1969 Chevy 427/437 Corvette

Chevrolet admitted that the 1968 Corvette had been rushed into production and quality wasn’t what it should have been for such a premium car. Actually, QC was a problem for Corvettes into the early ‘90s.

But all that aside, the 427/435 Stingray was a kick-ass street machine. Except for the script “Stingray” badge on the front fender and the optional side-pipes, it was next to impossible to tell a ‘68 from a ‘69 Corvette.

What was amazing about the car was the choice of engine. Mr. Buyer could have his or her choice of THREE small-block 350 engines ranging from a 300 hp ZQ3 to a 370 hp LT-1. If a 427 big-block was more to your liking, there were FIVE different 427 engines! The L36 was rated at 390 hp and the L71 was rated at 435 hp. The 427/435 L71 was the hot setup for the street. The L88 was also available, but it was really a “racing only” package and not suited for the street.

The net result on the street was that just because your car whooped a “427” Corvette, you really couldn’t tell if it was one of the “soft” 390 hydraulic lifter 427s or the “stump puller,” 435 hp “427.” But odds were that if it was a 427/435 Corvette, you would know by seeing its tail lights steadily pulling away from you while you were maxed out!