This Corvette Stingray Is a Sleeper That Really Speaks to Me
Steve Morris and I were both supervisors at the 3M plant in Columbia, Missouri. Steve had the first shift and I had the second, leaving my mornings open to go to classes, as I continued to make glacial progress towards a four-year journalism degree, which I hoped to complete in just seven.
One afternoon, Steve grabbed me at shift change. “Got time to go out to the parking lot? Something there you might want to see.” He was only a mild sort of car guy, so I wasn’t expecting much. A Monte Carlo, maybe? Possibly a Ford Granada.
It was an orange 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible with a 427-cubic-inch V-8 and a four-speed manual transmission. Really? I didn’t even know Steve knew how to shift.
“You wanna go for a ride?” he asked. Yes. Yes I would.
This would have been about 1976, so Steve’s Corvette must have been roughly seven years old. I don’t recall the details regarding how he came to own the car, but I remember that he seemed almost as surprised as I was that he did. It was clean, but not mint, though everything apparently worked.
The 3M plant was on Route B, a winding two-lane so busy and consequently treacherous that “Pray for Me, I Travel Route B” bumper stickers were common. I had to get back shortly to lead my shift (we made computer circuit boards, mostly) so we drove a couple of miles south, turned around and headed back to the plant. I was impressed. “Have you really gotten on it yet?” I asked Steve.
“No,” he said. “I haven’t.”
Seeing rare clear road ahead, I said, “Well, maybe this would be a good time.”
Steve downshifted to second and floored it. The world exploded. The 427 sounded like it was coming through the firewall—soundproofing in a ’69 Vette convertible is minimal, as it turned out—and we were pinned against the seat. Steve shifted to third, and stayed on it for a few more seconds, then backed off. We looked at each other, mutually wide-eyed. Steve grinned and said, “Wow.”
And that was the moment I fell in love with the Corvette Stingray, the third generation. Within a month I would own a C3, but all I could afford was a clapped-out ’69 coupe, with a 350 V-8 that had a compression ratio that felt like about two to one, mated to a slippy automatic transmission. I still loved it. It was like dating a beautiful woman who drank too much. Our affair lasted two years. Parting was such sweet sorrow.
Fast-forward to last Saturday, where friends and I were wandering the Mecum Florida Summer Special auction in Kissimmee, Florida. Mecum will be back in central Florida January with its massive 4500-vehicle Kissimmee auction, but with “just” 1500 vehicles, this summer show is more relaxed.
And, in one of the staging lanes, there it was: A Can-Am white 1969 Corvette coupe, with a 427 and a four-speed and red line radials on Rally wheels. The auction was full of jacked-up four-wheel-drive trucks, decked-out SUVs, low-slung exotics, and restomods with plated 22-inch wheels. This unmolested Corvette was a wallflower, invisible unless you spotted the 427 emblems on the hood, or looked inside to see the manual transmission shifter. In other words, it was exactly what I wanted.
I really had no idea what it would bring. It was certainly more desirable than a small-block 350-equipped model, but of the four available 427 configurations, this was the most common, the most modest: The 390-horsepower, matching-numbers L36 engine with a single four-barrel carburetor. Fine with me; I don’t need three carbs.
The odometer read 76,599 miles, with likely no guarantee that it’s right, but it could have been. The car had factory air conditioning, another plus, especially in Florida. The engine compartment was clean, with a little chrome added.
I guessed the car was in #3 “good” condition, possibly a bit cleaner, and as such, Hagerty values it at $34,600, which I think is a helluva bargain. Value was up for the car by 6.1 percent over the past year, which is a slow-but-steady positive. By the time I added Hagerty’s suggested pricing adjustments, including $2000 for air, we were knocking on a $40,000 door, still a price I could maybe sell to my wife.
But there’s no time: The Can-Am white Corvette approaches. We watch from the bleachers as it rolls across the red carpet. Bidding is casual but steady. The gavel falls: $40,000, or $44,000 with fees.
And then it was gone. Auctions are wonderful to establish short-term relationships, and by “short,” I mean like 15 minutes. Marriage may be possible, but requires, say, a six-year commitment unless you pay cash.
So long, Can-Am white Corvette; glad we met, no matter how briefly. Parting was sweet sorrow, etc., etc.
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I may be naive, but a 427 and 4-speed Corvette doesn’t really say “sleeper” to me. What does it need to have to say “don’t mess with me, I’ll walk ya”?
I’m pretty happy with my 454 clone rubber-baby-bumper 74 with no AC and an automatic… especially since you can knock one of the zeros off of that price and come pretty close to what I paid for it
I bought my ’69 in ’73. A real base coupe, 350/300 hp, 4 spd, no a/c, ps, pb etc. I paid $3200 for it. I love that car, of course being my first Corvette may have something to do with it. I stripped and repainted it in 1980, rebuilt the engine 2 or 3 times, and probably have had every nut and bolt off of it at one time or another. I started autocrossing it in 1979 in stock class and continued until about 1999 when I built a 72 Corvette autocross car. My son has the 69 now and still autocrosses it. I took my 2016 Z06, 7 spd coupe down to Phoenix to autocross with him. After our first runs we switched cars. OMG! What a difference! I’d forgotten how it drove! He kicked my butt, but oh was it fun. Of course, no comparison, but I still love the 69 and my 2016.
