Estimate: £25,000 - £30,000
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“There is Corvette and there is Porsche. One is the best engineering effort of America, the other of Germany. The difference in machines is not as great as the disparity in price.” Motor Trend, May 1970
For 1968 Chevrolet launched the ‘C3’ iteration of their Corvette. THE definitive US sports car said everything about its time; brash, confident, in your face. Though its underpinnings were closely related to its predecessor and none the worse for that with all independent suspension and four wheel disc brakes, the new, all-bonnet-no-cabin-body and interior propelled it to sales records which culminated in some 53,807 rolling off the production lines in 1979. A Bill Mitchell directed Larry Shinoda had produced the Mako Shark II in 1964 as a mid-engined concept and this was developed by Chevrolet Styling into the C3 which, though of a more conventional layout, did retained some of the Shark’s styling clues such as the vertical back window. Breaking cover in 1968, preceded by a Mattel Hot Wheels “Custom Corvette” model by a few weeks, the new ‘vette was a sensation, and these looks were backed up by some pretty space age gadgetry; concealed headlights and door handles plus wipers which were tucked away behind a vacuum operated door. To reinforce the theme of the moment (man was due to walk on the moon but a year later) earthbound occupants of the Corvette could now bask in “Astro Ventilation” – somehow a tad cooler than the ‘quarter lights’ it replaced. Genuinely advanced however was the fibre-optic system for monitoring the operation of the exterior lights.
By the 1970 production year, the Mako derived body had sprouted subtle wheel arch flares (just like my Mini 1000 of the same year) and there were a raft of minor styling updates to grills and wing vents along with squared off exhaust pipes. More significant were interior improvements such as re-profiled seats with the option of leather surfaces and up-spec carpeting while tinted glass became standard. Mechanically the revised for ’69 engines were retained so the 350 cubic inch motor (5,7 litres in metric money) continued to be rated at 300 hp. The ‘Positraction’ back axle was shifted from the options list to the standard specification column. Steel wheels in 8 inch widths kept the whole shooting match on the blacktop and it should be noted for the purposes of winning pub quizzes that Sting Ray had become Stingray the previous year.
Interestingly by the turn of the decade Ralph Nader’s writing was on the wall and sales of convertibles were slowing relative to their supposedly safer fixed head siblings (yes, nothing protects you in ton and a half of flipped motor car like 1/8” of fiberglass) and the Convertible Corvette was responsible for well under half the model’s sales. Coupled to that, changes to the ‘model year’ system in the USA and labour issues at the time mean that 1970 was a actually only effectively seven months long so a genuine '70 Convertible is a rare Corvette in itself.
The following year the evils of lower octane fuel forced compression ratios down and hence power dropped by some 30 hp. Shortly afterwards, safety and cost considerations did for the stylish chrome bumpers and opening wiper cover all of which makes the 1970 ‘vette arguably the choice of champions.
Registration Number: HGU 902J
Chassis Number: 1946 70S404768
Engine Number: 70S044768 V0209 CTD
We receive calls here at Berlinetta that often make us sit up a bit straighter, and the one that led to the consignment of this car was certainly one of them, leading as it did to what we consider to be a virtually unrepeatable opportunity for the serious collector.
After years of ‘cost no object’ restorations the pool of original, unmolested classic vehicles out there has unfortunately shrunk dramatically. While we admire a perfect ‘100 point’ restoration as much as the next OCD sufferer, there is a lot to be said for good, honest, well used and well loved cars that have for some extraordinary reason not had as many miles piled onto them over the years as they should have. Nowadays a 46 year old American car with less than 36,000 miles on the clock… well, you do the math (OK, it’s an average of just 782.61 miles per year).
The 350/300 Corvette Convertible we are offering here has a captivating back-story involving just three registered owners since new and only two long term keepers. The mileage is warranted and is reflected in its condition today, which scores very highly for originality with every component and tangible item the self-same it left the factory and only one major diversion from it’s original specification – the car was originally painted Cortez Silver (as evidenced by the identification plate found inside the N/S door opening). About 37 years ago, when the car was first imported into the UK it received a respray in its current Classic White. Other than that, trim, carpeting, hood, hardtop (also re-painted) and all the major mechanical items are those that were applied or fitted in the St Louis, Missouri factory nearly forty-seven years ago.
