39 Year Ago Today

[Joe L.]

39 years ago today I took possession of my new 1969 Corvette convertible which I had factory-ordered several months prior. In fact, it was not only 39 years ago today, September, 30, 1969, but it was also a Tuesday and the weather was very much similar to what we have here today. It was a very memorable day for me. Believe me, I never thought I'd still have this car 39 years later as, in those days, I had never owned a car for much more than 2 years.

In 1972, I almost decided to order a new 1973 but the gas crisis made me reconsider that move. Then, I figured my best bet was to sell the Corvette and buy a Lotus Europa, a high performance but fuel stingy sports car of the day. Parts availability problems for that car soured me on that move since the car would have been my daily driver and needed to be very serviceable. So, I kept the 69. I'm very glad now that it all worked out that way.

1977 was the last year that I drove the 69 day-to-day, though.

[Michael G.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe,

I'm sure many of your associates know about the car but I would be interested in the particulars. Color, options, engine, tranny,etc.....c'mon brag about this jewel. . This car has to be most interesting.

Regards,
Michael

[Jim T.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe have you taken your 69 out of the garage for a test drive with the new engine?

[Joe L.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe have you taken your 69 out of the garage for a test drive with the new engine?

Jim-----


I'm ashamed to say it but no. It's still about 2 days of work from completion. The problem is it's been about 2 days work from completion for a LONG time.

[Joe L.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe,

I'm sure many of your associates know about the car but I would be interested in the particulars. Color, options, engine, tranny,etc.....c'mon brag about this jewel. . This car has to be most interesting.

Regards,
Michael

Michael-----


It's a quite unremarkable car. When I ordered it, I had previously owned a new 1966 Chevelle SS 396 (L-34/M21) and a new 1968 Chevelle SS 396 (L-78/M-22). I had my fill (at the time) of big blocks, so I didn't want another one in the Corvette. Plus, I was a just out of college and didn't even know how I was going to afford the car. So, I tried to keep the option cost down. As a matter of fact, I ordered a convertible with hard-top only in order to save about $350 over the coupe, even though the coupe was my first choice (I didn't like "rag-tops" at the time and figured that a convertible with hard-top only would be pretty much the same as a coupe). The MSRP of the car was $5005 and I paid $4600 with a $405 discount. After the down payment of the after-loan-payoff proceeds from my 68 Chevelle (only 18 moths old when I sold it), my car payments were $126.61/month for 36 months with Bank of California.

Attached is a copy of a page of the very famous July, 1969 edition of Car Life Magazine which had a full report on all engine options for 1969 Corvettes. I was a subscriber to Car Life at the time and received this edition in about May, 1969. You'll note the check marks on the far right side of the page. These were the actual marks I made to select the options I was going to order. As I've mentioned, I did not go through with the coupe, though, which is what I checked on this page. I later had the last minute "change-of-heart" to save the $350.

In 1975 when the car had about 110,000 miles on it, I came to the erroneous conclusion that the engine was "shot". So, I purchased a brand new, identical short block assembly from GM and built it up into a complete engine virtually identical to the original. Many years later, I rebuilt the original engine back to completely original configuration EXTERNALLY, but with a few internal changes. However, I decided I did not want to re-install this engine in the car.

In 1986 I added a soft top and power steering to the car.

When GM re-released the ZL-1 aluminum block, I decided that would be the engine I'd build in order to drive with and "save" the original engine. At least, until I got tired of a big block again and then I'd re-install the original engine. So, I built up the "ZL-1" to my own specification for a street engine---big block power with less overall weight than my original small block. I could not resist.

It also so-happened that I had a brand new M-22 transmission (in pieces) that I had purchased over-the-counter from GM years earlier. So, I assembled it for use behind my "ZL-1". Both are in the car now.

The original car was equipped as follows:

1969 convertible

hard-top only

Riverside Gold exterior paint

Black Vinyl, standard interior

300 HP, 350 cid base engine

M-20 wide ratio 4 speed transmission

3.36:1 positraction axle

tinted glass, all windows

AM-FM radio

[Stuart F.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe;

Funny how as we get older these anniversary dates bring back a whole lot of sentimental memories. I just got past my 63's 45th birthday and delivery this past July and August respectively, and they conjured up a lot of time related pleasant thoughts of a simpler more happy period of good health and optimism for the future. How many people can say they still have something as a Corvette from their past to provide that link? I'm looking forward to the 50th now. Hope I can see it.

