Greenlight 1:64 1969 Chevrolet Corvette: NASA Apollo 12 Astrovette

The Chevrolet Corvette (C3) was a sports car that was produced from 1967 to 1982 by Chevrolet for the 1968 through 1982 model years. Engines and chassis components were mostly carried over from the previous generation, but the body and interior were new. It set new sales records with 53,807 produced for the 1979 model year. The C3 is the third generation of the Chevrolet Corvette, and marks the second time the Corvette would carry the Stingray name, though only for the 1969 - 1976 model years. This time it was a single word as opposed to Sting Ray as used for the 1963 - 1967 C2 generation. The name would then be retired until 2014 when it was re-introduced with the release of the C7.

In 1969, small block engine displacement increased from 327 cu in (5.4 L) to 350 cu in (5.7 L), though output remained the same. All other engines and transmission choices remained unchanged from the previous year, though the L30 base engine was now the ZQ3 and the L79 motor was redesignated the L46. All cars featured 8-inch-wide (200 mm) steel wheels (increased from 7 inches). Tire size remained the same, although this was the first year for optional white lettered tires and the last for red striped tires. Carried over from the previous year were seven available rear axle ratios ranging from 2.73 to 4.56. Standard ratio remained 3.08 with automatic and 3.36 with manual transmission. The optional Positraction rear axle, mandated on many engine/gearbox combinations, was installed on more than 95% of the cars. "Stingray" script nameplates appeared on front fenders, now one word, in contrast to the “Sting Ray” name used previously. Exterior door handles were redesigned so the finger plate would actuate the door, eliminating the separate release button. Backup lights were integrated into the inboard taillights, headlight washers were added, and front grilles were made all black. Side mounted exhausts and front fender vent trim were options for this year only. On the inside, revised door panels provided additional shoulder room in the C3's tighter cabin and headrests became standard. Steering wheel diameter was reduced from 16 to 15 inches to permit easier entry and exit, the ignition switch was moved from the dash to the steering column, and map pockets were added to the dash area in front of the passenger seat. Accounting for 57% of the cars, coupes with their removable roof panels, began a trend of outselling roadsters. An extended production cycle due to a labor dispute increased '69 volume. This was the last year for the L88 engine and the only year for the ZL1 option, which offered an all-aluminum 427 cu in (7.0 L) big-block engine listed at 430 hp (321 kW). Rare options: ZL1 aluminum block, J56 heavy-duty brakes (115), L88 engine (116), L89 aluminum heads (390).

In 1969, General Motors leased three special edition Corvette Stingrays for astronauts Pete Conrad, Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Alan Bean of the Apollo 12 mission. All three units sported a gold and black paint scheme chosen by Bean and were leased to them for US$1.00 a year

Jim Rathmann, winner of the 1960 Indy 500, who owned a Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership in Melbourne, Florida, near NASA’s launch site and who became friends with astronauts and high-performance car guys Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom, is credited with coming up with a solution for putting the astronauts in Corvettes without treading on anyone’s toes at GM or NASA. Jim, along with Ed Cole, came up with a special GM lease program that allowed astronauts to lease up to two Chevrolet cars per year for $1 each. All of the original seven Mercury astronauts selected a family car and all but one also chose a Corvette for their personal transportation. John Glenn was the sole astronaut who did not opt for a Corvette.

After the astronauts turned-in their Corvettes at the end of the leases, the cars were re-sold through various outlets, such as General Motors’ financial arm, General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC). Many of the Corvettes were in stock condition and appearance, and were not officially advertised as having been previously driven by astronauts. As they appeared on a used car lot or in a sale advertisement, there was nothing to visually indicate to a potential buyer that they were, in fact, very rare cars. Even collectors who knew about the special lease program would have difficulty identifying the cars without thorough research and inspection.