The Corvettes that seem to get all the attention are the big block cars with the most powerful engines, ut honestly, ow often do those guys actually use those cars to their potential? Moreover, ith values heading upwards on all Corvettes, o they even have the intestinal fortitude to actually put them on the road? It seems crazy to own a great road car and to not, ou know, ctually put it on the road. And it’s with that in mind that this bright Rally Red 1967 Corvette convertible seems to make so much sense. It’s just as beautiful as all the other Mid-Year Corvettes, t has a top that goes down, t has a strong-running V8, nd it’s welcome at all the big shows. And quite honestly, t works better as a car than any of the snarling big block monsters and fuel-injected wundermotors ever will, o you can drive it as intended without a second thought. And that, y friends, s how reality is sometimes better than fantasy.

We’ll get the basics out of the way first, o you guys looking for pedigrees and fouled spark plugs can skip the rest. This is not a numbers-matching car and it has an automatic transmission.

OK, re they gone? Good, ecause now we’re going to talk about just how awesome this Corvette really is. Rally Red is its original color and it was professionally restored perhaps 10 years ago. In used car terms, hat’s a lifetime, ut in terms of lightly-used hobby cars, t’s not that long at all, nd this ‘Vette still looks fantastic. The fiberglass substrate is in excellent condition with no cracking around the headlight doors or in the other usual spots, he panels line up very well, nd everything closes so easily that you know it’s never been hit or tweaked. That’s half the battle with a vintage ‘Vette: finding one that hasn’t been abused, nd this car definitely qualifies. The paint shines up beautifully with a deep, lossy finish that’s just the right shade of red, ot too bright but not orange or pink, ither. You want attention, his bright red roadster is the best way to do it. Sure, t’s got a few very, ery minor signs of use, ecause this car isn’t and has never been a trailer queen, ut as far as drivers go, ell, hey just don’t get much better. A few chrome pieces accent the bright red paint, ith excellent bumpers fore and aft, ice door handles, olished stainless windshield surround, nd a brand new gas cap lid out back. The headlights open easily, he lenses are bright and clear, nd there are no asterisks attached to this car; it really is as nice as it looks.

The black interior is also how this one came originally. It was the standard choice for Corvettes, ut the way it looks kind of makes me think that “standard” is the wrong word. The bucket seats wear correct long-grain vinyl seat covers, s original, he carpets were new at the time of restoration and are protected by clear plastic floor mats, nd a woodgrained steering wheel welcomes you to the show. The door panels are new and if there are any demerits, hey’re here, s there is some minor delamination of the vinyl covering right about where the arm rests start. But that’s how nice this car is, ecause that’s about the only nit I can find to pick. Oh, here’s a little crack on top of the dash over on the passenger’s side, ut you’ll really have to look for it. Of note, verything works: all the gauges are bright and crisp, he clock keeps excellent time, nd the radio is a newer AM/FM/cassette setup that powers a set of big speakers cleverly stashed in the top well (the original AM radio comes with the car). You might be puzzling over the lines drawn on the shift quadrant, hich is because there’s now a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission underneath instead of the original PowerGlide, ut we’ll get to that in a few moments. Overhead, here’s a brand new black convertible top installed by the famous Al Knoch, nd it pays to have the right guys do the work, ecause I’ve never seen a C2 convertible top seal up as well as this one does. It folds effortlessly up and down and latches to the windshield and rear deck without a fight. If you’re going to drive the car, aving it work properly is a big part of the equation.

Mechanically, t’s got a correct but non-matching 300 horsepower 327 cubic inch V8. It’s date coded to late 1966 and it is a correct high performance block, ot a truck block or a lo-po version from a Biscayne or something—it’s right. It was rebuilt to stock specifications and is now the least fussy carbureted engine we’ve ever experienced. Turn the key and it starts almost instantly and idles smoothly without any of the usual crankiness. And this is where you’re going to appreciate the virtues of this Corvette, ecause most big block cars won’t do that. Get in, urn the key, rop it in gear, nd just drive without a second thought. The engine was nicely detailed when the car was restored, ut it’s been driven since then, o it’s clean but not perfect. You do get a proper chrome air cleaner and matching ignition shield, 4-barrel carburetor, nd ram’s horn exhaust manifolds that help control noise and heat much better than headers. Chevy Orange paint and finned valve covers make it look right and you should be pleased to see power steering tucked in there as well, aking this a very user-friendly Corvette.

The aforementioned TH350 3-speed automatic transmission is a recent addition, nd it’s worth noting that only about 10% of 1967 Corvettes were equipped with an automatic gearbox. Now I don’t think that adds to its value due to rarity, ut it does illustrate the fact that if you want a car that’s this easy to drive every day, our chances of finding a good one are fairly small. The extra gear in the transmission makes it very comfortable around town, et with 3.36 gears out back, t’s still a great highway car that cruises easily. Add in a brand new exhaust system that’s mellow and quiet, resh shocks, ew brakes, nd a brand new set of 205/75/15 Uniroyal radials, nd you have a car that’s simply a pleasure to drive. Take it on a long trip and you’ll arrive feeling fresh, ot weary, nd without the ringing ears and buzzing posterior that comes from some of this car’s more high-strung siblings.

My father discovered that buying hobby cars always created less friction at home when he bought cars my mother could also drive, nd this Corvette is an awesome example. With power steering, he automatic transmission, nd a high-fashion look, his is a wonderful toy that you can both enjoy without complaint, nd perhaps that really is the key to the hobby: family fun in a cool old car. You just won’t find a cleaner Mid-Year Corvette that does everything so well and offers so few compromises.