Corvette shoppers looking for a a running, affordable chrome-bumper (’68 – ’72) C3 might find what they’re looking for in this shiny red example. The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette located outside Kalamazoo, Michigan wears an older re-paint, shows minimal rust for a Michigan classic, and served its prior owner with regular weekend drives since 2003. A non-original 327 cid (5.4L) V8 mates up to a four-speed manual transmission. All that plus the throaty exhaust gives this flashy Corvette everything to feed a mid-life crisis or simply enjoy a favorite curvy back road. The listing here on Craigslist asks $24,000 for the driver-quality first-year C3.
Aside from a non-working clock and Astro Ventilation levers, few interior defects detract from the driving experience. An aftermarket Quadrio quadrophonic 8-track player features a working radio, but the seller has not tested the 8-track player. The seller decoded the four-speed as a wide-ratio Muncie M20. The full instrumentation works, though the water temperature gauge never reaches operating temperature.
Black stripes around the rear deviate from stock. The seller believes the car retains correct one-year-only 1968 Rally wheels, which would be 15 x 7 inches with Corvette-specific backspacing, coded “AG.” The red paint looks great from afar. A YouTube video shows some chips, scratches and bubbles, but nothing to keep this good-running sports car away from Cars & Coffee. Some weatherstripping has dried out and could be replaced.
The non-original 327 looks right at home in place of the factory engine. With a block from ’65 to ’67 and heads from a non-performance oriented ’63 or ’64 250 HP Chevy, it’s likely making (gross) horsepower in that range or slightly above. The car settles to a smooth idle with a healthy motorboat burble to the rear and authoritative crackle after each blip of the throttle. The missing original motor will keep collectors away, and opens the door to modifications or re-powering with an engine of your choice. Which quadraphonic 8-track would you pop in the Quadio first?
may not be 100% original but looks like it could be a lot of fun as long as the birdcage and floorboards don’t exhibit rust. I’d try it out on a windy road.
Rusted floors are not an issue with 68’s, they have fiberglass floors.
This car might make a nice weekend toy for someone, but I think $24K’s a lot of money for a wrong motor, driver quality 68.
Duh. Floorboard rust in a 68 through 75 model isn’t possible. Bird cage rot yes.
I had a 74 454 big block money pit once one thing went the rest followed
I think that it’s too much money for a non-numbers matching, ignition shield missing base coupe.
But, you will get to test your negotiation skills.
Throw a Tommy James and the Shondells, W Crystal blue persuasion, or The Brooklyn Bridge, Worst that could happen in it, then since it’s the wrong motor already, nice 427, and Vintage air