C3 Vette Series: 1969 Corvette

Thank you for checking in here at Hobby Car Corvettes, as we continue with our C3 Vette Rundown Series. Two weeks ago, we brought you the specs and deets on the firstborn child of the Third Generation Chevrolet Corvettes, the 1968. This week, we are pumped to discuss the release and ultimate success of the polished and perfected, 1969 C3.

Let’s get to it!

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT

Last week we discussed the unfortunate but necessary plight of the 1968 being the test run child. Chevrolet of course took customer feedback to heart and made the necessary changes to please the people. Most talked about was the lack of interior room, leaving drivers and passengers feeling cramped.

Interior of 1969 C3 Corvette

This year, door panels were revised providing additional shoulder room in the C3’s tighter cabin. The steering wheel was also reduced from 16 inches to 15 inches to make for easier entry and exit. Chevrolet also made tilt and telescopic steering columns an option this year. In 1968, only telescopic was an option on its own.

ADDITIONAL CHANGES MADE

Change is constant, necessary, and exciting. In 1969, in addition to giving the customer more interior space, Chevrolet made some other aesthetic and mechanical changes to the next C3 Corvette. Small block engine displacement increased from 327 cubic inches (5.4 L) to 350 cubic inches (5.7 L). However, output remained the same.   All other engines and transmission choices also remained the same. The tire size did remain the same, but this was the first year for optional white lettered tires and the last for red striped tires. The wheels also got an inch wider, jumping from 7 inches to 8 inches.

1969 C3 came with a variety of options

Because of the aforementioned change in the column, the ignition switch had to be moved, and went from the dash to the column. They also added a lock-out feature for safety. This feature required that Corvettes with an automatic transmission must be in park to remove key, and those with a manual transmission must be in reverse to remove key.  Corvette prided themselves on their attention to safety, hence one of their ad slogans “Putting you first, keeps us first.”   The door handle was wisely changed to a rectangular chrome lever, easily usable by either hand on either side of the car. In the 1968 C3s, the door handle design required use of the left hand on the driver’s side and right hand on the passenger’s side.   1968 was also the last year for low back seats. Headrests, although listed as an option, became mandated by federal safety regulation, so were included in every 1969 C3. The seatbelt homes, which were small compartments behind the hand brake where seat belts were meant to be homed when not in use, were deemed unnecessary and removed this year.   In 1969, the backup light was moved from below the bumper to above, located next to the tail lights. This specific change was a big cost saver for Chevrolet. On the shift console, a plaque offering vital engine statistics was added below the shifter. This year, front fender Louver trim was also added as an option.

DID YOU KNOW?

• On November 7, 1969, the 250,000th Corvette came off the production line. This was an exciting day for Chevrolet!
• In 1969, the “Shark” once more became a “Stingray”. We had mentioned that the 1968 Corvette had lost the Sting Ray moniker. 1969 held the name once again, however this time, spelled as one word “Stringray” as opposed to previous “Sting Ray”.
• The revised spelling was a throwback to the spelling Bill Mitchell had originally used for his 1959-1960 Stingray race car.
• In 1969, there was a parts production strike, which played a big part in the jump in production compared to other years.  Once the strike was over, production for 69’s was extended by four months to make up for lost time. Production ran from September of 1968 to December of 1969, compared to January of 1970 to July of 1970 the following year.
• This is the only year side exhaust, “side pipes”, was a factory option.  Following 1969, side pipes would continue to be a popular aftermarket addition for many C3s to come.

A Good Year

True American Sports Car – Chevrolet Corvette

Overall, 1969 proved to be a huge success for the C3 Chevrolet Corvettes. After initial release, feedback was able to be gathered and design to be revised. We don’t have to say much to defend that 1969 was a drastic improvement for the C3 Corvettes. The numbers speak for themselves.   In 1968, the number of C3 Corvettes sold totaled 28,566. In 1969, Chevrolet saw an increase of more than 10,000 units sold, totaling 38,762 Corvettes sold! This was an incredible jump in sales, which speaks to the quality of improvements made by Chevrolet.   The third generation Corvette continues to excite and impress us to this day, which is why we are eager to continue this highlight series with you. Stay tuned to see what Chevrolet has in store for it’s 1970 release. We can’t wait!   In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us at Hobby Car Corvettes, located in Martinsburg, PA, if you have any questions or interest in owning your very own C3 Corvette. We are the definition of Corvette people, eager to share our passion with you. Let’s connect!

Transmission Codes

SPECS

Options Codes, Production, & Pricing

We currently have the following 1969 corvettes for sale: