1968 Chevrolet Corvette 327 4-Speed

The world was an exciting place to be in 1968. On the negative side, Formula 1 lost the great Jim Clark. From a positive perspective, Bobby Unser scored a win at Indianapolis. The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl II. The year ended with Apollo 8 becoming the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. Closer to Earth, and motoring enthusiasts couldn’t wait to get their hands on the newly introduced C3 Corvette. Early examples are more desirable today than when they were new, and a car equipped with the right combination of options can sell for some impressive prices. It is this fact that makes survivor-grade cars like this ’68 Corvette Coupe such attractive propositions. Under pressure from his loving wife, the owner has decided to part with this tidy vehicle. It is located in San Diego, California, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. All you need to do is hand the owner $24,500, and you could be driving off into the sunset. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for spotting the Corvette for us.

The American automotive industry has produced some iconic cars, but there are probably none more instantly recognizable across the globe than the C3 Corvette. While it was built on its predecessor’s largely unchanged frame, the aggressive new body captured the hearts and imaginations of performance car enthusiasts. One motoring journalist who reviewed the car on its release described it as the first American car that looked like it was doing 150mph when parked at the curb. This one is a California car, and it seems like it has managed to avoid the rust issues that can plague these classics from colder and wetter climes. The owner mentions no problems, and the lack of visible corrosion across the entire car gives us some cause to be optimistic about the state of the frame and the birdcage. The fiberglass appears to be in good condition, with no signs of cracking or other problems. The Polar White paint holds a respectable shine, and I haven’t spotted any evidence of repaint or repair work. The chrome is in good condition, and there are no issues with the glass.

It’s worth noting that the Corvette is no trailer queen, but the interior is very acceptable for a driver-quality car. The upholstery doesn’t appear to have any rips or tears, while the carpet and the dash are pretty good. There is some wear and a few marks on the console, but there’s nothing that would be classed as horrendous. The kick panels have been cut to accept speakers, and the original radio has made way for a radio/cassette player, but the interior is otherwise unmolested. The owner supplies no engine photos, but he does say that the car comes equipped with its original 327ci V8 and 4-speed manual transmission. This is the L79 version of the 327, which pumps out 350hp. That represents a 50hp increase over the standard motor, and at $105.35 in 1968, it also represented decent bang-for-your-buck. The base 327 would cover the ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds and run out to 131mph. This engine cuts the ¼ to 14.2 seconds and increases the top speed to 150mph. It seems that the news on the mechanical front is all good with this Corvette. There are no fluid leaks or other issues. The owner says that the car runs and drives perfectly, which means that it is ready for a new owner to enjoy right away.

With each passing year, the early “chrome bumper” C3 Corvettes grow in popularity and value. While it is possible to find some in the market for under $15,000, excellent ones with the L79/4-speed combination can easily top $35,000. This one isn’t perfect, but it does appear to be a fantastic survivor-grade car. With that latter figure in mind, this one looks like it is competitively priced at $24,500. Even if the buyer chose to spend some money to refresh some interior aspects, they should still be looking okay financially. This Corvette has only been on the market for around one day, and I suspect it will probably sell pretty quickly.