How this machine came to survive the best part of half a century largely unmolested is a story in itself, and is one that is fully documented in the car’s extensive and fascinating history file.
The Corvette’s first owner was His Excellency Mana Saeed Al Otaiba, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the United Arab Emirates, a true global political heavyweight who has not only been Personal and Private advisor to successive Sheikhs but also President of OPEC a record six times from 1971 to 1983 – coincidentally pretty much the same period of time that he owned this car. Well, you do ideally require access to a fair amount of ‘gas’ when you run one of these things, and who better for the job than the UEA’s ‘Minister for Petroleum’?
His Excellency has always maintained strong links and a good relationship with the USA and indeed his son, Yousef Al Otaib, is the incumbent UAE Ambassador to the USA in Washington. It seems not inconceivable that Mana Saeed Al Otaib might have received this Corvette as some form of gift from United States diplomats, grateful to have a good friend in this globally key economic region.
Manufactured in February of 1970 to Convertible 350/300, four speed manual gearbox specification with an impressive list of options such as power steering, brakes and windows plus desirable hardtop, the Corvette was shipped immediately to the UAE where, so the story goes, His Excellency tended to have the car flown to wherever he required it, so it was always ready for him to enjoy as soon as he landed, wherever he landed. As the vendor says only slightly tongue in cheek, during this time the car probably accrued more air miles than road miles..
In mid-1979 the Corvette was purchased by a UK oil engineer working in the Middle East, he shipped the car back to the UK, commissioned the re-spray and kept it right up until a few months ago. During its stay in the UK the car has always been safely garaged in rural Norfolk.
During our recent inspection the paintwork was found to be free of major crazing or any micro-blistering but it does not of course have the gloss or shine of a freshly applied finish, and there are a number of blotches and runs where it has been touched in over the years. Any new owner can obviously choose the best appropriate course of action here for themselves – either to use and enjoy the car exactly as it is cosmetically, or perhaps look at returning it to it’s original and highly attractive Cortez Silver. Perhaps in todays 'preservation' orientated world the ultimate course of action would be to carefully remove the white 'top coat' to reveal the original silver underneath, perfectly protected from the elements for the last 37 years! Either way it’s not a job that needs attending to immediately (or that you could do on a Sunday). Under the paint the body itself is outstanding with great alignment and even panel gaps.
As you would expect from such a lightly used and cherished machine, the chassis itself appears to be totally solid and looks to have never required any welding.
The chrome finish on the bumpers, guards and grills is good in all areas with many of the minor details such as sill trims having been renewed. The original slotted steel wheels have recently been correct-silver powder coated and fitted with new oh-so appropriate Goodyear Eagle tyres.
We found the interior to have aged nicely with the only slight wear being to the leather seat facings and door cards. The original radio is in place – by now we are sure that will not surprise you – as are the seat belts while the dashboard and other various consoles and surrounds are all in good condition. The draft excluders and seals seem to be the original items and are in more than useable order. This does not have the appearance of a car that has been left out in the blazing sun and while that may not be so unusual for a Norfolk domiciled machine, we should still be thankful for the care that was lavished upon it in the UAE. Both hard and soft tops are in almost ‘factory’ condition in terms of both fit and finish.
On test the Corvette started on the first turn of the key (two sets supplied) and ran with the correct manufacturer’s oil pressure whilst also sounding wonderful as we rumbled around the vendors local area with absolutely no evidence of any squeaks or rattles. This car feels as tight and fresh as.. well, a 36,000 mile car should do.
A recent full service and specific attention to components such as brake pipes, hoses, discs and calipers has just been completed by Paul Allen of marque experts Lincolnshire Corvettes. The headlamps, which (as you may have noticed) were stuck in the 'up' position for our photo-shoot have now been attended to, as has the wiper panel. Other satisfying fixes in the last week or so include the heater (just in time), and various other electrical gremlins will be taken on before the sale.
A large history file is present containing all the relevant documentation along with a current MOT certificate valid until 2017.
All in all a car that’s clearly not perfect, but then neither it is presented, priced or relevant as such. What we have here is is an extremely original and rare, very low milage car with a fascinating history - just waiting for the next chapter of its extraordinary life to begin with its lucky new owner. You certainly will not find another example like it.
