Restored Corvette Sting Ray Roadster 350 V8 4 Speed

Every once in a while a wide-eyed guest will stare at one of our concours restored, investment grade Corvettes and turn to us and say: “That's nice, but Corvettes were made to be driven”. And while we love ANY Corvette, no matter what the owner's intentions, we can't help but agree. The only way to fully appreciate a spectacular sports car is to drive it. And that's why we're always happy to see fully sorted metal like this awesome red Stingray drive right onto our showroom floor. Born in 1969, decked in quintessential Corvette colors and still churning a reliable small block Chevrolet drivetrain, this super clean roadster is the kind of car you buy, enjoy and build memories in. If you're one of the growing legion of enthusiasts who likes to live the collector car life to its fullest, this exceptionally priced C3 is just the cruiser you've been looking for!

Assembled at GM's storied St. Louis manufacturing facility, this garage fresh C3 currently displays an excellent looking coat of bright red paint. Under that retina searing finish the car's sinuous fiberglass body presents factory correct alignment and appears to have never received any major modifications or major repairs. And not surprisingly, its previous owner's high level of dedication has resulted in a smooth, old school roadster which has more personality per square inch than any sterile, white glove trailer queen; and possesses twice as much character as most cars half its age!

By the late 60s GM was beginning to streamline the Corvette into the world class sports car it is today. And this 1969 Stingray's monochromatic paint scheme and minimized bright work highlight a substantial design that had been continuously tweaked into the taut and tailored appearance you see here. At the front of the car a familiar C3 cross-flag emblem combines with a bright chrome bumper and a small black chin spoiler to frame small parking lights that are fully integrated into stainless-trimmed grilles. Above that bumper, a chrome-trimmed hood is anchored at like-new glass that's framed by well-maintained stainless trim and capped by an optional vinyl hardtop. At the sides of that hood exaggerated fenders hang chrome “Stingray” scripts above clean and simplistic air extractors while sculpted doors hang a chrome driver's mirror and flush stainless handles above brilliant chrome side pipes. And at the back of those fenders, a cross-flag branded fuel filler rides above a centered “CORVETTE” script, traditional Corvette tail lights and chrome, razor blade-style bumpers.

Tilt the car's lightweight fiberglass hood and you'll find a familiar 350 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 that combines excellent power with docile street manners. Introduced way back in 1955 Chevrolet's venerable small block, which still muscles everything from pre-war street rods to seventh generation Corvettes, is presently entering its fifth generation as one of the world's most renowned powerplants. At the top of this Vette's stalwart engine a pristine chrome air cleaner funnels wind into a big 4-barrel carburetor that's bolted to a modern Edelbrock intake. Below that intake, a Chevy Orange block hangs a slick set of finned aluminum valve covers over ceramic coated block hugger headers. Behind those headers, an MSD Blaster coil rations spark to an MSD Pro-Billet distributor which sequences fire through fresh Accel Ferro-Spiral Race Wires. And in front of those wires, an original radiator sends water around fresh V-belts and a new Sanden AC compressor with the help of fresh hoses and correct tower clamps. Both the car's engine and engine bay are exceptionally clean for a collection of mechanical parts that probably haven't seen a restoration shop in quite a few years. And the throaty 350 fires up instantly, idles quietly and appears completely reliable and ready to hit the road.

An essential part of keeping any classic in tip-top condition is keeping all of its parts moving. And if you're like me, you know the best aspect of owning a cool car is taking it out for weekend drives. Whoever was in charge of maintaining this awesome red Corvette obviously struck a great balance between low mileage and sunny day cruising, because one look at the chassis and floorpans provides a detailed story of excellent maintenance. Behind the engine you'll find a beefy Muncie 4-speed that provides stiff shifts and solid acceleration. At the front of the car, you'll find an original double A-arm suspension that's complete with factory power steering. At the back of the car, you'll find an original transverse leaf suspension that's complete with big 3.70 gears and a posi-traction differential. And at the corners of the car, power disc brakes ensure rapid stops and great handling. All that fully sorted hardware is bolted to clean floors which, based on appearance, lived in a nice, dry garage and were only taken down the road during the summer months. And the chassis even retains a handsome set of GM Rally wheels which spin fresh 245/60/15 front and 255/60/15 rear BF Goodrich Radial T/As around great looking trim rings and chrome Chevrolet center caps.

Open this Corvette's solid closing doors and you'll find a glowing red interior which presents exceptionally well despite a steady regimen of use. With cars of this age, seats are a common point of fatigue, but the great looking leather buckets in this cockpit feel comfortable and show virtually no wear at all. Below those seats bright red carpet, which runs from under the dash to the back of the cargo hold, is protected by thick, color-keyed floor mats. In front of those seats, a red and black dash props a warp-free pad above a correct passenger's side map pocket, large round gauges and a pristine, satin-spoked steering wheel. Between those seats, gauges for the car's vitals ride above a correct AM/FM stereo, slider controls for the freshened HVAC system and a fully functional Corvette shifter that's accented by a small marbled knob. And at the sides of those seats, great looking door panels frame correct twist style locks and correct chrome handles in spotless stainless trim.

With its bright red paint and fully sorted powertrain this '69 Corvette drop-top is a fantastic sports car that has a ton of eyeball appeal and provides plenty of open road enjoyment. And as an early iteration of one of the most collectible generations of classic Corvette, it'll continue to gain value and exclusivity by the year! If you're looking for a fun cruiser that you can enjoy immediately without worries, your Corvette is waiting!