With impossible-to-ignore tri-colored racing stripes, this first-year C3 (third-generation Corvette) shines from nearly every pedestrian-visible angle. The nondescript and almost certainly non-original 350 cid (5.7L) V8 and four-speed manual gearbox add interest and support the road-racing stripes. Slap a number on the side and every 10-year-old you pass will think you’re the next Dick Guldstrand, or someone equally cool. A mixed bag of what looks like a never-restored 52-year-old sports car, this 1968 Chevrolet Corvette convertible outside San Diego, California features a host of new parts and a motivated seller looking to fund a home remodel. Personally I believe that vehicles should always maintain a high priority; after all, you can sleep in your car, but you can’t drive your house to work. If anyone agrees, kindly make a note in the comments for the benefit of my wife! The listing here on craigslist.org asks $22,000 for the privilege to drive this striped blue beauty away. That’s right; this Chevy runs and drives! Thanks to reader Matt R. for this flashy submission.
What looks like ’80s C3 wheels look slightly mod on a chrome-bumper ‘Vette, but I’ve seen worse! The stripes certainly change the look of the car. Take them away and we might not have featured this handsome drop-top. Making its own Mako-shark impact, the new-for-’68 C3 carried over barely any of the ’63-’67 Sting Ray’s styling. For 1969 the “Stingray” moniker returned to the body (as a single word) in chrome, but the ’68 models bear no reference to the fabled hydrodynamic sea creature.
The seller points out some shortcomings in the interior and confesses that some features and functions do not work. It sounds like this Corvette remained a driver most of its life, which can be worth more than a brown truck full of shiny trinkets. The white seats make a classy deviation from the sporty but monochromatic all-black interiors we’ve seen 10,000 times.
Chevy brought the 350 cid version of its famous small-block V8 to the Corvette in 1969, so the origin and power of this mill remain a mystery. The snappy reusable air filter allows breathing from the top and sides. No lack of oxygen will restrain this mouse motor. That air filter setup, the flex-fan, and billet valve covers and spark plug looms suggest an injection of cash during the ’90s or early ‘2000s. New parts including carpeting and a white vinyl top still in the box come with the sale. What’s your top bid on this striped-up driver-quality ‘Vette?
Another nice write up Todd! This thing looks a little rough to me for the money. Not a fan of the rainbow flag stripes. Maybe OK to the right person, just not my style.
Thank you, leiniedude!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but those “mod” stripes were part of advertising literature of the late 60s and early Seventies. Look at Plymouth’s Rapid Transit System ads and you’ll see what I mean. This car reminds me of the Brady Bunch or the Banana Bunch.
One thing to consider… Cars like this were made to have fun with. Over the years I’ve seen hundreds of variations of Corvettes that were owned by owners who were having great fun with their cars from paint jobs like this one to flairs and wide wheels and no telling how many with modified engines, transmissions, suspensions etc. vs. what the factory sent out the door. Have owned over 70 vehicles so far and I’d bet that less than 10 percent of them remained factory stock. And yes, we’ve had great fun with them… with the exception of our present motor home we tow our race cars with.
So true, bobhess. Without the stripes and the wheels, this becomes another forgettable blue C3. It’s far from a rare find. Might as well have some fun with it!
Picture didn’t make it the first time. Friend we race with has this sitting in his garage and drives it on weekends to car gatherings or tours. Did all the work himself. He races an MG Midget at SCCA road races. Corvette must be quite a change from that.
Well said Todd.
Steering wheel…OUT! Stripes….OFF! Late model C3 wheels….OFF! and some POR-15 for the undercarriage.
The Hurst T shifter got me!
$22K, I don’t think so. The seller overpaid for the car, and then sunk more into it, now he’s hoping to find someone that will overpay him for it. There’s a hole in the right rear quarter, the interior’s a mess, the wipers don’t work (the vacuum actuator needed to open the wiper door is missing), and seller says “misc lites not working”. From what I see, the low teens is a lot more realistic.
There was a striping and trim franchise popular in the late ’70s, Trimline. I think they taught their franchisees that the red/orange/yellow motif was the go-to for any and every ‘sporty’ car application. Their tape was thick cheap stuff, as opposed to brands with with a wide range of subtler colors that were available elsewhere.
My first job as a new pinstriper back in the awful Carter economy was removing the gaudy crap from a late Camaro LT and replacing it with colors that complemented the car instead of making it clownish and sale-proof. I’m still in business 42 years later.
The hack job on this poor Vette probably set the customer back about $200.
Forgive me if I offend anyone, but this car is one stripe away from the Gay Pride stripes showing all this month (June is Gay Pride month), the devil made me say it!
Feels like the car wouldn’t be complete without wearing a trucker hat, Aviators, knee high three stripe athletic socks, and have Farrah Fawcett in the passenger seat.
Yes, remove the stripes but I do like the wheels…err rims. Ditch the white seats and replace with blue ones. Unless it was a big block car, getting $22K might be a stretch.
Agree jerry z. The wheels were about the only thing I really liked about the later renditions of these cars.
Well I’m with the majority here and loose the stripes!! The car seems solid however the bad thing is if the stripes are painted or vinyl the color underneath them will be different and you’ll have to paint the whole car!!
I don’t know about the ‘vette but I’m sure glad someone figured out how to make the air cleaner lid more useful. Leave it to KnN.
Straight up blue no stripes with possibly the only color change being a white hood scoop L88 style. Have fun!