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Hello people, I just pickup a 1969 corvette and the hood, side grills and center console look weird, can you help me identify what could this be? Maybe the first owner change all that?? But the side grills are not the same for others ‘69
Does the VIN have a 9 in position 6.
It is possible the whole nose has been changed and the hood is a 73 or newer style.
The console area where the radio is supposed to be is covered up.
The seats are not original.
The shift **** looks aftermarket.
Hopefully you realized all this before buying it.
Does the VIN have a 9 in position 6.
It is possible the whole nose has been changed and the hood is a 73 or newer style.
The console area where the radio is supposed to be is covered up.
The seats are not original.
The shift **** looks aftermarket.
Hopefully you realized all this before buying it.
You have a lot of work ahead of you. There are so many things incorrect it is almost impossible to list them all. Others have already mentioned a few things, but I don't know where the side gills came from. They don't look like any year. Your interior is not from a 69. It's a later year, but I don't know which one. The center bezel appears broken of the left side and it is of a different year. I don't see a switch for the Wipers at the top of the center bezel. The center console is missing the fiber optics for the lights. Your amp meter appears to be incorrect, and I cannot tell from your photo is the gauges are the correct green color or if they are white. The rocker panels also appear to be of a later year.
If you are going to try and make it correct it will take a long time. If you just want to make it a driver you appear to still have a lot of work ahead of you. The interior needs a lot of work and that is quite time consuming and also not cheap.
Here is what a stock 69 interior looks like except for the leather cover on the steering wheel.
Considering that your car was built in Nov 69 it might be possible that they used some or a lot of 1970 parts that were waiting for the 70 series to start.
That might explain why so many part look like a later year. That might make it easier to get it useable.
The side louvers and the front left and right grills have the parking/turn lights are four pieces that are very expensive to buy or have rechromed. They are aluminum castings. Your car is a 69. If you configure the front clip for 69 grills and louvers you can save a lot of restoration money by opting for 69 components. The front grills on the 69 were, for example, plastic. The side louvers for 69 were formed into the front quarter panels. Here the 69 had the air outlets trimmed with chromed pieces. You don't need the chromed pieces, the 68s didn't have them.
Thanks Everyone for the help and all the information.
the car is 69 for sure, but I know the previous owner had a 72, maybe he mix some parts from that to this one (he took the 72 apart).
Don’t worry, I am going to restore this 100% with all new components.
I am located in The Dominican Republic and labor here is cheap, but I don’t think they changed the front clip (they don’t have the knowledge).
Can you suggest a book or something to know all the parts I need for that correct year?
Well, that is quite a project! Best of luck to you!
The front clip has a lot of early 70s on it. The side grilles, front grilles, and flares stick out. the hood is later and not 69 if that’s something you wish to change.
Regardless a lot of people here to help you along where they can!
This link will hopefully take you to a place where you can download the 1969 AIM. That is the Assembly Manual that they used on the assembly line. It has a lot of useful information. It lists many part numbers and many drawings. But unfortunately, most of the parts are no longer available. The file is quite large, about 175MB. Whoever copied the file made it so that you can do searches. Many of the parts can be found from people who have some original parts. The Corvette suppliers carry many of the necessary parts that are made by second source companies.
Well, that is quite a project! Best of luck to you!
The front clip has a lot of early 70s on it. The side grilles, front grilles, and flares stick out. the hood is later and not 69 if that’s something you wish to change.
Regardless a lot of people here to help you along where they can!
How is the frame?
thanks!
the frame is in great shape, I checked the bird cage before buying, all good there.
We don’t have many corvettes this year in the DR, I have to work with this one, no other option.
And if you remove the front clip carefully and package all of the parts they should fetch a good price for someone correcting their 70-72 Corvette that needs those parts.
Hello AR,
Welcome!!!
An old Corvette in the DR....Nice!
I fully understand your desire and need to work with what you have.
I'll mention 2 things though.
1. The grill/bumperettes for the 70+ front end appears to be missing some parts in it's center. Don't know how stable it might be without those important parts.
2. The 70+ wheel opening has a small flare behind the wheel. But your rear wheel opening which is a 69 is missing the flare.I don't know if this might be an issue for you
Good Luck!!!.
Hello AR,
Welcome!!!
An old Corvette in the DR....Nice!
I fully understand your desire and need to work with what you have.
I'll mention 2 things though.
1. The grill/bumperettes for the 70+ front end appears to be missing some parts in it's center. Don't know how stable it might be without those important parts.
2. The 70+ wheel opening has a small flare behind the wheel. But your rear wheel opening which is a 69 is missing the flare.I don't know if this might be an issue for you
Good Luck!!!.
thanks!!!
attached a couple of more pictures! And yes is going back to Black paint…
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Based on several photos you posted, i'm UNCERTAIN about rot / rust . You say the frame & bird cage are in great shape. There is an extensive amount of rust showing in these 2 photos, including but not limited to the chunk on the passenger seat, ebrake, engine compartment, & whatever that badly rusted piece is on the drivers floor. I can't see the frame, trailing arm kick up area, birdcage bolts behind the speaker grills or the windshield molding & wouldn't be surprised if many of these parts & areas are SEE THROUGH. Whatever material is on the floors may be hiding the Famous FRED FLINTSTONE DESIGN. Labor maybe cheap in the DR, but you will need what looks like a huge amount of money for parts. The DR is a very, very, wet, harsh humid environment conducive to rust. 900 BLACK IS SPECIAL !!
Hope for your sake it works out & you can save her. All the best to you. Keep us posted & the pics coming.
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Last edited by 427SIXPACK; Apr 29, 2026 at 03:24 PM.
Hello,
Please say you paid very little or nothing for this car.
The original rear exterior photo made me think ...no flares.
But the later photo does show rear flares.
Rebody????
Regards...
The engine compartment photo is quite ....depressing.
Help With ‘69 Corvette Model
All the best to you. Keep us posted & the pics coming. 
