1969 Corvette Convertible

1969 was an important year for Chevrolet since the 250,000th Corvette was manufactured in November that year. A total of 38,762 1969 Corvettes where produced and 16,633 of them were 1969 Corvette Convertible cars. Earlier, the retail price of a Corvette convertible had been considerably lower than that of a coupe, and far more convertibles had been produced than coupes. By the end of the 1960’s, the prices had gotten closer to each other and more coupes than convertibles were sold. A 1969 Corvette Convertible cost $4,438 while a coupe was only slightly more expensive with a price tag of $4,438.

The 1969 Corvette Convertible was quite similar to the new and altered 1968 Corvette Convertible, but Chrysler had included several minor alterations, since the 1968 model had received its fair amount of criticism. The 1968 model had for instance been getting quite a lot of complaints for having a small and uncomfortable interior, and the 1969 Corvette Convertible was therefore fitted with another type of door panels to open up the interior.

Side exhaust pipes had been a distinguishing Corvette attribute for many years and when they were removed from the 1968 model, a lot of Corvette lovers got disappointed and voiced their concern. To accommodate the consumers, Chrysler therefore included side exhaust pipes in the 1969 Corvette Convertible. The 1969 Corvette Convertible also got its back up lights integrated into the tail lights.

The 1969 Corvette Convertible was fitted with a new fiber optics system. The system was linked to the centre console, and this meant that the driver could monitor the lights function at all times. Another difference between the previous year model and the 1969 Corvette Convertible was the wheel; it had gotten once inch smaller and was now 15” instead of 16”. The ignition key had also been moved to the steering column in an effort to make the car harder to steal.

For the 1969 model, the 327 cu in engine was no longer standard and the base 1969 Corvette Convertible came with a 300 hp 350 cu in engine and three speed manual transmission. Those willing to pay an additional $132 would instead get an engine capable of 350 extra hp. There where also no less than four 427 cu. in. engine alternatives available for the buyer of a 1969 Corvette Convertible. The most expensive alternative was the L88 427 cu. in. 430hp engine which added a cost of $1,032 to the initial price of $4,438. No more than 0.3% of the buyers opted for this expensive engine. The L36 427 cu. in. 390hp engine was much more popular alternative and the price was no more than $221. The L36 engine was installed in 27% of the 1969 Corvettes.