The terms “survivor” and “time machine” are frequently used in the vintage car market to capture a potential buyer’s attention, and all too often when you take a closer look at the car it becomes apparent that it is neither. But this 1968 Chevy Impala Sport Coupe sure does seem to fit that bill. Located in Santa Rosa, California, it can be seen here on craigslist with a price tag of $33,000.
Looking at the photos of the outside of the car, it’s really hard to find fault from any direction or any angle. The black paint looks bright and shiny, the body is straight with great gaps, and the trunk lid still has the original metal dealer tag on it. The car is said to be all-original, one-family owned, and always stored indoors. Mileage is stated to be 31,284, and judging from the photos this may very well be accurate.
Moving to the interior, it looks almost as good as the exterior. The one thing I noticed was that the steering wheel has one small crack near the top, but the seats and dash look pretty amazing for their age, as does the carpet. Inside the trunk is well-preserved, and under the hood shows what appears to be an unrestored engine compartment, which I always appreciate on a survivor-type car. The engine is a 307, making 155 horsepower from the factory. It is mated to a 2 speed Powerglide gearbox. The base curb weight of these cars is nearly 3,700 pounds, and they are almost 215 inches long, so if you’re looking for something really big to cruise around in this may be a good car for you!
At first, I thought $33,000 was a bit expensive, but for a one-family-owned California car in this condition, now I’m not so sure. The seller lists the condition as excellent and says you can drive this car home, and it certainly looks like it has been maintained to a level of drive-it-anywhere status. The vehicle also comes with a clear title, so getting it registered and licensed should not be a problem. What are your thoughts on this 1968 Impala Sport Coupe? Could you see yourself spending this much on it? Or if it is over-priced, what would be a fair price to pay?
How is that expensive for such a work of art? And I don’t even like Chevys
Curt Schmidt
I am Chevy lover I think it’s amazing. My mother drove her 1968 Impala two door with a 396 loved that car.
It’s a fabulous looking car (except for the weird hubcaps), but certainly overpriced.
Hagerty is usually high (in my opinion), and they put an excellent example of this car at $15,000. They put a concours example at around $22,000. So, that’s a wide divide.
They were a factory option.
Those may have been factory option hubcaps but didn’t come on that car. This was my car, just sold it a couple months ago to a very deceitful person apparently! We sold it with the original hubcaps and fender skirts as well. Oh, and we only sold it for 20k just a couple months ago, wonder how it appreciated in value that much so quickly?? 🤔
I couldn’t agree with you more! Those hubcaps are jus awful, and definitely not the original one that I sold it with!
This was my car!! Been in my family since day 1. My great aunt bought it in Johnson City, TN brand new from a dealership named Sherwood it was given to my father who then handed it down to me. I live in Michigan, and while it’s true that it’s a one family car, there’s a lot of deceit with this entire situation. We sold this car to what was supposed to be “a family that so desperately wanted it to cruise by the beach with it”. The really sad part is that we had a buyer here in Michigan who has been looking for this exact car for over 20 years because his grandfather had one, and even offered us 4k more for it than the person in Cali that we sold it to, but we wanted to stick to our word and do the right thing, and sold it to her because she wanted it “oh so bad for her family”. We could’ve gotten 24k from a local guy who wasn’t LYING to us but instead sold it to her for 20k, and it did have the original hubcaps on it too. Not sure what happened to them but ask the seller for them because they have them!! Car was appraised right before we sold it for 22k max. Don’t get me wrong, I can vouch for the authenticity of this vehicle, but buyer beware of who you may be dealing with!! Our dishonesty, deceptions, and deceitfulness will all have to be answered for someday! Funny thing is, the local guy just called us the other day asking for the contact info to the person who bought it from us because he still wants it so bad. I’m literally sick to my stomach about this, Whomever does buy it, you’re looking at a great car and we did include every single piece of original paperwork with the sale as well so make sure you ask for that too! Window sticker, sales receipts, literally everything. What a sad and dirty person one must be to not only bold-faced lie to someone like this, but to then ask nearly twice as much for it as what was paid for it just a couple months ago. I feel like something was stolen from my family, my soul hurt 🤕
Hook your local guy up maybe they would take $24,000 big maybe.
