Frame Off Restored Corvette Stingray 427 4 Speed

You can ask pretty much any Corvette guy what the ultimate classic Vette is and he'll probably say a 1967 roadster with Chevrolet's storied 427 big block. And investors clearly agree, since prices on these cars skyrocket year after year, despite the state of the economy. There's no doubt those hallowed numbers have a special meaning for any car guy, and everyone owes it to themselves at least once in their life to own a big block Corvette convertible because there's simply nothing else like it. Well, you're in luck as this awesome 427 roadster is a splendid candidate for an indebted owner thanks to a frame-off restoration which restored it to better-than-new condition. And best of all, it's a numbers matching L36/4-speed car! So, what are you waiting for? It's time to pay up and get the Corvette of your dreams!

In May of 2010 this super cool C2 scored 93.2 points in NCRS judging on its way to qualifying for a prestigious Second Flight award. Its original order sheet, which is included with the sale, breaks down as follows:

* L36: 427 cubic inch, 390 horsepower Turbojet V8
* G81: Posi-traction axle that's equipped with 3.36 gears
* M21: Muncie 4-speed close-ratio transmission
* QB1: Four 7.75x15 redline tires
* C07: Auxiliary hardtop
* U69: AM/FM radio
* A02: Soft Ray tinted windshield
* A82: Headrests
* K19: GM air injection reactor
* N11: Off road exhaust system

Refinished in a correct coat of GM code 976 Marina Blue and a correct black stinger stripe, this handsome roadster is a cool and refreshing change from the flood of bright red and black Corvettes you see at the big shows. That said, the car was certainly intended to be a showpiece from the word go. And one look at the restoration photos included with its sale proves its rebirth was both thorough and professional. We all know Corvettes can be a challenge to restore correctly, and this roadster has all the signs of an expert job including great panel alignment, good gaps, and no signs of cracks or stress marks in the usual places. The soft glow of the car's two-stage urethane somehow seems more accurate than most modern paint jobs, and makes me think the painters knew some kind of trick to give their final finish a more authentic shine. And overall, this drop-top looks fabulous in person and is exquisite throughout.

Every piece of chrome on this car is show quality. Whether that means an excellent original piece was restored to better-than-new condition or fresh reproduction items were installed, the restorers certainly did their homework to ensure the parts were accurate and impressive. If you're a detail person like me, you'll love the intricacy of the cross-flag emblems, which are so finely detailed that I have a hard time believing the originals were this nice -- GM just didn't spend the long dollar to make little parts perfect. Naturally, the car wears bold 427 badges on its hood with pride and the hood filler door was painted to match the body, as it should be. Up top, the correct tinted windshield is unmarked, and all the stainless trim has been fully polished for a show-worthy presentation.

Tilt the car's reverse-opening hood and you'll find an original, fully rebuilt and fully detailed L36 V8 which wears a 1967-specific 3904351 casting number behind a correct partial VIN and a 390 horsepower 427 (IM) assembled at GM's Tonawanda (T) facility on January (01) 12th (12) of 1967 build stamp. From its correctly decaled air cleaner to its polished ignition shield and Chevy Orange paint, this big mill looks like 1967 all over again. And I have to say, this engine bay is more authentic than most -- not over-restored, and not so shiny that you'll be afraid to turn the ignition. With that in mind it's still nicely done and, interestingly enough, the car's original air injection smog pump, which is often missing and virtually impossible to replace today, is still present and accounted for. Fire the big engine up and it springs to life with that well-known and well-respected 427 rumble that's like a warning siren for most other muscle cars. Step on the gas and it pulls through the gears as effortlessly as water flows down a hill! Man, there's just nothing like the endless torque of a big block Corvette!

This Second Flight C2's chassis is equally well detailed, including a correct Muncie M21 close-ratio 4-speed transmission which wears a familiar 3885010 casting number. At the sides of that transmission, the car's frame and suspension members are coated in correct satin black paint, while its floors make do with flat black, raw fiberglass. Naturally, new hardware was used throughout, and fresh decals, markings, and other identifying elements have been utilized to make this Corvette appear as correct underneath as it is up top. While many early Corvettes swap out their metal leaf springs for new fiberglass pieces, we're happy to see the rag-top's originals remain in place and have been fully restored. The exhaust system certainly sounds menacing, and perhaps my eyes are deceiving me, but do those pipes look a little bigger than stock? Hard to say, but I certainly can't argue with the results! There's a new power steering system thanks to the pros at our own RKM Performance Center. Disc brakes at all four corners have been rebuilt, there are new bushings in the suspension, and all the lines and hoses are new. Fresh shocks ensure this Corvette rides as well as it did in '67, and it rolls on a set of correct Rallies which spin reproduction Firestone redline bias-ply tires around correct Corvette center caps.

Although the window sticker and invoice say this car has a bench seat, there's no such thing as a 1967 Corvette with a bench. But perhaps that was the only way to indicate headrests on the standard black vinyl buckets, which have been recovered and stuffed with fresh foam. Showing only minimal use, the interior is exceptionally inviting and the seats are very comfortable for cross-town cruises and Route 66 adventures alike. Crisp gauge markings, clear lenses, and everything being 100% functional are all hallmarks of a high-quality restoration, and even the original AM/FM radio is fully operational. The car's steering wheel is a beautiful wood grained unit that fits with the Corvette's sport car demeanor, and the chrome handle for the 4-speed falls easily to hand just a few inches away. As the order sheet indicates, this is also a two-top car, with a new black vinyl folding convertible top and the original removable hardtop, which has been restored to match its body.

This highly documented Chevrolet comes with the aforementioned order sheet, a reproduction window sticker, an owner's manual, AM/FM radio operating instructions, an original tire changing guide, registration documents from its long California life (with a known ownership history from new), a CD of restoration photos and a stack of restoration receipts totaling more than $125K.

This Corvette has an awful lot going for it: a coveted 427, a close-ratio 4-speed, matching numbers, both of its tops, a full ownership history, and a fully documented restoration. Look at the price books, the market analysis, and the classifieds in your favorite magazine, and you'll see that Corvette prices have been virtually immune to dips and recessions. The reason is simple—they' re great cars to own, and people who know Corvettes know that big block cars drive like nothing else. This wonderfully restored roadster is ready and willing to hit shows; or perhaps you're the kind of guy who'd rather drive it than sit and watch other people look at it. Either way, it's an investment-grade classic that will serve you well, whatever your choosing!