has.
A factory A/C convertible is on the rarer side of Corvettes.
Starting in '72, the VIN contains the engine chosen but that doesn't help you. There are various little details to determine whether or not it was a big block car. Look for: rear stabilizer bar between the two rear wheels; heavier front springs; different radiator, shroud, (and fan blade IIRC); tachometer rpm redline; larger diameter front stabilizer bar (IIRC); u-joint caps rather than u-bolts. I'm sure there are more but that's what comes to mind.
Please post pics of the trim tag on the driver's door hinge pillar - that will provide the original exterior and interior color.
We'd love pics of the car overall too!
Not really all that rare. They made lots of them, and with the original motor gone, it’s “just” a 69 convertible. I wouldn’t kick it out of my garage, but I wouldn’t pay much for it either. Convertibles are prized more than coupes throughput the hobby.
Depends. They probably didn’t make many 1969 Corvettes with EXACTLY the options your car had when it was new, but then again almost every 1969 Corvette can make that claim as very few cars came out EXACTLY like another car off the assembly line. They almost always vary to some degree with endless combinations of options.
The fact that you don’t know EXACTLY and can’t prove what options your car had and only believe what it may have had makes any claim valueless. If you can’t reasonable prove a claim it has very little weight with regard to collectibility. In your case even if you could prove what the car came with originally it doesn’t matter because the parts are gone. Any parts you replace it with are not original and it matters to those who find originality collectible. They want the parts the car was born with. Not replacement parts especially drivetrain parts.
If you are concerned about possible value that’s another question. “Rare” it is only one part of the puzzle for value. In order to make something valuable it has to also have desirability along with rarity. One or the other by themselves will not equal high value. As an example, 3 speed manual 1969 Corvettes are very rare, but nobody wants them so it hurts value.
Since you don’t have the original drivetrain the desirability aspect of the original rarity is lost. The only exceptions being an L88 due to them being very rare and very desirable even without the original drivetrain. If your car had AC then it wasn’t an L88 so don’t worry….The car still has value just as a 69 Corvette and could be made into a nice car but the collectible aspect is gone. That doesn’t mean the car is worthless, just that the value will now be in the way the car drives and looks to the person who wants to DRIVE the car and enjoy the car for driving. There is value in that. Build it. Drive the wheels off the rims and have fun. However, don’t expect to come out ahead financially. If you do come out ahead, that would be considered RARE…..so maybe it could be after all?
Take a look at this website. I think in 1969 a buyer had more options or RPO ( regular production order ) then any other year Corvette. Plus the most engine combinations. So a buyer had a wide choice to make his or her corvette different.
AC is a nice option to have with the big block. Fairly rare, desirable.
That is going to be a rough build. Lots of money. But if you have the time, money, patience, room to store and work on it, it could be rewarding.
As for value, there is money in parts. If those body panels are original they are worth money. Depending on what’s left I can’t see you have a few thousand worth of parts at least. Parting out is going to get you the most. It’s also the most time consuming.
You stated "I recently was given a 1969 corvette", I'm going to assume you have no money in this car so my first question would be how many of the parts we don't see in the picture came with the car?
As others have stated because you don't have the original motor at the end of the day there will be nothing rare about this car even after restoration. That said you do have some good bones to work off of if you decide to press forward with a frame off restoration.
Have you looked for a fuel tank sticker or build sheet? If it's there and readable, it is proof positive what options, including what engine was installed at the factory. As others have said, what parts do you have? Looks like someone put new tires on the car. Before going too deep into restoring the car, have you checked the frame and birdcage to see if they are both sound? Jerry
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Nice, roadworthy 1969 427/390-horse convertible Vettes are selling in the mid- $30K range. You can't get the car shown into any kind of roadworthy condition, much less "nice" roadworthy condition, for anywhere close to that number. Doesn't matter if it's "rare" or not: That car is a "total." Unless you have the ability to do absolutely ALL work yourself (including the massive amount of body and paint work that car needs), have the ability to build and piece together a complete correct-appearing drivetrain with engine and tranny, and you do not put any price on the 2 years of labor it's going to take you, you will be in a massive upside-down cost situation to even attempt to piece that thing together. Part it out for what you can get for the frame and the few usable parts it has.
