Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

No Reserve: 1968 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Hidden away in this garage is a 1968 Corvette that has been its current owner’s pride and joy. Since purchasing it, he has invested a cool $20,000 to lift its presentation and mechanical condition to its current state. However, with the hard work now complete, he has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Silver Creek, New York, and the bidding has reached $19,100 in a No Reserve auction. An indication of the impact that this ‘Vette has made is that 143 people are watching the listing.

This Corvette probably won’t suit a potential buyer seeking a spotless and 100% original survivor because it has received a few changes during its lifetime. The most obvious is the paint color. It isn’t clear what shade the vehicle wore when it rolled off the line, but it appears to have received a color change to LeMans Blue. Chevrolet didn’t include this in the Corvette palette until the following model year, but these changes aren’t uncommon in vehicles of this age. The paint and the fiberglass that it covers appear to be in good condition, with no significant flaws or issues. The Black soft-top is in a similar state. I can’t see any tears, the rear window is clear, and its overall fit looks quite tight. The photos of the ‘Vette’s underside are a bit limited, but they seem to indicate that the car has little more than the occasional dusting of surface corrosion. I certainly can’t spot anything that might indicate any structural issues with the frame. The chrome isn’t perfect, but there’s no corrosion, and its condition would be acceptable for a driver-grade classic.

Lifting the hood reveals one of the great mysteries with this Corvette. The engine bay should be occupied by a 327ci or a 427ci V8. What we see isn’t a big-block, but precisely what we’re looking at is a mystery. The owner doesn’t supply a wealth of information, but in the “Item Specifics” section of the listing, he refers to the engine as a 283. My instinct tells me that we’re looking at a later 350ci small-block, but I’m willing to be corrected on that if I’m wrong. This Corvette also features a three-speed automatic transmission and power steering. The specifications are unclear, but it looks like the owner has treated the engine to an Edelbrock intake, which suggests that the air cleaner could be hiding an upgraded carburetor. The ignition shield is missing, but otherwise, the engine bay could present well if the buyer simply tidies a few items. It won’t cost them money, only time and effort. The owner says that the car runs well, meaning it is ready to hit the road with its next owner behind the wheel.

When I first looked at this Corvette’s interior, I got a feeling about where at least part of the $20,000 that the seller mentions went. The upholstered surfaces, dash pad, and carpet are all in as-new condition. I suspect that he may have performed at least a partial retrim. This means that the buyer won’t have to spend anything on this aspect of the car beyond what appears to be a missing trim around the door-frame edge. Once again, those focused on spotless originality will find a few things that grate with them. The owner has fitted an aftermarket wheel, and he has a new retro-look stereo for the buyer to install if they choose. Beyond that, it seems to need very little.

If an enthusiast is searching for a tidy driver-quality Corvette to park in their garage, this car looks to be a hot prospect. It won’t suit a purist, and it probably wouldn’t be financially viable to return the vehicle to a factory-fresh state. However, it would appear to be the ideal candidate for someone who wants to hit the road for a spot of relaxed touring. The interest that the listing has generated would seem to confirm this. Are you tempted to throw your hat into the ring on this one?

Comments

  1. Avatar bobhess Member

    Non-purist here. Love the steering wheel… it fits the interior perfectly. Hoping the negative camber on the rear wheels is from not rolling the car to settle the suspension before taking the exterior shots. Very nice car.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Don Eladio

      I noticed that…it doesn’t appear to be modified/lifted so, hopefully, that’s the case?

      Like 0
  2. Avatar CCFisher

    Many sources list LeMans Blue as an available color for 1968 Corvettes, including the National Corvette Museum.

    https://www.corvettemuseum.org/learn/about-corvette/corvette-specs/1968-corvette-specs/

    Like 5
  3. Avatar A.G.

    Although this car has been repainted there might not have been a color change. The engineering documents show Medium Blue (976) as an offered color for the 1968 Corvette. Other sources label paint code 976 as Lemans Blue. A picture of the trim tag would provide a definitive answer.

    Like 5
  4. Avatar John D.

    My color and my year. To be my perfect driver, I would have to put in a 440.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Sam Shive

      Why would you put a Mopar engine in a Vette ?

      Like 11
      • Avatar John D.

        That is the exact question I ask myself when I see a Chrysler product with a SBC. The 440 is a strong powerful yet flexible engine. It can be tuned to be smooth as glass or cammed up to audibly beat out each stroke.

        This Vette is close to me and I like blue convertibles of the end of the Sixties. Everything seems perfect about this car. Since the article explains that although a nice example, it is not a 100 point car, it seems reasonable to me to turn it into a car I would truly enjoy. Thus the 440 comment.

        Like 4
      • Avatar Gary Wilson

        The car looks good & the price doesn’t seem out of line as far as we know about the car.
        The engine transplant would be fine with most people maybe,but I’m always a little disappointed whenever someone goes to the trouble to replace the engine with something that probably isn’t much more powerful if any than what it had in first place.

        Like 0
    • Avatar RKS

      Put in a what now?

      Like 3
    • Avatar joenywf64

      Finally, a non chevy v8 in a chevy ! lol
      tho many other big cube non chevy motors are lighter than a big block chev & the above mopar
      —>
      http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/engineweights2.html

      Like 0
    • Avatar Craigo

      Only an idiot would drop a 440 Mopar into any Vette and he would have a next to impossible time fitting it in and mating it with the drive train.

      Clueless.

      Like 3
      • Avatar John D.

        Obviously, Craigo never built or closely looked at a Hot Rod/Street Rod

        I have seen a 440 in an Austin Healey as well as the Jensen’s which were clean builds designed to take that engine. I’ve even seen a Mini with the beloved SBC stuffed in it.

        I have always said, “Give a guy a torch and some welding stick and stand back!”

        Finally, I said above, “To be MY perfect driver . . .”
        I like the Corvette, but it is not my end all be all car. I don’t think I have run across that yet.

        Mostly I said it to see how many ‘experts’ I could fire up. Its been a while since I have posted. Good Day.

        Like 2
  5. Avatar oilngas

    Actually that is positive camber you see. But compared to the other side an issue none the less.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Steve Clinton

    Damn! Sold for $21,200. Seems to me someone got a steal.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Steve Clinton

    He refers to the engine as a 283. It could have been originally. It wears the proper hood for the small V8.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Mark

    The exhaust tips sticking nearly a foot past the rear bumper looks like crap.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar PRA4SNW

    At $21,200, it looks like someone got a good deal on a nice looking Vette.
    However, that engine question would have me cautious. A one sentence description of the car and 20K invested? Something tells me that this is a quick flip – I would need to see those receipts.

    Like 1

Leave a Reply to bobhess Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.