If you ask just about anyone what is the one Corvette they'd like to own, the overwhelming majority will tell you that a Mid-Year (1963-1967) is the one to own. And of that batch, it'll probably be divided between a '63 split-window coupe and a '67 of any type. So what does this tell us? That the C2's enduring good looks, wide range of performance and comfort options, and user-friendly nature make it one of the best hobby cars you can own. Now, chances are, I'm already preaching to the choir here, but even if you're not new to the Corvette hobby, you know that there are lot of botched, hacked, and questionable C2s running around. And it's with all that in mind that we're so delighted with this 1967 Corvette Sting Ray convertible.

First things first. The important facts are these: 32,126 original miles, matching-numbers drivetrain, M20 4-speed manual transmission, and a fresh frame-on restoration. It's had just two owners in its lifetime and has never been hit or wrecked. If an accessible Corvette with lots of performance and a great pedigree is what you're looking for, this is probably the most affordable choice you'll find anywhere.

Finding an unabused Corvette is a rather rare thing, despite what all the sellers would have you believe. Thanks to the low mileage, you will note that every single panel on this Corvette convertible is where the factory installed it, so the gaps are excellent all around. The headlight doors fit flush and there's none of the usual cracking around the perimeter, the hood sits flush, and the doors close with an easy push rather than a violent slam. Sunfire Yellow is this car's original color, but in the mid '90s when the car changed hands for the first time, the second owner wanted to freshen the decades-old paint. He sent it to his friends at one of the largest GM dealerships in Pennsylvania and selected 1969 Corvette Daytona Yellow for the respray. Thanks to the low mileage and great care that the car had received since it was new, there was no need for any serious bodywork, and the finished product looked pretty good for a car that was to be driven.

For the next 20 years, it was sparingly enjoyed, but by 2017, it was clear that a car with this kind of pedigree deserved a proper finish. It was stripped to bare fiberglass and repainted again, this time in its original Sunfire yellow. Thanks to the wonders of modern urethane paints, the results are spectacular and with only 12 miles since it was finished, it looks exceptional.

The black interior is entirely new and gives the car a factory fresh feel from behind the wheel. It was originally white, but with the light yellow paint, black makes for a better contrast and the original upholstery was starting to discolor anyway. New door panels, seat covers, and carpets were installed and it all remains unmarked. With only 32,000 miles, the buckets are still comfortable, the dash pad hasn't been cooked by the sun, and the gauges are bright and crisp. The clock is close to working, and it sure wants to do its job—when you pull out the knob to set the time, it starts ticking away, so perhaps there's nothing more than a cleaning required. The factory AM/FM radio pulls in stations loud and clear and actually sounds decent even with the top down, and the heater is effective for those chilly days when you just can't quite bring yourself to put the top back up. A woodgrained steering wheel warms up the interior a bit and it's worth noting that there are new weather seals throughout so it seals up well and doesn't have the usual squeaks and rattles that plague many older Corvettes. In fact, this is the tightest Corvette roadster we've ever driven! It was originally equipped with a white convertible top, but it was replaced in September 2014 with the black top on it today and the contrast is a big improvement. The top well is in excellent shape and the two storage compartments behind the seats are intact, undamaged, and not rusted out, with the driver's side still holding the original jack.

That is the car's original, numbers-matching 327 cubic inch V8, which, in 1967 made a nice, round 300 horsepower. It was the base engine, but it's a mistake to call anything with 300 horsepower "basic." Performance is energetic to say the least, and it was freshly rebuilt as part of the recent restoration. It’s still stock aside from a set of .030 oversized pistons, and it runs superbly. It starts quickly and easily and doesn't take long (a few seconds) to drop down to a comfortable 700 RPM idle. It's unmodified, which is difficult to say about a lot of small-block-powered Chevys, and still uses the factory ignition system and shielding to light the fires. Stamped steel valve covers were painted Chevy Orange to match the block and everything around it was neatly detailed to look factory fresh. Cast iron exhaust manifolds control noise and heat better than headers and feed a correct-sounding dual exhaust system with polished tips poking out through the bodywork in back.

There was no need to pull the body off the chassis on such a low mileage car, and even though the chassis is unrestored, it's so nicely preserved that you can still see a lot of the factory markings on the major components. There's absolutely no evidence that this car has ever seen winter weather and rain was probably a real rarity, even early in its life. The floors are excellent and like any car that's been cherished all its life, maintenance was done whenever necessary, so it drives and handles extremely well for a 50-year-old machine. The 4-speed shifts crisply, clutch action is light enough for rush-hour traffic, and with both power steering and power disc brakes, it's easy enough to handle around town so you'll never hesitate to take it with you to run errands. The brakes have been recently rebuilt with new calipers and we suspect it has 3.23 or perhaps 3.36 gears in the rear end, as it's quite highway-friendly with 60 MPH equating to about 2800 RPM on the tach. Brand new 205/70/15 BFGoodrich radials are fitted to factory Rally wheels which are completely unmarked, so it rides and handles great.

This is not quite a show car, although it is extremely nice and very correct such that it could be competitive at certain levels. It definitely attracts plenty of attention anywhere it goes. But relegating it to show status would be a shame, because it remains a very accessible, usable Mid-Year Corvette roadster with a manual gearbox and a great pedigree, which means you can drive and enjoy it guilt-free and still consider it a wise investment.

What is the old saying in real estate? Buy the most affordable house in the most expensive neighborhood? Yeah, this Corvette is just like that, and that makes it a very smart buy. Call today!