Stu fox

[Bryan M.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Thanks for sharing Joe. Great story!

[Art A.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Congratulation Joe. I hope that she is back on the road and you took her for a spin.........SOON!.

[Bill M.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Hey Joe:

I wanted a '69 so bad I could taste it (no pun intended). I still have my sales brochure and option wish list including the price (somewhere). I couldn't afford the car and the marriage, so I kept the '59 and got married (8/30/69). I'm sure I'd still have the '69, but I'm still married, so I guess I did the right thing...

The ZL1 is the ultimate BB...very cool rig! I was privileged to work at Tonawanda the summer (1969) they built the originals. That block was not on my wish list, but if I'd known then what we know now...

My '59 (my father bought it new) will be 50 on May 1, 2009. That's the projected START of the restoration. Maybe by 2019?!

Happy Anniversary!

Bill

[Clem Z.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

nice going joe as some guys can't keep a wife that long and that is even more expensive than getting new cars.

[Mark R.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Joe:

Thanks for sharing a great story. Being an original owner of a 1969 Corvette puts you in a very select group of Corvette owners.. It's wonderful to see guys who were into Corvettes early in their lives maintain the passion and interest that makes the Corvette hobby so enriching today.

Mark

[Terry K.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today



Great stories!

[Pat M.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

Interesting story Joe. I envy you all who were old enough to buy these classics when they were new. I couldn't - when my 70 was built I was 3!

[Tom D.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today & 43 Years Ago on 10/13/1965

The original owner of my Trophy Blue '66 still lives Medina, NY. He is a matter of perhaps 10 blocks (or less) from the place he picked up the car in Oct., 1965.

The seller was GM; An employee deal. Delivery at Botsford and Hartway Motors, Inc. (Now simply Hartway Motors.) See NCRS.org or Al Grenning for their old Buffalo Zone number.

I have the "dealer order copy". It reads like a tank sticker, but also has the prices listed in four columns. Suggested Retail, followed by "price", followed by "D&H" (delivery and handling, I assume), followed by the total of the last two columns - which is what the GM employee paid. It's slightly interesting that the "D&H" was broken down into small amounts and added in (for options as well as the car). This may have been a way of paying the dealer for the sale to a GM exec.

Some of the things listed on the "dealer order copy".

2N36AA TELESCOPIC STRG WHL
2418BK DARK BLUE TRIM
2M20AA 4 SPD TRANSMISSION
2G81BA POSITRACT AXLE 308R
2980AA TROPHY BLUE
2C07AA AUXILIARY HARD TOP
2C05BA CONVERT TOP WHITE
2A02AA TINTED WINDSHIELD
2U69AA PB AM/FM RADIO
2P92AA 775X15X4 PLY WSW
99996 NEW CAR CONDITION

11615 DESTINATION CHARGE - This amount was only added to the wholesale/employee total - $82.75 extra for the delivery!

The invoice total paid = $3780.14. I know he sold for that amount or more, before he got his 67 Corvette.

Today, I wish I had looked for more than just one car when the dealer let me look into his "old sales files" (in about 1980). Same GM exec bought one every year back then, mostly (if not all) from this dealer. Did "regular" employees get this many chances to buy Corvettes in 1966-1968?

Thanks
td

[Norm C.]

Re: 39 Year Ago Today

JOE....CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

As the original owner of my 72, I totally relate to your nostalgia!! I like you, also have just over 100,000 miles,,, but most of those were in the first 6-7 years and now its around 500-1,000 miles a year.

While it would be great to have a low mileage car, I know you're like me and wouldn't trade all those memory's driving it for the low mileage. For some reason, again like you, I valued originality before NCRS existed. So I was very gratified this summer when for the first time I had it judged at the Bend regional and qualified for Bowtie as well as just rec'd the score sheets for the Top Flight award. (Of which you had a hand in that success with your help on many of my questions!!)

Keep us posted on the "inauguration" drive with the new running gear!! Bet the feeling will be awesome!!!!