The Corvette C3 was launched by Chevrolet in the autumn of 1967 as the third generation of the Corvette and remained in production until the autumn of 1982. From 1969 to 1976, it was also known as the Stingray, a name that appeared as lettering on the bodywork. The new generation was characterised by a completely new design for both the interior and the bodywork. The striking body design, with its sweeping wings, went down in motoring history as the ‘Coke-bottle Corvette’, as its side profile resembles that of a Coca-Cola bottle. Initially, the Corvette had chrome bumpers at the front and rear. The requirement to comply with safety regulations regarding impact protection up to 5 mph led not only to hasty changes to the bumpers in 1973. That model year featured a curious mix of front polyurethane bumpers painted in the body colour and classic chrome bumpers at the rear. From the 1974 model year onwards, the chrome bumpers were also dropped at the rear. From 1968 onwards, the 5.4-litre (327 cui) ‘small-block’ eight-cylinder engine, familiar from the C1 and C2 models and now delivering 300 gross SAE HP, was used as the standard base engine; from 1969, the 5.7-litre (350 cui) engine became standard, with power output remaining unchanged. The 7.0-litre ‘big-block’ engine (427 cui) was also available once again, with power outputs ranging from 390 SAE-HP to 435 SAE-HP. The quest for the largest displacement and highest power output reached its absolute peak in 1971. The ‘Big-Block’ in a Corvette was never larger than it was between 1970 and 1974: a displacement of 7.4 litres (454 cui) equates to a volume of over 930 cc per cylinder. This beautiful Corvette C3 Convertible was first registered in the USA in 1969 with a 7-litre ‘Big Block’ engine and a 4-speed manual gearbox. The car’s early history is unknown, but the custom registration number recorded in the vehicle registration document suggests that this powerful American car was imported into Switzerland in the early 1980s. It was probably in the mid-1990s that the Corvette was fitted with a 454 cui engine to replace the original 427 engine. Around 2004, the convertible was acquired by an enthusiast, who immediately had the chassis extensively overhauled and a new exhaust system fitted. In 2005/06, the interior was restored, followed by the installation of new wiring harnesses in the engine bay and dashboard in the summer of 2008. Also in the summer of 2008, the Stingray passed to the owner’s daughter, who had the bodywork restored and repainted from blue to its current burgundy red in the winter of 2010/11. The Corvette was also fitted with a new soft top and new bumpers. In 2023, the powerful convertible passed to its most recent owner, who subsequently had the cylinder heads overhauled and fitted a new clutch. The Vette is currently in good, well-maintained condition and will be handed over to a new enthusiast with its most recent veteran MOT completed in June 2024.