Some project cars get attention because of rarity, others because of the story behind them. This 1968 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe listed on eBay manages to bring both to the table. Located in Columbus, Ohio, the silver-over-black C3 is being offered as a long-stored project with what the seller describes as just 32,770 original miles. It’s also packing some serious hardware, including an L79 327 V8, an M22 “Rock Crusher” four-speed, and a factory 4.11 Positraction rear axle. That combination alone is enough to get Corvette people talking. Thanks for the tip, Curvette!
According to the listing, the car has been with the same owner since January of 1983 and spent years in storage after being parked in a garage facility. The seller says it is a completely together project car and emphasizes that all the parts are included. It is not currently roadworthy and will need to be trailered from its current location, but the listing makes it clear this is being sold as a starting point rather than a finished driver.
The drivetrain setup is one of the bigger talking points here. The seller states the car retains its L79 327 cubic-inch “Turbo Fire” V8 rated at 350 horsepower along with the Muncie M22 four-speed manual transmission. Factory 4.11 gears out back only add to the performance image these early C3s carried when new. The seller even mentions the car was tuned and maintained by Jegs High Performance in Columbus during its earlier years and says the Corvette “always ran very strong.”
Beyond the engine and transmission, the equipment list reads like a snapshot of what made the first-year C3 such a departure from the earlier mid-years. The ad mentions four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel power disc brakes, T-top roof panels, removable rear window, pop-up headlights, bucket seats, chrome bumpers, and the aircraft-inspired instrument cluster Chevrolet promoted heavily in period advertising.
The listing also notes that much of the 1968 model year was unique to that first production year of the C3 generation, something longtime Corvette enthusiasts already know well. First-year cars tend to attract their own following, especially when paired with performance-oriented drivetrains like this one reportedly has.
Included with the sale are assorted manuals, receipts, Corvette magazines, and catalogs collected over the years. The seller says retirement and downsizing are the reasons for finally letting the car go after more than four decades of ownership.
Projects like this usually appeal to a pretty specific buyer. Someone who enjoys digging into the details, researching casting numbers, sorting through parts, and slowly bringing a dormant performance car back to life. The fact that this one is described as complete probably helps its case quite a bit.
I was going to scoff at a 327 as being “serious” but that little mill rated at 350HP ain’t no slouch – or shouldn’t be, that is. But boy howdy, that body is going to put the credit card on the skillet fo sho.