1969 Corvette Illustrated Series No.32

After all the brouhaha over the new Corvette's Mako Shark styling, reality set in and the magazine testers and customers figured out that the 1968 model wasn't really done. Quality, fit, and finish were a major concerns. There was a lot that wasn't right - so much so that the 1968 Corvette never enjoyed the same status as the first 1963 Sting Ray.

Designers knew that the '68 Corvette was a transition model. Much of what they'd hoped to have on the '68 car made it into the '69 car. The Stingray name was back, however, instead of being a two word name, it was now just, "Stingray." Visually the Stingray had minor changes. The most obvious one was the "Stingray" script lettering over the front fender vents. The front grille was completely blacked out and the tailights had integrated backup lights. The door handles were flush mounted and operated by squeezing down. The Rally Wheels didn't look much different, but now measured 8 inches in width. Perhaps the hottest option was the off-road exhaust pipes. These were the same pipes that were available in '67, but with beautifully styled covers that fit the coke-bottle shape of the rocker panel perfectly.

The small-block engines grew from 327 cubic inches to 350, but power ratings remained the same. The 427 engines were unchanged for 1969 except for the $3,000, optional, all-aluminum 427 ZL-1. Transmissions and suspension options weren't changed, either.

The interior saw new door panels for additional shoulder room and a small- diameter steering wheel, since most Stingrays had power steering. The dash now had map pockets and the seats had built-in headrests. The console area had a few new warning lights and there was a plate indicating which of the five engines was under the hood. An alarm systems was a new option for '69.

The changes were mostly well received. One magazine described the small-blocks as "marginally fast and very civilized, while the big-blocks were marginally civilized and very fast." The Stingray was still criticized for having a "harsh" suspension. Duntov explained that it was tuned for speeds between 80 and 120 mph. He didn't want to, "penalize the man who's going to drive fast." Wise words from the Godfather.