It would be an interesting project for someone who already has a nice 68-79 Corvette and really,really wants a convertible chrome bumper car. It would be labor intensive though.
If it was an air conditioned big block it was either a 390 or 400 horse engine. Fully restored with a numbers matching engine it would sell for $80 to $110 K. This car is about $100 K or more to become that car. You could do all the work and shop swap meets for parts, spend about three years and 1000 hours of labor to keep the cost down. You might be able to sell it in its current pictured state for $10-$15 K. It is not a rare car as others have stated.
In the current market you could spend the $100K to restomod the car with a LS motor and, if it is well done, sell it for $200K+ at auction most likely. All depends on your budget and what you want in the end. If it’s just a nice driving Corvette, buy something already done for $25-$50K.
If it was an air conditioned big block it was either a 390 or 400 horse engine. Fully restored with a numbers matching engine it would sell for $80 to $110 K. This car is about $100 K or more to become that car. You could do all the work and shop swap meets for parts, spend about three years and 1000 hours of labor to keep the cost down. You might be able to sell it in its current pictured state for $10-$15 K. It is not a rare car as others have stated.
In the current market you could spend the $100K to restomod the car with a LS motor and, if it is well done, sell it for $200K+ at auction most likely. All depends on your budget and what you want in the end. If it’s just a nice driving Corvette, buy something already done for $25-$50K.
Edit: All of these "big numbers" as stated above for restored cars ASSUME THEY HAVE DOCUMENTATION to go with the prices. You have none. You must calulate to be 40 percent lower in price upon completion. At least. It appears to be a non-AC car as stated before. Engine is a who knows. You can take the vin and start looking...someone may have found the original engine, and if so that changes everything.....
A solid 69 Corvette convertible project has great value from your position. Looks like a great $10,000.00-$15,000.00 sale for you AS IS.
Since it was given to you that is all profit.
There were probably eight times as many 1969 Camaros as 1969 Corvettes built for that model year. There was a time when a 1969 Corvette was worth more. Though they are more common, 1969 Camaros are more valuable. Rarity is not a component of value in most things....
Last edited by international blue; Nov 18, 2023 at 05:59 PM.
If it was an air conditioned big block it was either a 390 or 400 horse engine. Fully restored with a numbers matching engine it would sell for $80 to $110 K. This car is about $100 K or more to become that car. You could do all the work and shop swap meets for parts, spend about three years and 1000 hours of labor to keep the cost down. You might be able to sell it in its current pictured state for $10-$15 K. It is not a rare car as others have stated.
Thats not even taking into account that the original motor is missing, which is the source of all its value. The above comments about “becoming that car” and everything it would take doesnt include faking an original engine.
To the OP, there have been some pretty strong $ numbers posted here, in terms of value, for the car as it sits. If I were you I would put it in the for sale section and see if any of these posters are actual buyers. I'd take the money and start looking at an already restored C3s.
I recently was given a 1969 corvette convertible top. Was told the original color was red. The car is believed to be an original big block car with power brakes, power steering, and factory A/C. Is this a rare care? Car is in need of heavy restoration does not have the big block motor with it.
Edit* Mostly asking about rarity due to curiosity felt like A/C with big block would be very unusual for year. Does have the larger springs and appropriate rear end for a big block. But any input on value is also welcome.
Like I said heavy restoration needed but wanted to provide photos for those asking. Thanks for all the feedback!
not that rare..they made alot
Of them . If you were to restore that car to the original form you would be so upside down into it you would never get what you put into it . Still a nice car
I recently was given a 1969 corvette convertible top. Was told the original color was red. The car is believed to be an original big block car with power brakes, power steering, and factory A/C. Is this a rare care? Car is in need of heavy restoration does not have the big block motor with it.
Edit* Mostly asking about rarity due to curiosity felt like A/C with big block would be very unusual for year. Does have the larger springs and appropriate rear end for a big block. But any input on value is also welcome.
Like I said heavy restoration needed but wanted to provide photos for those asking. Thanks for all the feedback!
not that rare..they made alot
Of them . If you were to restore that car to the original form you would be so upside down into it you would never get what you put into it . Still a nice car
Is my corvette Rare??
