Power and blinding acceleration were the driving forces behind development of the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427. Forget subtlety: that was for foreign iron. Besides, the big-block Corvette could outsprint them all -- at least in a straight line.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. This 1969 Corvette Stingray 427 is finished in Daytona Yellow.

Road & Track magazine perhaps said it best: "The personality we associate with the Stingray is the Animal, one who prefers to attain the goal with brute strength and bared chest. . . ."

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The cockpit of the 1969 Corvette was designed with pure performance in mind.

Of course, the 427 was the most brutish Corvette of all. For 1969 it was offered with 390 and 400 horsepower, plus a 435-horsepower version for less civilized types. The last produced its peak power at 5,800 rpm, and the stump-pulling 460 pound-feet of torque hit its stride at 4,000 rpm.

Down-to-business features included 11.0:1 compression, aluminum heads, solid lifters, and triple two-barrel carbs.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The powerful engine could propel the 1969 Corvette 427 from 0-60 mph in six seconds.

The results were truly wild. With 4.11:1 rear axle and four-speed manual transmission, a 1969 could roar from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds flat, with the quarter-mile coming up in 14.3 seconds at 98 mph.

Road & Track reckoned it could have knocked a full second off the quarter and pushed terminal velocity to well over 100 had the standard F70-15 tires had more bite. Not that it mattered: "There's simply no production car available today that can top its acceleration."

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The 1969 Corvette 427 was offered with a choice of a 390-, 400-, or 435-horsepower engine.

Not too many folks got to enjoy the explosive power of the hottest 427 unfortunately, though the faint-hearted might disagree. Only 2,722 of the 1969s were so equipped, including the car featured here.

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