“People who really know and like Corvettes are just blown away by it,” he says, while adding that their reaction is especially keen when they see the original markings on the car from St. Louis Assembly, and when they spy other telltale signs demonstrating how The General built Corvettes way back when.
What’s it like to drive? “This one’s a lot of fun,” says Rudnick. “Because there’s no smog equipment on it or catalytic converters, it still has the higher compression, and it’s still a fun ride.”
If Rudnick had the chance to go back in time and get another ’70 Corvette, would it look anything like this one? Possibly. It would still be painted Mulsanne Blue at St. Louis—but there’d be one big change underneath that acrylic lacquer.
“My ultimate would be for it to be an LT-1. A ’70 Mulsanne Blue LT-1 coupe.” Rudnick says it would be easy to tell apart from this ZQ3-powered C3—by the distinctively-striped LT1 hood, “and its awesome power difference,” he adds.
Maybe you’re one who’d like to find a low-mileage original Corvette of any vintage. If you are, Rudnick has this advice: “Keep looking! They’re few and far between, but for people who like original, unrestored cars, they’re in a class by themselves.”
Rudnick shows off the Regional...
Rudnick shows off the Regional NCRS Top Flight and NCRS “3 Star” Awards his C3 has earned, along with its original invoice and factory warranty info.
Yep...all that mileage is...
Yep...all that mileage is original.
That’s the original, new-for-’70...
That’s the original, new-for-’70 “egg crate” grille under the chrome bumper.
| Spec Sheet: '70 C3 Coupe |
| Owner | Mark Rudnick; Lawrenceville, New Jersey |
| Block | RPO ZQ3 casting iron (Casting #3970010) |
| Displacement | 350 ci |
| Compression Ratio | 10.25:1 |
| Heads | Stock cast iron |
| Valves | Stock 1.94/1.50 |
| Camshaft | Stock |
| Rocker Arms | Stock |
| Pistons | Stock |
| Crankshaft | Stock |
| Rods | Stock |
| Intake Manifold | Stock cast iron |
| Carburetor | Stock Rochester Quadrajet, model 4MV |
| Fuel Pump | Stock mechanical |
| Ignition | Stock delco points-style |
| Exhaust System | Stock dual (with one replacement muffler) |
| Transmission | Stock RPO M40 Turbo-400 three-speed automatic |
| Torque Convertor | Stock |
| Driveshaft | Stock |
| Suspension | Stock |
| Rearend | Stock with Positraction and 3.08:1 gears |
| Brakes | Stock four-wheel discs with 11 3/4-in rotors (non-power-assisted) |
| Wheels | Stock Rallyes with chrome trim rings and "tall" center caps 15x8-in (front and rear) |
| Tires | Goodyear Speedway bias-ply F70-15 with white letters (front and rear) |
| Fuel Octane | 93 |
| Shipping Weight | 3,153 lbs |
| Current Mileage | About 15,400 |
| Miles Driven Weekly | "Not many" |
| Current Mileage | About 20,000 |