‘69 Cortez Silver L89 Coupe with 47,000 Miles
This 427ci/435hp survivor is totally original and is an extremely rare C3
Aside from the fabled L88 engine, I think most Corvette enthusiasts would agree that the L89 427 cubic inch engine with aluminum heads and 435 horsepower is one of the most desirable power plants offered in the 1969 model year. Only 390 Corvettes were delivered with this $832.05 engine option..
Originally delivered to Les Vogel Chevrolet in San Francisco, California, the car retains its original tri-power 427 engine mated to a numbers-matching four-speed manual transmission. This C3 was most recently owned by a woman for more than a quarter-century and she apparently didn’t show the car, so it was never on anyone’s radar.
This Cortez Silver coupe with a black interior has been bid up to $46,000 at this writing and the auction ends in the afternoon of June 2nd.
According to the seller, who recently acquired this car:
“This C3 has been ‘under the radar.’ It was purchased by a woman in 1999 at Purifoy Chevrolet in Ft. Lupton Colorado, which was a well-known Corvette dealer for decades. During her ownership she drove the car 2,000 miles and was not involved in showing the car. We are actively involved in the Corvette hobby in this area and had never seen the car until we purchased it earlier this year. Unfortunately, we do not have any factory documentation and don’t believe the car has been officially judged.”
The car apparently was repainted in the original Cortez Silver in the late ‘90s, and close-up photos show a few touchups scattered around the body.
The vinyl seats look to me to be consistent with a 47,000 mile car and the interior seems to be original with the correct steering wheel and chrome shifter with reverse lockout. The only interior options I can see are an AM-FM radio and power windows.
The seller points out that the 47,000 miles are on the odometer are “well documented as actual,” and says that the car retains all original body panels, is a rust-free western car, and a “high-quality survivor car.”
The main attraction is the 435 hp engine with three two-barrel carburetors and aluminum cylinder heads. A Positraction limited-slip differential behind the four-speed manual transmission helps to put the power to the pavement.
Needless to say, all ‘69 Corvettes featured removable T-top panels, 15-inch Rally wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, and chrome bumpers on both front and rear.
It’ll be interesting to see what this car sells for at the auction. The selling prices seem to be all over the map, but I saw a ‘69 L71 with the cast iron heads that was an NCRS Top Flight 4-time winner sell for $143,000 earlier this month. This ‘69 with the aluminum heads is a rarer beast so it’s hard to predict what it might be worth on the open market.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1969-chevrolet-corvette-coupe-68/