1969 Corvette 427

The 1969 Corvette 427 was a popular alternative to the standard 1969 Corvette 350. In 1969, the old 327 cu in engine was discontinued and the standard 1969 Corvette was equipped with a 350 cu in 300 hp engine and three speed manual transmission. This price for a base Corvette Convertible was $4,438 while a Corvette coupe was slightly more expensive and cost $4,781. If you wanted a 1969 Corvette 427 instead, you naturally had to pay more, from $131 for the least expensive 427 cu in engine to a whopping $4,718 for the amazing all aluminium version of the L88 – the legendary ZL1.

1969 Corvette 427 – the L71, the L88 and the ZL1

These engines were racing engines and not a usual choice for street cars. The L71 was included in 2,722 cars and no more than 116 1969 Corvette 427 were produced with the L88 engine. The L71 engine was actually the cheapest of these three engines, despite the fact that it was the one with the most horsepower. The L71 sported 435 hp while the L88 and the ZL1 had no more than 430 hp. You could get your 1969 Corvette 427 fitted with a L71 engine for an additional fee of $437, while you would have to cough up $1,032 to get the L88 – even though it had less horsepower. The ZL1 cost the amazing sum of $4,718. Remember, this was the time when you could get an entire base Corvette Convertible with a 350 cu in 300 hp engine for $4,438 and a coupe cost no more than $4,781. It comes as no surprise that the demand for the ZL1 one was low and no more than two (2!) 1969 Corvette 427 were constructed using this motor.

1969 Corvette 427 – the L36 and the L68

The L36 and L68 engines were not intended for racing and were great alternatives for someone who knew that his or her 1969 Corvette 427 would spend more time on regular streets than at the race track. Even though the L68 engine was less costly than the L71, it was opted for by fewer buyers and only 2,072 of the 1969 Corvette 427 car had this engine. This can be compared to 2,722 cars for the $437 L71 engine. The L68 427 cu in engine was capable of 400 hp which was slightly more than the L36. Despite this, the L36 427 cu in engine with its 390 hp was over five times as popular as the L68 and 10,531 1969 Corvette 427 cars came with the L36 engine. One of the reasons for its success was of course the comparatively low price of $221. The L68 engine on the other hand cost $326.