1969 Chevrolet Corvette C3 T-Top Photos, engines & full specs

When GM introduced the third generation of the Corvette, it was made in coupe and convertible shape, while a third version, the T-Top, followed for the 1969 model year.

While a coupe was usually lighter than a convertible, thanks to its unibody construction instead of the body-on-frame one, the T-Top was the solution that provided the best of both worlds. Customers could enjoy open-top driving without adding weight or losing the car’s stiffness. The C3 T-Top, or targa-top, was the first in the Chevrolet’s lineup to offer such construction. It wasn’t a body-on-frame, but it still provided the fun of driving under the clear sky.

When Larry Shinoda penned the third generation of the Corvette, he made the vehicle based on the Mako Shark II concept, so the C3’s front fascia featured pop-up headlights with twin lamps on each side. In addition, the V-shaped front area was slightly protected by a chromed stripe from side to side. Lower, in the apron, the automaker added a grille that helped to cool the engine, and underneath it was a slim lip spoiler.

From its side, the Corvette T-Top boasted a set of functional four louvers on the front fenders that helped release the air trapped in the wheel well. Up to the A-pillars, the Corvette C3 Coupe and the C3 T-Top looked the same. The difference was on the cabin, or more specifically on the car’s roof. Unlike its coupe sibling, the T-Top featured two removable panels, one above each occupant, which customers could store in specially designated bags. To place or remove them, one person was enough. These panels were provided in body color or as transparent pieces of glass. Unlike the C2, the C3 had sloped shoulder lines behind the cabin, but the rear window was vertical, right behind the seats. Finally, at the back, the 1968 Corvette had the same twin taillights design.

Inside, Chevrolet installed a new dashboard compared with the twin-cowl one used on the C2. Fronting the driver was an instrument panel with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer. On the center stack, GM installed four gauges for other relevant information and a clock. Between the bucket seats, the car featured a center console that housed the gear selector, the controls for the HVAC, and an ashtray. With the top panels removed and the rear window rolled down, the car offered almost the same pleasant sensations as a convertible. Still, the longitudinal bar above occupants’ heads and the safety arch behind the seats remained.

Under the hood, Chevrolet installed a wide range of V8 engines paired with a three- or four-speed manual and the newly developed Turbo Hydramatic three-speed automatic. The Positronic limited-slip differential was the same as the one used on the Camaro’s second generation.