A similar thing happened to a friend, without the family history connection.
He bought a non-running motorcycle, worked it and got it into great riding shape. When it was time to sell and move on, along comes a guy with a sob story about a family connection, and it is just what he wants, doesn’t have much money, will keep it forever, etc….. so the bottom line was modified downward, and the buyer seemed elated with his “keeper”.
Except that I happened to run across it on Craigslist only a week later, the lister bragging about how great it was, and at twice the price.
Some people are pretty much without honor or honesty.
It is a shame, because humanity has so much potential. But some of us just lack a conscience, or have it buried so deeply that it never prevents them from being #ss#ol#s.
If this were an SS sporting a 396, TH400, A/C, PDB, and buckets/console, then the asking price would work.
Our family had a 67 just as you described. Called it the Black Mariah.
These look best in black, IMHO.
Well, I cannot imagine many like this, and very likely none. It’ll sell, if as described.
The engine and the fender skirts are a big no for me. You guys already talked about the price.
Preservation like this adds value. A restored car can be duplicated; a preserved original cannot, short of retrieving one with a very large Wayback machine.
You don’t often see Sport Coupes with fender skirts, but I like it, particularly in combination with the desirable mag-style wheel covers.
I had one. Steel Blue black interior. All original 327 and hubcaps. It was clean. I sold it for $8k. All because the guy really wanted the car. I know if I had advertised that price. This was in 2014. I would not have gotten it. I have a jar of beans that Jack gave me. They are for sale if anyone is interested. Good luck on the price. The hubcaps by the way are from 65 SS Chevele.
The mag wheel covers came out in 65 as an option on ANY Chevy, tho’ they were included on the very rare Z-16 (?) 396 Chevelles. They were carried on as an option in 66 & 67, but I’m not sure they were offered in 68. This car didn’t come with them anyway as the sticker shows it left the factory w/ std w/covers, not these.
No doubt this is a rare one. you just don’t see that many. Well, at least in my neck of the woods. The condition and the low miles should boost the price some but, I still think it’s priced a bit too high. I’d like to own it though.
These Mag style hubcaps came out in 65 as an optional wheel cover. You saw them mostly on 66 and 67 Chevelle Malibu’s, but growing up my neighbors had a fully loaded 66 Impala 9 passenger wagon with these optional Mag hubcaps.
That style cap you either like them or hate them. I personally like them, having a set on a ‘67 Impala. They were two piece and a heavy hubcap.
They were also an option on the Corvair, but in 13″.
I still have a set. They were on the ’66 Corsa in 1977 for a year, stored since.
Wonderful Chevy however , those wheel covers are a no go. Also, I never heard of a “ sports coup “ SS , yes , but sports coup , no. If I’m wrong please let me know. 👍
Wonderful Chevy however , those wheel covers are a no go. Also, I never heard of a “ sports coup “ SS , yes , but sports coup , no. If I’m wrong please let me know. 👍
“Sport Coupe” refers to the sloped, near-fastback roofline. The alternative was the “Custom Coupe,” which shared a more formal roof style with the Caprice. It’s remarkable that there was once enough demand for a single model that they could tool up two very different hardtop coupe body styles.
Confusingly, the SS was available in either body style.
It still has the retaining cables that were designed to address the huge motor mount recall from back in the day.
Dang that’s just rolling art ! Perfection in appearance including those wheel covers !
Restomod it including driver and passenger air bags in case you have a moment like yesterday’s Jaguar.
Even though I normally don’t care for wheel covers, the look of these on this black beauty is just SO RIGHT!! GLWTS!! :-)
Back in 1970y sister picked up a 68 chevy impala white black top black in side 327 4bl.275 horse i was 15 she told me to hide a key well she wood go out on the werkends so the breather got fliped and away i went fun fun fun
I believe the same hubcaps were avail on some stangs & even shelby stangs, & 1st gen camaros, & i saw them on a green charger on TV’s Mission Impossible! …
http://pics.imcdb.org/0is357/charger1zz6.5373.jpg
http://www.imcdb.org/i178574.jpg
I believe that’s correct. It’s the same with some of the wire caps as well. I can only assume that they were made by an outside company, as I wouldn’t expect GM to make covers like theirs w/someone else’s logo.
