35th Anniversary

[Joe L.]

Well, today is the 35th anniversary of the date of delivery to me of my 1969 convertible. The body was built on September 13th (a Saturday), the car completed about the 15th or 16th and it arrived at my dealer on August 29th.

35 years ago, today, at about 2:00 pm, I delivered my 1968 Chevelle SS L-78/M-22 to its new owner (wish I'd kept it) and at about 5:30 pm I was the absolutely proud owner of a new 1969 Corvette which I still own to this day.

The dealer was Central Chevrolet Company in Fremont, CA. The dealership is still there at the same location and, although somwhat updated and remodeled over the years, is still basically the same beautiful facility as it was in 1969. The same family still owns it and the "patriarch" of the family, Rich Brunelli, is still active in the business as he was in 1969.

[Terry M.]

Re: 35th Anniversary? really

"The body was built on September 13th (a Saturday), the car completed about the 15th or 16th and it arrived at my dealer on August 29th."

A pretty remarkable achievement I would say. There must be a typo in there somewhere.

[Joe L.]

Re: 35th Anniversary? really

Terry-----

It should have been September, 29 NOT August

[Klaus Friedrich #33362]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Congratulation Joe!

I'm still waiting for the birthday of my 69 Corvette. It was made on F02.

How do you get that amount of candles on the hood of your Corvette?

Greetings from Germany
Klaus Friedrich
#33362

[Kenneth G.]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Joe,

I believe you have the 300hp model, was just wondering why you didnt get the L46 350hp? Looking back, any options you wish you had gotten?

Kenny #31871 1969 L46 owner

[Joe L.]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Kenny-----

There were several reasons for my engine selection. First and foremost, I was just out of college and I was trying to keep the price down. $5,000 for a car in those days was BIG MONEY. Another MAJOR factor, though, was that after having 2 big block Chevelles and all of the problems associated with SHP engines, I wanted something real docile, pre-ignition free, and tractable. I did seriously consider the L-46, though; it didn't really cost that much more. However, the 300 hp engine proved to be WONDERFUL (although it did have some pre-ignition problems despite everything I did to try to cure it). In fact, I'm absolutely certain that the 300 hp engine is one of the reasons that I still have the car today. It was an absolute delight. Although I'll be converting to my "ZL-1" for awhile, eventually I'll be back to the original engine.

Other options I wish I had ordered:

1) Both tops. I ordered a hard-top only to save money. I hated convertibles at that time. However, the convertible with hard top only was about $300 less expensive than the coupe (i.e. T-top). The t-top was what I wanted at the time (t-tops were THE RAGE in 1969), but I figured that a convertible with a hard top would be pretty much like a coupe and I'd save $300. Over the years I came to MUCH more appreciate convertibles and am I ever glad now that I tried to save $300 in 1969. Otherwise, I wouldn't have a convertible today. In any event, I added the soft top to the car in 1986. By that time, the "whole deal" cost me $2,000. It was the best $2,000 I EVER spent, though. In my opinion now (although, admittedly, I may be biased), I think that the 68-72 convertible is the best looking convertible Corvette ever built. And, in my opinion, the 63-67 coupe is the best looking Corvette coupe ever built.

2) Power steering. I actually didn't want power steering in 1969. I felt that a performance car like a Corvette shouldn't have power steering. I changed my mind over the years, though. I added it in 1987.

Other things I DID order with the car:

1) positraction (G-81)
2) 4 speed transmission (M-20)
3) all tinted glass (A-01)
4) AM-FM radio (U-69)

Things that I wish I had ordered:

1) speed warning speedometer (U-15)
2) absolutely NOTHING else

[Peter M.]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Joe,

Very interesting story as it seems you were in enviable position of buying a 68 L78 Chevelle new and then, 1 year later, buying a new vette. Wow!

Curious about your comments on SHP and L78. I have 71 Lt1(1st vette bought 2 years ago) - everyone loved vettes but most, like me, could not afford when I was growing up(Staten Island NY). Loved musclecars and over the years, starting when I was 19, I have owned at different times individually, 2 66 GTO's, 3 65 GTO's, and 1 66 SS396 Chevelle.
The 66 SS was a 396/360, and one of my 66 GTO's had a 396 and one 65 had an L78(back then it was the rage to put in Chevy BB's into GTO's - don't get me wrong - loved the look of my 65 389 tripower too.
Anyway, I distinctly remembering that nobody trusted factory hp ratings - also remember that L78 was much, much stronger than other 396's I owned.

Since your car was practically new, what type problems did you have with your L78 - I don't remember having any-loved that motor. Surprised to see your comment - maybe I did not use it enough( I didn't as it had 5:14 gears for the street).

[Patrick H.]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Congratulations, Joe!

Patrick

[Brian M.]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Congratulations Joe. Put on an NOS part and take it for a cruise.

[Terry M.]

Happy Anniversary, Joe *NM*

[Chas Kingston]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Congratulations, Joe. I know that I couldn't keep a car that long. I've had many Corvettes since '69; I'd get tired of one in six months or a year and buy something different. I've had docile 300hp, automatic convertibles. I've had high-revving solid lifter motors. I even had a 454/425 w/ DD clutch and the rock-crusher. Get tired of one and get the opposite.

BTW, Joe, How's the ZL-1 progressing?

Ol' Geezer

[Scott Marzahl]

Happy Anniversary Joe

What are you getting her for her 35th

[Mike M.]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Joe,
Since you got your car in Fremont, did you ever spend time at the Fremont Drag Strip? Spent many days there myself from '74 to '80. A lot of them helping a co-worker, Mike Dunn (even after he started BHJ Products), who raced a '57 Corvette gasser. I also worked at Cutter Labs in Berkeley as Plant Engineer.
My lead instrument tech was Noland Adams.
Mike McCormick

[Geoff C.]

Happy 35th Anniversary Joe & Many More *NM*

[Donald M.]

Re: 35th Anniversary

Joe, a speed warning speedometer was to me a useless option. I had one on my '69 and having every intention of being the law-abiding citizen, I set it on 60MPH. Well, it buzzed so often I set it to 120MPH and left it there! That car also had an engine block heater which shorted out and started smoking the first time it was used. Thse options are just oddities today.
don