Betty - 1969 Corvette

Betty - 1969 Corvette

Make: Chevrolet
Model: Corvette (C3)
Year: 1969

Car Personality Snapshot

Betty might look like a sweetheart, but don’t let the curves fool you. She’s bold, built to run, and just a little dangerous. The kind of ride your momma warned you about.

Quick Specs

LS3 6.2L V8 (modern GM performance crate engine)
Tremec 5-speed manual transmission
Coilover suspension (adjusted for smooth cruising)
Full custom maroon repaint (original color, restored)
Refreshed black interior with new seats, panels, and trim
Resto-mod drivetrain with stock ’69 Corvette looks
Vintage A/C and all-new rubber, seals, and emblems

Story & Restoration Notes

Betty was our first-ever Mecum purchase, found in 2023 at the Houston auction. She wasn’t on our radar, but when we heard “new LS3” as the bidding stalled, we couldn’t resist. We landed her at a steal, despite not even being sure what color she was under the lights.

Once we got a closer look—rough paint, cracked gel coat, torn interior—it was clear why the price was low. But that engine? Worth it. We drove her five hours home with a bad throw-out bearing and bottomed-out coilovers, but she still delivered 18 mpg and sounded like pure trouble the whole way.

Since then, we’ve tackled transmission repairs, chased down wiring gremlins, rebuilt the interior, installed A/C, and replaced all the trim, seals, and rubber. Then we handed her over to Mike at Knabe’s Paint and Body for a full teardown and a deep maroon respray in her original color. The result? One of the best-looking C3s on the road, with the bite to back it up.