Dub – Sure it’s not exactly the ‘ Corvette Summer ‘ car but with some work and a generous helping of bad taste? Sidepipes were optional.
Remind me how a beautiful, sporty looking fast car that everybody knows is fast is in any way a”sleeper”, please.
My point exactly!
I agree Dlsn and Dub6. A “sleeper” to me is a base model sedan grandma looking car with a bad a** drive train, upgraded suspension & brakes to handle it.
I love this story about the c3 I own a c3 it’s miglea red I have a story my self.
Forget the convertible in the story, I prefer the white Coupe with the 427 in the pictures. I always loved that look.
I’ve a 1981 but before you laugh it has an LS7 454 crate motor (new from the crate) from the early 70’s a 400 transmission no air no heater no spare all business. With side pipes!
Great story, as usual, sir. But the best way to enjoy the car may have been exactly the way you did. Back in the 1990s, I did a complete off-frame restoration on a 1966 convertible, even doing all the fiberglass bodywork and paint—Marlboro Maroon—myself. It took seven years and a mid-restoration cross-country move, but it was gorgeous when I got done.
40K for a 69 427 seems reasonable, at least compared to what many ask for big block chrome bumper Corvettes. Nice looking 69. Sleeper is not a word associated with these sports cars from my perspective.
1974 just exited 6 years in the US Navy submarine division. Needed fresh air and lots of it. Traded off my Fiat 850(cc displacement) Spyder for a ’69 T-top with the 427/390HP-460Lbs-Ft plate below the shifter. Loved that cool little name plate, reminding me of the trouble it could get me into. Never got pinched but I sure gave it a try. 45 cars later that one still set the bar for me. Best laugh – after 3 years in the Fiat I was used to “hit the gas, drop the clutch” and pull gently away – or close to that anyway. The Vette had a high-perf clutch mod and that pedal wanted to come up off the floor. Dealer beside me, I gave it the Fiat style “go” and we were on the other side of the highway in another parking lot (thank God empty). Now power steering didn’t help, for that matter, no matter the Fiat steered like a go-cart. He said “are you sure you can drive a stick?”… “yah but nothing like this before”. Got my act together and never looked back. I get light headed when I think what I sold that for, not to mention replacing it with a beetle so we could have two babies in the back seat…
Uh – the Vette DID NOT have power steering. Would be about the only thing I would have added.
I enjoyed my 68 Covette coupe I bought from an engineer at GM Tech Center. It was just a year old and his 69 Corvette was waiting for him.
The 68 was an L-89 with a 3.70 axle, M-22 4spd and something they called off road exhaust. British Green with Saddle leather interior and power steering.
A neighbor in the Apartment Complex bought a Gold 69 Coupe with side exhaust! When I saw it, I immediately went to the Parts Department at the Chevrolet dealer in Pontiac and order the parts for my 68! What a bad ass sound it was!
It was the fastest car I ever owned and also the most unreliable. Every time I see a C3 L-89 Coupe come on the auction block at Meccum or Barrett-Jackson I get nostalgic for the old girl! Then I remember all the times she stood me up and I know why I sold her.
I bought a 71 Firebird T/A, Lucerne Blue. I miss that car a lot too!
The man that bought the 68 Vette said it was for his son? Two weeks later they turned it into junk.
Remember when the Dodge Viper came out?
A guy wanted to buy my 61 Corvette one time and said it was for his son. I told him ‘you don’t love your son very much.’
There’s no added chrome on that engine. That’s how they came. These are spectacular cars for the money, despite the build quality and heavy steering. The a/c is nice to have, so long as you don’t try to use it on a hot day (because she’ll probably overheat in traffic). This one is particularly nice for the money. I’m continually tempted by these cars, but ultimately, they’re better to look at than to drive.
Had I known I might run into Steven Cole Smith at this summer’s local Mecum auction, I would have been there, as in previous years. I moved to the Orlando area nearly 20 years ago and was delighted back then to find that one of my favorite automotive journalists was penning a weekly column in the local newspaper. When it disappeared, I wrote to the paper to ask why. Their curt and unsatisfying response, “He doesn’t work here anymore.” But as a past C5-driving bud (coincidentally, and now enjoying his new Alfa Romeo) has since turned me on to Hagerty, I’m once again delighted to be reunited with Steven’s first-rate writing, thanks!
Thank you! Made my day.
Keep up the great work, man! I’ve always felt kindred spiritship toward “college cars,” those smaller tossable rides that we all started off with–mine was a ’72 Capri. Later iterations were a Tercel, a Neon, a Civic (when they were smaller and more tossable), and an entire series of Fits. My current appliance-like CUV is boring, suggesting a possible Versa in my future, based on your thoughtful review, thanks.
I had the rag top 69, 427, 435hp, 3 deuce, 4 speed in the mid 70’s. Lived in Houston area and moved to Denver area.
Also brought my BMW mc that I put a 40hp VW engine in. 2 wheeler…. Used the BMW trans so it was a kick start.
Had fun with both in the winding hilly roads!!!
So…. one day….I just had to ride around in the Vette with the top down while it was snowing…
Just HAD to do it…….
Soooo…..get back to the house and go to put the top back up…….
CRRRAAAAAAKKK went the plastic rear window……was frozen up pretty good…
Crapola…….
I guess it was worth it??? 🙂