Sporting a paint scheme that looks as if it was applied in the early 1970s, this 1968 Chevrolet Corvette certainly looks the part of “America’s Sports Car.” It’s listed for sale here on eBay, where the buy-it-now price is $29,995, but offers below that are being considered. It’s located in Grants Pass, Oregon, and we have frequent finder Curvette to thank for calling this period piece to our attention.
The 1968 Corvette offered a drastic styling change from the earlier C2 models. Based on the Mako Shark show car and featuring “Coke bottle” curves at both ends, the “space age” lines were polarizing, thrilling some and alienating others. I doubt that many folks would have guessed those lines would be essentially similar all the way through 1982-the C3 generation lasted a long time! There were many small idiosyncracies unique to the 1968 model-year cars, but the template was in place for Corvette success.
The seller of this car calls it a “project car that runs and drives,” which I think is being very honest about the car’s condition. Part of this status is due to how different the car is now from when it left the factory. The build sheet is included, and it shows the car in Safari Yellow with black trim, and featuring the 435-horsepower, 427-cubic-inch V-8 attached to a four-speed manual transmission; quite a rare combination. A 4.11:1 Positraction rear end, tinted glass, and an AM-FM radio completed the option list.
While a black interior is present, the 427 is not. However, the seller is including a November 1967 427 block and engine components and believes the transmission is original to the car. The differential has been changed to a 3.36:1, and there’s no mention of whether the replacement is a limited-slip unit. The seller does state that the frame is in very nice shape and reflects the car’s time in the dry “high desert” of Klamath Falls, Oregon.
A 350 small-block Chevy engine currently powers this car, and the seller says it runs well. Presumably, most purchasers would finish the job of putting a replacement 427 back in. What would you do? Would you rock the vintage paint “as-is” and leave well enough alone engine-wise, or would you strip the car down and restore it to original specification? Let us know what you’d do in the comments!
Keep the paint. Reinstall the big block. Add side pipes and bubble tail lights to complete the look.
Needs real cragers..
You don’t like the Appliance copies?
Neither do I. When seeing the first picture I thought someone copied an Matchbook car. If driven alot, no wonder the 427 (“with 4.11 gears).wore out! 4.11s are fun, but tiresome. I never liked this body style anyway. So whoever does, good luck to you.
If Joe Dirt wasn’t a mopar man, this is what I would have pictured him in
Ummm, I don’t even know where to start. Yes, must install the 427. I don’t think it’s negotiable. But I’m guessing it looks better in person than the pics. So sight see it before passing judgement. 30l seems a big stress. Definitely 20’s, just not that high.
Worthy of a restoration.
Kick the 350 up to about 600 ho and drive til it drops.
Looks like 1972 all over again. These types of modified Corvettes were all the rage until about 1976 and were all over the pages of Hot Rod and Car Craft. By 1978, the trend was back to stock with the advent of Bloomington Gold.
My personal feelings on any CORVETTE, is leave it original, and restore it to original specs, to honor the heritage of this true sports car with the CHEVROLET name on it. The C2 Series are my favorites, but any unmolested CORVETTE is worthy of being in the right owner’s hands, and duly preserved for all to enjoy, owners and on-lookers, alike at cruise nights, or shows, or anywhere the cars appear.
Seller pulled the gas tank to get at the build sheet and claims he discovered that “the frame is the most mint no rust frame you will find”. Yet, he shows multiple pics of the build sheet but none of that great frame. That would have probably helped to sell the car.
It’s hard to tell with a wet car, but that 70’s paint job still looks pretty good, meaning it must have spent a good amount of its time in decent storage.