Always hated those “mag wheel” hubcaps and fender skirts.
Way to much for a 307 2 speed car. Drive it and the car will depreciate pretty quickly with that drivetrain.
Nice Job Mike!
One observation, however, the 307 CI engine, new in ’68, was rated at 200 gross HP. The standard 250 CI, in-line six was 155, though it was available in the Impala Sports Coupe, even with the Z03 SS option.
JO
230 HP 300 ft.-lbs. Torque .in 1968. Not 155 HP as stated in article.
Power. When it was introduced in 1968 the 307 was rated at 200 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 300 foot pounds of torque at 2,400.
Reference: itstillruns.com/1968-chevy-307-specs-7366711.html
I’m sorry I typed in the wrong HP. It is 200.
It’s the most artful Chevy I ever saw! The lines and extras look perfect together.
Search for “1968 caprice commercial” on youtube – the 2 door Caprice coupe with 1st year hidden wipers & insanely rare hidden headlites is the ONLY BIG chevy to get ventless door glass in ’68! – i only seen 1 ever with that front end. & i still remember where i saw it – back in the ’60s! I thought the future had arrived, only to never see it again.
Wheel covers are rare and hard to find. Cost much more than what they look like they are worth.
There are usually a couple of dozen set listed on eBay at any given time. The asking prices vary between a couple of hundred to almost $1,000. When you look at completed sales, the sales that do occur are usually in the $200 range with a high of around $600. Potential buyers need to be aware, there are minor differences between years, that has a huge impact on value, anyone interested in these needs to do their research and know exactly what they are looking at.
Steve R
I’m sorry I typed in the wrong HP. It is 200.
I typed in the wrong number for HP. It is 200 NOT 230.
Whoever is saying over priced hasn’t noticed the crazy prices of impalas lately. I do not agree with that but factor in a one owner survivor & i can see someone buying it. Granted it’s not the much more desirable 58-64 But many people love these 4th and 5th gen full size chevys.
The ad is not written in the manner you would expect if a long time owner. Read the ad for the Pantera featured today, that’s more typical. I would also expect to see some documentation with regards to the claimed mileage. This is a 53 year old car that supposed to have 31,000 miles that started out in eastern Tennessee and now resides 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Much of the price premium asked by the seller is tied to being “one owner” and “low mileage”, to get it, they need to prove it. If they can’t, somewhere in the $20,000 range us more realistic.
Steve R
Sure is a lot of grime on that engine for only 33K.
The 307 2speed power glide the value went way down
I’m not a Chevy guy, but the colors and the body on this is beautiful, then we go 307, powerglide, No A/C and I’m not into it especially at that price, 396, turbo 400 transmission, A/C and power windows, maybe factory floor mounted 8 track, then we r talking a possible convert
I would add curb indicators.
You had me until the 307. My first car was a ‘68 Caprice. It was an abomination of an engine. Hard on fuel and gutless. Too bad the rest of this car is gorgeous.
A friend in high school drafting class drew a 68 fastback like this… I of course crew a 60 Falcon ranchero gasser…. That was in 68, just sold that drawing a few years ago… Great looking impala… While taking a walk this afternoon spotted an open garage door about a half block from my house, much to my surprise was sitting a gold 63 impala convertible… Passed by it on my way home and the door was shut, dammit… Wanted to take a pic to share with my car buddies…
Brian dobson email me cslechter74@gmail.com I did buy this car
I had the 67’ triple black Caprice with buckets. Interior was nice and good condition. Bought it used but the 283’ had two cylinders filing out plugs (did I say that correctly) I know I’d buy extensions to screw on the end of plug but it would only last couple days then back to a powerless tired engine. But at 16 years old I was going to bring it back but rebuilt suspension including new shocks, tie rods, ball joints upper and lowers, even a brand new center link when everyone said, you don’t need that. When finished you could steer that car with one finger @80 mph smooth as silk. Sold it before rebuilding engine.
I bought this car from the lady ashly norby from Santa rosa california the car arrived and had over 60 small dents in it and lower quarters slight rusted she never said a word about any of em big mistake on my end for taking her word and not going and looking for myself like Brian said very deceiving women she is not one panel dodnt have a ding not one