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1969 Corvette 427 Coupe (1/25) (fs)
The Corvette C3 (1968-1982) was
patterned after the Mako Shark II designed by Larry Shinoda. Executed under
Bill Mitchell's direction, the Mako II had been initiated in early 1964. Once
the mid-engined format was abandoned the Shinoda/Mitchell car was sent to
Chevrolet Styling under David Holls, where Harry Haga's studio adapted it for
production on the existing Sting Ray chassis. The resulting lower half of the
car was much like the Mako II, except for the softer contours. The concept
car's name was later changed to Manta Ray. The C3 also adopted the "sugar
scoop" roof treatment with vertical back window from the mid-engined
concept models designed by the Duntov group.
The 1969 Corvette brought back the "Stingray" badge although it was now
one word.
This classic Corvette refined the new 1968 model with changes that
increased horsepower
as well as fixing small things that were irritating to customers.
This also created
a large number of parts that were only manufactured for 1968 and
makes restoring
the 1968 Corvette much more difficult than a '69. The base engine is
now a 300 horsepower
350 cubic inch V-8. The ignition was moved from the dashboard to the
steering column.
The push button door opener was now integrated into the pull handle
and the push
button opening now has a key lock in it. The steering wheel diameter
was reduced
from 16" to 15". A side exhaust was now an option as well as special
side louver
trim pieces. Backup lights were integrated into the middle tail
lights. A labor
dispute in May of 1969 caused the 1969 model run to be stretched
over 4 months.
This accounts for the high number of Vettes sold this year and the
low number in
1970.This was the last year for the L88 engine and the only year for
the ZL1 option, which offered an all-aluminum 427 cu in (7.0 L) big
block engine listed at 430 hp.
Car and Driver magazine wrote in October 1968, “The small-engine Corvettes are
marginally faster and extraordinarily civilized. The large-engine
Corvettes are extraordinarily fast and marginally civilized.”
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