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Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Chelan Washington
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Hello,
I recently purchased a 1967 427/390hp Marina Blue convertible for a pretty reasonable price given what I see out there in the market, especially for documented cars. It lacks a lot of documented history, has been lightly restored (no body off) and is both tight and really clean in interior and its exterior assembly lines. It runs and drives great for a 50 year old car. It was re-painted in 1988 but looks sharp even today.
This is my second corvette (recently sold my 1993 40th anniversary) and I grew up around family members with several 1960’s C1 and C2 corvette’s as well as a 1984 and 1985. The car I remember riding around most in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s (early teens) was also a 427/390hp Marina Blue convertible.
So far, much of what I’ve read and researched and then compared numbers from the car, doesn’t seem to add up. In fact its suggesting that this car is potentially a converted 327/300hp base car to the 427/390hp motor and hood in the car now. For example the motors block number confirms it is from a 1969 corvette. There is an expansion tank which was not a BB item except in the L88 cars. The rear end differential axel code is AL and date correct to the car VIN build date interpretation, and has a 10 bolt rear end which would be SB appropriate. The tachometer is a 5300 redline tachometer not 6000, and underneath the dash has a sticker witth the code LA, not LB. Now having said that the front sway bar is the correct thickness for a BB car and there is a rear sway bar installed as well. Of course the hood is correct, and the radiator and shroud are BB car appropriate (although the radiator specifically is neither a 1967 327 SB nor a 427 BB radiator from what i can see). So you can understand my suspicions. I had figured out most of these differences before I decided to buy the car, and did get it for a price I believe consistent with this possibility.
So I’m glad I found this forum, and hope it will help in locating parts, and get further clarity on it’s factory rolled out build state. My goal is to use the information to determine if the best path is to solidify it into a full 427/390hp state (differential, tachometer swap changes as examples), return it to its original state (motor, hood/paint work required as examples), or leave it as is and just enjoy it, if it turns out that it is indeed a converted car somewhere over the past 50 years. A lot of fun in the years ahead for me whichever path I take.
I recently purchased a 1967 427/390hp Marina Blue convertible for a pretty reasonable price given what I see out there in the market, especially for documented cars. It lacks a lot of documented history, has been lightly restored (no body off) and is both tight and really clean in interior and its exterior assembly lines. It runs and drives great for a 50 year old car. It was re-painted in 1988 but looks sharp even today.
This is my second corvette (recently sold my 1993 40th anniversary) and I grew up around family members with several 1960’s C1 and C2 corvette’s as well as a 1984 and 1985. The car I remember riding around most in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s (early teens) was also a 427/390hp Marina Blue convertible.
So far, much of what I’ve read and researched and then compared numbers from the car, doesn’t seem to add up. In fact its suggesting that this car is potentially a converted 327/300hp base car to the 427/390hp motor and hood in the car now. For example the motors block number confirms it is from a 1969 corvette. There is an expansion tank which was not a BB item except in the L88 cars. The rear end differential axel code is AL and date correct to the car VIN build date interpretation, and has a 10 bolt rear end which would be SB appropriate. The tachometer is a 5300 redline tachometer not 6000, and underneath the dash has a sticker witth the code LA, not LB. Now having said that the front sway bar is the correct thickness for a BB car and there is a rear sway bar installed as well. Of course the hood is correct, and the radiator and shroud are BB car appropriate (although the radiator specifically is neither a 1967 327 SB nor a 427 BB radiator from what i can see). So you can understand my suspicions. I had figured out most of these differences before I decided to buy the car, and did get it for a price I believe consistent with this possibility.
So I’m glad I found this forum, and hope it will help in locating parts, and get further clarity on it’s factory rolled out build state. My goal is to use the information to determine if the best path is to solidify it into a full 427/390hp state (differential, tachometer swap changes as examples), return it to its original state (motor, hood/paint work required as examples), or leave it as is and just enjoy it, if it turns out that it is indeed a converted car somewhere over the past 50 years. A lot of fun in the years ahead for me whichever path I take.
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From: Hickory NC
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Welcome to the Forum, Scott and congratulations on your '67!
I appreciate the look of your car whether completely original or not and remember small block cars even in the 60s with big block hoods or full conversions to a big block clone.
You've probably already seen it, but there's a lot of good information and C2 enthusiasts in the C1&C2 section of the Forum: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-1953-1967-21/
Best wishes with whatever course you decide to take with your ride.
I appreciate the look of your car whether completely original or not and remember small block cars even in the 60s with big block hoods or full conversions to a big block clone.
You've probably already seen it, but there's a lot of good information and C2 enthusiasts in the C1&C2 section of the Forum: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-1953-1967-21/
Best wishes with whatever course you decide to take with your ride.
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Whether or not all the parts are correct, that’s one beautiful car. Congrats on your purchase and enjoy that C2. And welcome to the forum.
Enjoy while you can.
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IMHO, keep it as is and enjoy her the way she is. It would cost too much to restore her to original state. Post here for further responses:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...2-corvettes-4/
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...2-corvettes-4/
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Welcome to the forum!
Congrats. on the great looking C2!
Congrats. on the great looking C2!
