Chris' '69 is one of only...
Chris' '69 is one of only 600 convertibles built with the RPO A85 custom shoulder belts option.
Chris' love of high-performance Chevys has a family connection, too. "My dad worked for Chevrolet in the '50s and early '60s, in their parts department," he recalls, remembering the stories his father told-and cars he had. "In 1958, he bought a '58 BelAir that he ordered with the 280 horsepower 348 Tri-Power, a 3.55 Posi and a three-speed stick. That car was light, and it was just an animal!" Chris also heard his father's stories about hanging out with his fellow Traction Masters at Harvey's Drive-In in Queens, and that the only cars on the road that could touch that BelAir were Vettes.
If you're looking to make some family history with a vintage Vette-or add to your history-Chris has this advice: Figure out what type of car you want, and then do your homework before you buy. "Do you want a car that's all original," he says, "or do you want a car that you don't care if it's numbers-matching or not?" He adds, "Do your research, do your homework and make sure you get the right car, because at the end of the day, you're going to enjoy the car that much more."
This is what you found under...
This is what you found under the domed "427" hood when you chose the 390hp version of the Mark IV big-block in '69, and Chris has kept its original looks.
Owned by Chris Mazzilli, New York, NY
Body
Original production '69 Stingray convertible body
Paint: Monza Red, redone in basecoat/clearcoat form
Painting & prep: Marty Coven at Gibraltar Collision, Floral Park, New York
Chassis
Production '69 Stingray, with original frame
Suspension: OEM '69 Stingray four-wheel independent suspension (Front) Coil springs with upper/lower A-arms, anti-sway bar and tubular Delco shock absorbers (Rear) Independent rear suspension with lateral struts, radius rods, transverse 9-leaf spring bundle and tubular Delco shock absorbers
Steering: OEM GM/Saginaw recirculating ball, power-assisted
Brakes: OEM GM Delco disc brakes all around, power-assisted
Wheels: OEM Rally wheels, 15x8 inches, with original trim rings and center caps
Tires: Repros of the original Goodyear Speedway F70-15 wide tread black walls
Engine
Chevrolet Mark IV overhead-valve V-8, cast-iron block, RPO L36
Displacement: 427 cubic inches
Compression ratio: 10.25:1
Cylinder heads: OEM Chevrolet cast iron, casting # 3931063
Ignition: OEM GM/Delco points-style ignition with Delco distributor (#1111926)
Induction: OEM GM/Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor (#7029024) atop original cast-iron intake manifold
Camshaft: OEM Chevrolet with hydraulic lifters
Exhaust: OEM Corvette dual exhaust system with cast-iron manifolds and steel pipes
Horsepower: 390 @ 5400 rpm (Advertised)
Torque: 460 ft-lb @ 3,600 rpm (Advertised)
'69's Stingray was the most...
'69's Stingray was the most popular of the chrome-bumper Sharks, thanks to a model run that Chevy boss John DeLorean extended by four months because of a strike at St. Louis Assembly.
Original TurboHydraMatic 400 automatic (RPO M40) with OEM console-mounted shifter
Rearend: Original '69 Stingray with fixed differential containing 3.08 rear gears and RPO G81 Positraction, plus U-jointed halfshafts
Interior
Original production '69 Stingray convertible
Interior features: Power windows, shoulder belts, rear window defogger, Speed Warning Indicator (All original)
Seats: OEM red leather, one of just 181 '69 Corvettes so optioned
Carpets: OEM red nylon loop-pile
Instrumentation: OEM '69 Stingray (0-160 mph speedometer, 0-7000 rpm tach with 5600 rpm redline, plus ammeter, oil pressure, coolant temperature and fuel level gauges in center stack, along with clock)
Sound system: Original RPO U79 GM/Delco AM/FM Stereo radio
Heater: OEM GM-Harrison heater-defroster
A/C: A destination on the New Jersey shore that's best driven to in the warm weather months with the top down