1969 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, 4-speed small-block with hardtop and title, estate-style online auction

Why we picked it

Why we picked it: This is lot 1 in Bill Anderson Auctioneers' online-only "JT Towing & Antique Vehicles" sale on HiBid. The VIN listed (194679S714710) decodes to a 1969 Corvette convertible, and the lot comes with a removable hardtop, a 4-speed manual, a small-block V8 with headers and side pipes, 89,327 miles showing and a title in hand. There are no keys and the auctioneer calls the condition unknown, so treat it as a project until proven otherwise.

At $2,300 (about $2,530 with the 10% buyer's premium) it is far below what rough 4-speed '69 convertibles have been selling for, but the auction does not close until Thursday, November 19, and bids on a car like this usually climb sharply in the last day. Even at $10,000 all-in it would still sit well under recent project-grade sales. It is sold as-is, pickup only on Saturday, November 21 at the New Alexandria, PA yard, with no shipping, so plan transport ahead.

The value check

The current bid is $4,620. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $13,985–$21,668, so the middle of the market is about $17,826.50. That put this car 74% under. Bids usually climb in the final hours, so the discount will likely shrink.

Two recent Hagerty Marketplace sales of tired 1969 small-block 4-speed convertibles with replacement engines brought $13,985 (Oct 2025) and $21,668 (Jun 2026); a cleaner older-restoration 350/4-speed driver made $30,500 on AutoHunter. Current bid plus 10% premium is about $2,530, roughly 86% under the $17.8k midpoint, but bidding has 13 days to run.

Where the numbers come from:

• Hagerty Marketplace 1969 Corvette convertible 4-speed, sold $13,985 (Oct 2025)
• Hagerty Marketplace 1969 Corvette convertible 4-speed, sold $21,668 (Jun 2026)
• AutoHunter 1969 Corvette convertible 350/4-speed driver, sold $30,500 (Jun 2026)

What to check

• Condition unknown and no keys: assume it does not run and budget for a full mechanical sort.
• Check the birdcage (windshield frame and rear kickup) and frame rails ahead of the rear wheels for rust; birdcage repair is the big C3 cost.
• Side pipes and headers mean the original engine is probably gone; check the engine stamp against the VIN if originality matters.
• Inspect the fiberglass for crash repairs, and test vacuum headlight and wiper-door systems.
• Buyer's premium is 10%, sold as-is, pickup only on Nov 21 with no shipping; confirm the title is clean and matches the VIN before bidding.
• Lot page shows a 6:00 PM Thursday close while the terms say 7:00 PM; confirm the close time with the auctioneer.

Making it drive like new

A '69 small-block convertible is an ideal C3 pro-touring base: a coilover front end and a rear coilover or composite-spring kit, big disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering and an LS or LT crate with a T56 or Tremec 5-speed make it a modern driver, while the hardtop keeps it usable year-round.

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.