Up for sale is this blue, 1968 Chevrolet Corvette convertible that is claimed to be a one owner car and is a number matching 327/350. It has a clear title and is currently at a bid price of $5,800 with no reserve. The car is located in Clarkston, Michigan and has a stated 68,000 miles on the odometer. You can deem the importance of miles listed for a 50-year-old car. More information about it is on the eBay listing.
According to the listing, the engine does crank, but no attempt to start it has been made. This original 327 V8 is connected to a four-speed manual transmission. From the factory, it was good for 350 horsepower. That might not be what it cranks out currently. With a little work, it most certainly could. After looking at the photos and reading the listing, the engine is one of the few things this car has going for it.
For being a convertible and in Michigan, the car’s interior is surprisingly decent. That is the other thing it has going for it. There is little decay of upholstery or fabric. The instrument panel and other plastic interior components are free of cracks. If you are in doubt of the transmission, the shifter is there, along with the pattern printed of the gear locations. The convertible roof does not seem to be present.
It is safe to say that anything that isn’t fiberglass is rusted. The listing states that the frame is rusted through, along with the body mounts. Even on the door, where the lock mechanism is, is rusted. This car would make a great restoration project even though the rust is abounding. The body, engine, and interior are three-fourths of the equation that make the last fourth, the rusted parts, seem not so bad.
used to be a nice car! in another ten years values may rise enough to make restoration feasible.
twenty-plus years ago i got some good wheel time in on a ’71 350 4-speed convertible & loved it.
i’ve heard it’s worth choosing a ’69 up due to significant quality issues prevalent on the first year C3’s.
Of any C3, the 68 is the one I’d want. But a buyer needs to look very closely at signs of birdcage rust. That can get expen$ive.
And I’m not sure “decent” is what id use to describe that interior. The driver seat upholstery needs major work, more likely a replacement, which will get rid of that stain on the pass side. The carpets look sad, the little we can see of the door panel is underwhelming.
I’m not sure this car is worth a lot more than $5600. But now we’ll watch it sell for 30k.
Parts car. How did that smog pump survive for so long? Amazing.
Was wondering that as well. The engine area looks fairly complete, with the proper fan shroud, smog setup and wiper door canister.
Rest of the car, however – yikes. Never seen rust on a fiberglass door like that either.
At least removing the body would be straightforward, as all those mounts are no doubt rusted to pieces.
As an owner of a ’71 LT1 Corvette, and lifelong lover of ’68 -’73 C3’s ,this is heartbreaking to see. This was a beautiful car at one time with a convertible top, 4 speed, and a 350/350 for plenty of power. I believe it had 11.25 compression and 360 ft.lbs.of torque, the 327 motor wasn’t known as “Mighty Mouse” for nothing. In my opinion, with the rust issues, this one time beauty will have to donate parts so that other Corvette’s may live to see another day. RIP
I agree LT1 Mike, for some strange reason I keep coming back to look at this rig. Not as nice as an LT1, but a smoking ragtop! I have a nice 72 base Stingray, for 18 years now. I wish I would have found something like this 18 years ago. I have to disagree with Brentton Fullers comment on the interior, “the car’s interior is surprisingly decent. There is little decay of upholstery or fabric.” Looks shot to me. Take care, Mike.
Agreed, never fun to see a gem in this condition.
Flip, flip, flip
Rust everywhere the ironworms could get. Flood damaged? sad to see in this condition. Hope someone can use. sitting at 5900. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
If I were the one owner of this car I wouldn’t be too proud of bragging about it. It’s a crime to let a vehicle like this deteriorate to its current state. Isn’t there any state agency in Michigan to report such horrible abuse?
Such a shame. That ones going to need deep pockets to do anything other than part it out. Once tried to buy a 69 Convertible 350-350 4 speed. That thing ran like a scalded dog, unbelievable acceleration on it.
Unfortunately this ones seen better days, unfortunately.
The base 327 for this car generated 300 HP at the crank, not 350. The L79 327 is the higher output version at 350 HP, and the owner of this car doesn’t mention which engine it has, other than what they propose the HP to be. I would look closely to determine which engine this car actually has, because even though it’s not an LT1 (the LT1 wasn’t even available until ’69) I think to most ‘Vette owners, it would matter.
The engine size, horsepower, torque, and compression ratio are located on a metal tag behind the shifter. (same as my ’71 LT1) The seller may have gotten the information from there. The LT1 engine was available ’70- ‘ 72, and was again available ’92-’97.
Actual engine info comes from the pad on the front of the motor. Info plate by the shifter i’s what PROBABLY came from the factory, but that is easily changed. Still could be a good donor car or parts car. LT-1 was 770 -72, not model year 69. Smog still there is amazing.
Had a 68 350hp. 4 speed but was a coupe. Sold it during the Carter gas crunch days so I could buy of all things a VW Bug. Nice car and it could go. Price on these years are going up but with the frame having rust through unless you have the love and skills to do it yourself it would be cheaper to buy one ready to enjoy.
My brother bought a 68 Vette with both tops new in 68. It was the same color blue with a white interior. 427/390 hp and 4 speed. He traded a 66 390 hp coupe/4 speed in on it and in 69, traded the 68 for a canary yellow 435 hp coupe that ended up being nothing but problems. The 68 was probably the most trouble free of the 3 Vettes he owned.
Another one displayed on the trailer that the flipper brought it home on. This one ain’t worth the money IMO.
Ended: Oct 16, 2018 , 11:25PM
Winning bid:US $7,300.00
[ 16 bids ]