1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427 convertible with both tops, 4-speed and A/C, priced like a small-block car

Why we picked it

This is a 1969 Corvette convertible with a 427 (the seller lists the 390-hp TurboJet) and a 4-speed manual. It comes with the black soft top, the removable hardtop, factory-style air conditioning, black leather buckets and a tilt/telescoping wheel. It was refinished in Corvette Bronze over its original Riverside Gold, and the dealer, Art & Speed in Collierville, Tennessee, says it has been loved and driven. Mileage shows 43,518.

At $39,900 it is priced below most recent sales of small-block 1969 convertibles with hardtops, which have gone for $40,000 to $49,500. Big-block cars with both tops have sold for $48,000 to $65,000. The listing calls the engine a swap, so treat it as a non-numbers-matching driver, not a collector car. That makes it a good starting point for a chrome-bumper C3 that you plan to drive and improve, without worrying about spoiling originality.

The value check

The seller is asking $59,900. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $44,500–$62,700, so the middle of the market is about $53,600.

Recent 1969 Corvette convertible sales in driver condition: small-block cars with hardtops $40,000-$49,500, 427 cars with hardtops $48,000-$65,000 (BaT, Mecum, GAA, Aug-Oct 2026). We used a conservative $44,500-$62,700 range because this car's engine is listed as a swap.

Where the numbers come from:

• classic.com 1969 Corvette sold results
• 1969 Corvette 427/L36 convertible w/ hardtop, Mecum Aug 2026, $62,700
• 1969 Corvette 427/L68 convertible w/ hardtop, GAA Jul 2026, $48,000
• 1969 Corvette 350/L46 convertible w/ hardtop, Mecum Sep 2026, $48,400

What to check

• Engine is listed as a swap: get the block casting, date and suffix codes to see what 427 it is, and confirm the car is a real big-block car (hood, gauges, cowl tag) if that matters to you
• C3 birdcage (windshield frame and rear kickup) rust is the big one; have it checked underneath and behind the kick panels
• Frame rot near the rear kickup and trailing-arm mounts, plus worn trailing-arm bushings
• Pop-up headlight and wiper-door vacuum systems often leak; test both
• Seller discloses no issues and does not mention title; ask for the title and a cold-start video
• Big-block cars run hot; check the aluminum radiator and fan setup in traffic

Making it drive like new

A C3 like this takes well to a rebuilt rear suspension with a coilover or composite-spring kit, poly bushings and better shocks. Add four-wheel disc service with new stainless calipers, a modern 5- or 6-speed manual for highway cruising, and an improved fan shroud and electric fans so the 427 stays cool in summer traffic.

8 builders make a complete chassis for the 1968–82 C3 Corvette. Compare them side by side, along with what it takes to stiffen the factory frame.