Page 84 - FAST 2026 Calendar Yearbook

The Corvette C3 was introduced a year late in1968 after experiencing a number of
design and engineering problems. The Corvette design team including Zora Duntov and
Frank Mitchell had hoped to bring out a leading edge mid-engine sports car, but the cost
for such an all-new car with a rear engine transaxle and gearbox would be too cost
prohibitive for such a low volume car and General Motors president Bill Mitchell decreed
the 3nd Generation Corvette would remain a front engine car.
The body design of the C3 was taken nearly direct from the earlier Mako Shark II
show car that had been designed by Larry Shinoda, and refined by the Chevrolet Design
staff led by David Hollis. The car received this all-new futuristic body design with a matching
jet age interior, but underneath the skin very little changed from the previous generation
C2. Other than a few additional braces in the frame, the chassis and engines were the
same. As in previous years, a 327-cubic inch V8 Small Block yielding 300hp and a
3-speed manual gearbox was
standard, with six different
engines, ranging all the way
up to the mighty 427ci L88
Big Block were available as
options.
The 1969 Corvette
C3 convertible shown here
and featured in this year’s
Garage Girls Calendar with
Calendar Kitten Sophie
belongs to my good buddy
Robert Nathanson. He found
it after a ground up restora-
tion by the previous owner
who rebuilt it to like-new
condition after 50 years. This
year the 327ci engine was
upgraded to a 350ci 5.7 liter
350hp Small Block mated to
a 4-speed transmission in
this car. - Jim Gianatsis
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