We see a lot of unfinished projects on our never ending hunt for the best finds and I hate to say it, but most of the projects I see will likely be so hard to finish that the job will never get done. This ’68 Corvette isn’t one of those finds! I think this one could actually be an easy enough project that even the first time classic owner could get it back on the road! The seller claims it’s a barn find that a friend purchased with the plan to restore, but has changed their mind and a decided to have them list it here on eBay for them. It’s currently located in South Glens Falls, New York with a BIN of $9,500 and bidding just over $5k.
This find actually looks really nice on the outside, with shiney paint and a crack free body. Apparently the seller was able to drive it out of the barn and right up onto the trailer, of course they had to drop the gas tank and hook up a fuel jug. Finding a new tank and installing it really shouldn’t be much of an issue! Hopefully all the engine will need is a good cleaning and a tune up to make it a good driver. Given that it’s a 327 V8, I doubt it will take much to get it running great. The seller believes the engine is the 300 horsepower unit and it is mated to a 4 speed manual!
The biggest issue this car has is the interior. The seller states that the previous owner was going to restore it, so they started pulling the interior out, but that’s as far as they got. It looks like the interior is all there, but I would recommend taking a closer look and possibly finding a Corvette expert to take a look with you if you aren’t familiar with these cars. If the interior is all here, I would just clean it and put it back in the car. I would also want to replace any rubber hoses, other consumables that might have deteriorated over the years and put POR or something rust treatment on the frame to keep it from rusting. I really do think this could be an easy project if you are alright with not doing a full restoration! But what do you think? Could this turn out to be an easy one to make a driver or do you think it’s going to be a big project to finish?
C3 corvettes are easy and cheap to fix. The 2 biggest things to assess are the frame condition and the “birdcage” condition. While there are a couple of frame pics that look good they are not the critical area’s to watch out for. No pic of the birdcage behind the kick panel either. I would not bid without those pics. The $9500 project could end up a $30k project easily if those area’s are bad. If they check out then I think it is priced well even if the desirable bright blue interior was once dyed black.
I’m afraid the car will never be worth as much as it will cost to restore it. 68’s had their fair share of reliability issues even when new. This is an ordinary, run of the mill Corvette that needs a lot. Blue interior likely meant a blue exterior. Probably a color change to black at some point during it’s lifetime.
I have to agree with Randy hopefully the birdcage and frame are as good as the body. If it is then I would say even without the original color and engine this is a good deal at $10k. Heck, even if it was blue I’d rather make it triple black.
Jim and Bill have it nailed. The “bird cage” can be a mess.
Not to mention the vacuum system that ran the lights.
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c3-tech-performance/2736499-how-your-headlight-vacuum-system-works.html
Lots of “Issues” with this one, Too many interior pieces appear to be a mish-mash of different years, + the rear lower valance does not appear to have the ’68 only back-up lamps in it,,,,,,,,, ? dunno, a put together from various years cars ? Worth the money if the price doesnt climb & if originality doesnt matter to ya,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I’d rock it !
does it bother anyone else that the body tag and the original engine is missing. i know its not the vin but b-tags hardly ever disappear.
with the original engine gone it seems like 9.5k is a little stretch. prices on c3s coming down some lately.
I will never stop ragging on these. To prove how dumb I am, I’ve owned three early C3’s, the newest was a ’71 LT1. It took years for the light to come on in my head…………even then……dim was the light.
Dim witted was the result. So I would lose money when sold and take my lumps. Turn right around and buy another one…….gawd
another thing, is to start ” restoration” with the interior and stop…. what made things come to a screeching halt? Non original engine, not even year correct. I have heard the term birdcage, but had no clue what it was, thank you Jim for pointing it out
South Glens Falls…. If memory serves, this is near Buffalo NY…. Major snowbelt area….
This one’s not for me.. thank you..
Having had several C3 cars including three 68s…although the is no shot of the frame kick up…there are enough frame pics to gamble that it is dry and solid. Earlier this year I sold a heavily option blue/blue small block (not numbers matching motor) for $9,000…yes it had frame issues! Steel bumper cars are hot…but prices have leveled. Don’t think it’s a candidate for a full restore…but could be improved upon. 1968 used to be the disgrace of C3s…now they are sought after. I don’t believe 68s had reliability issues…it’s uses very generic Chevy parts. They did have build quality issues!!!
There were bugs to be worked out. Every time I here of a new model car coming out I also here of people saying to wait for the 2nd year to get the kinks out. That phrase was invented by the ’68 Corvette. I have had a 68 and a 69. The ’69 was a lot easier to sell even nearly 50 years later, people have not forgotten about that stigma.
1968 and 1984 has to be the two worst years in the history of Corvettes. The build quality was awful. Poor design feature’s,like 68 had the panel covering the wiper’s. Great if it was not snowing. The mechanism would freeze in very cold weather and guess what? NO wiper’s. I had a buddy who bought an 84. Driving down the road at the posted speed limit, and wham! The window on passenger door fell down into the door and shattered,out of the clear blue. No reason what’s so ever. I would never think or buy a 68,84 and 73. The 73’s look awful with the endura front bumper and chrome rear. But I’d take a 73 Trans Am, in Brewster Green,go figure. Same set up as the Vette. Happy Motoring
Love the chrome bumper C3’s. First year for production, last year for the small block 327.
Mated to the four speed I think it’s an awesome car. Once the bumpers were integrated I feel they lost a bit bit of elegance. Like a lot of older cars now, bugs/quirks have been worked out since their inception.
With C2’s being unubtanium in price ( for me ), an early C3 is the best of both worlds.
Been watching early C3’s, and have to disagree with previous comments, I think they are going up.
Here’s mine…
O come on you guys someone will buy her and start throw in money at it
We all do it at one time or another, it a corvette……………….
Probably the favorite car that I have ever owned. I had a 1968 red convertible with black interior, side pipes, 327/300HP with a 4 speed. Mine was all numbers matching but was in awful condition when I got it (think 7 coats of different color paint finished off with rattle can silver, battery box you could see through, soft firewall and floor due to leaking master cylinder, and wiring/component issues with the wiper door). After restoration I loved the way it drove and the way it turned peoples heads. It was a much better balanced car than many of the later models. I understand the hesitation concerning rust and corrosion but I sold mine 15 years ago for $10K so the price (to me) seems reasonable. Almost all the interior pieces are available new and the components for the vacuum headlight doors and wiper cover are also available.
We’ll I guess I’ll put my two cents into this conversation/topic. I’m a true blue corvette lover fanatic you might say. I have owned a 1991, 2002 and currently own two C3 vettes, a 75 matching numbers with a 4spd, and a 76 non-matching automatic. I’m currently restoring both cars. Always loved the C3 corvettes mostly because I was a 70’s baby. Always dreamed of owning one when I was a kid. But regarding the 68, hell yeah at 10k I would jump in and bid on it if my garage wasn’t full. My wife wants to kill me as it is buying these cars lol. C3’s are coming up in price and are collectible no doubt. The C3’s are very iconic especially this specific body style. Late 60’s and on through to the early 80’s this car was most dreamed of owning. Kids like myself now 45 years old living the dream finally. Just watch the prices drive up in the next five to ten years. I’m already noticing 74 & 75 project Vettes going way above 5k! Better grab this one if it’s not already too late!! Have a Super New Year!!