Chevrolet’s flagship sports car, the iconic Corvette, has captivated American enthusiasts for an impressive 71 years. The world’s longest continually produced sports car was first introduced during the early Eisenhower administration. While every generation has its loyal fans, special attention is often given to the chrome-bumpered models produced before 1974. In 1973, a new urethane front bumper was introduced to meet federal 5 mph impact standards, and by 1974, the elegant chrome bumpers were no longer offered.
This stunning 1969 Corvette Stingray Convertible in Riverside Gold (980) is a fine example of this historic model. Under the hood lies Chevy’s one-year-only L46 350ci/350hp V8, a numbers-matching engine (VD 19S722244) that succeeded the beloved L79 327/350. The L46 was such a remarkable engine that Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette engineer known as the “father of the Corvette,” was reportedly very disappointed when it was discontinued the following year.
Additional features include a fully independent suspension, power steering, 4-wheel disc brakes, a numbers-matching (VD S722244, DC PD08B) Muncie M21 close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission, an auxiliary hardtop, an AM/FM radio, a luggage rack, correct paint and trim codes (PNT 980, TR ZQ4), and red stripe tires (215/70R15) mounted on rally wheels. This car is an absolute gem—thrilling to drive, stunning to behold, and a promising investment.