1969 C3 Corvette is Undeniably Unique
Could you, in your wildest dreams, imagine owning this Corvette as a junior in High School? For some people, dreams really do come true.
A High School Car
Most high schoolers are happy enough to have a car with four wheels that roll with some consistency. But as a junior in High school in 1980, Kevin Livering of Levanon, Pennsylvania was driving this custom 1969 C3 Corvette coupe.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
The Swap
Livering's first car was a 1973 Monte Carlo which he bought secondhand. The seller of the Monte Carlo went on to purchase the 69' Corvette you see above. Unfortunately for him, the seller's girlfriend didn't like Corvette so he contacted Livering with an offer: swap the Monte Carlo plus $4,000 for the Corvette. This was a fair offer but, as a high school junior, Livering didn't have $4,000 lying around. Ultimately, the seller was so desperate to get rid of the Corvette that he offered Livering a straight swap for his Monte Carlo: what a deal!
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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Teen Dream
Teen or not, any custom car enthusiast would have loved this Corvette. It had deep-dish Crager mags wheels with fat radial tires. Over them sat flared wheel arches, and the Corvette also had custom front fender vents along with factory side pipes. This car certainly draws a crowd wherever it goes.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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Engine
The original small-block 350 engine eventually blew and was replaced with a 350 from a 72' Impala which would ultimately die in 2000. After this, Livering decided it was time to get the original 350 engine back in his Corvette. Before it went back in, however, it got a revamp that included new 10.2:1 pistons, new Hooker header side pipes, a Holley 650 double-pumper carb over an Edelbrock aluminum manifold, and 2.02 aluminum heads. The powerplant also got a 0.030-inch overbore: so you can be sure this car pulls jus as American muscle should.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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Raked Forward
We're so used to seeing custom cars barely sitting above the ground but, back in the 70s, this wasn't common practice. The norm, back then, was for cars to be raked forward, giving them an aesthetic that wouldn't look out of place on a drag strip. Some may disagree, but this writer thinks it's refreshing to see this style and some ground clearance.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
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Paint
This Corvette has plenty of stand-out features, but there's no denying that its paint job rises above all else. A custom, one-off, candy-colored ribbon treatment covers the wild green base. Everything from the top of the B-pillar to the rear deck received the custom ribbon treatment. Livering met the artist who originally carried out this work, "Stony" Galbach, who revealed the job cost about $12,000 when he performed it in 1972, that's around $74,000 in 2019. Livering has been teased about the car's outlandish paint scheme, but it has certainly stood the test of time.
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
>>Join the conversation about this unique custom C3 Corvette right here in the Corvette Forum!
Interior
This Corvette's diamond-tucked, crushed velvet upholstery perfectly embodies the custom scene of the '70s and late '60s. Although it might look like a light brown color in the pictures, its actually a shade of green. And would you have expected any other color?
Photos courtesy of Hot Rod
>>Join the conversation about this unique custom C3 Corvette right here in the Corvette Forum!
For help with service and maintenance of your car, check out the how to section of CorvetteForum.com.