But what’s been done to it? That’s what we don’t quite know when looking at this 1968 Chevrolet Impala two-door coupe. This one was found for us by tipster TJ, btw, and If you want it, you need to get yourself to Sacramento, as detailed here on craigslist. In your pocket, you’ll have $35,000. You’ll try to keep some of that for gas on the way home, or a trailer.
Is that an authentic 10,000 miles you see there? The condition would suggest so. That makes this car an important historical reference for others, like restorers. So how are you going to feel about getting in and squeezing the gas pedal to spin that odo upwards? No doubt you’ll have fun doing it, and when people see you, the reactions you’ll get! One that I have is to say I never realized how Coke-bottle the side sculpting is on these big Chevrolets. I think of that as a Pontiac Tempest/Le Mans/GTO feature. If I had this car, you can bet I’d be out showing it off so that others could share my admiration of what GM had done.
It’s hard not to play the “how often do you see?” game with this car. How often do you see the original dealer badge attached to the trunk, which someone put there in the height of the Viet Nam era? How often do you see what appears to be the original tire-change sticker on the inside of the deck lid? How often do you see paint that perfect on the trunk floor? Wait, there’s a trip-up there. Should that be black? And is the exterior just a bit too shiny? These might be easily resolvable questions with a phone call, but I never understand the reluctance to make full and clear claims in online ads. Does it cost by the word, as the old classifieds used to?
This series of full-sized Chevrolet models came out in 1965 and sold a cool million copies that first year. For 1968, the base engine was a 250-CID 6-cylinder with a three-speed manual. Unheard of today. You might wonder how that would move a car this large (nearly 215 inches long and over 4000 pounds—a foot and more longer than the redesigned GTO for the same model year). This one has the 327-CID V8 with an automatic transmission. It’s not a corner carver, and probably not a quarter-miler either. It’s just the car dad went to work in, a bit upscale with its vinyl top and fancy wheel covers. Maybe the color isn’t what you’d order if you could turn back time, but isn’t it so often the case that the car of unlikely color is the one that survives the decades? If you’re good with that, and you’ve got near-GTO money to spend, AND if this car is as true as it appears to be, then this could be your lifetime find.
The seller doesn’t say it has 10K miles, that’s what the odometer says and I believe it rolled over. It has been well taken care of and has been nicely detailed but the ask is optimistic IMHO.
All we have to do pop a valve cover off if it has 10 k rockers and the heads are going to be clean. Also gm shocks will have gm # a few other things to look for also but on till it’s been validated it’s a 1968 with 110k on it probably worth 15k to 20 k not 35k.
It’s a gorgeous design, and no, it’s not a quarter-miler. So, I thank you Brian for not including superfluous quarter-mile times in the writeup.
A pretty clean looking Impala but it’s priced like it has a big block. Curious how the front seat looks. Every time I see an ad where the seller includes a pic of the rear seat but not the front, I assume it is in need of some attention. I actually like the color. Very much of the era when earth tones were very popular. Overall, nice cruiser just a bit on the expensive side for what it is.
I agree, Mike. I always want to see the driver’s seat, driver’s door panel, and the pedals. Can tell a lot about a car’s history by seeing that. This is a really nice Impala Custom, and it likely is in good shape, so show it.
Oops, sorry Rex, did not mean to reply to you.
Fo Sho!
Just my opinion!
Beautiful car!!! Surprised it doesn’t have power brakes, but nice to see that it has factory A/C. I hope it finds a good home.
Formal roof makes it look like a Caprice.
Hmm, creative license saying it’s coke bottle shap? 69 Stang IS!
And goggle Aussie Ford falcon xa, xb, xc.
And nothing wrong with a 250 ci, again goggle 250 2V
Long live Aussie muscle.
Ford Falcon XY GTHO phase III. At the time world’s fastest production 4 door car.
And also google 140mph on the Hume.
I had a 1968 Caprice, 327/300hp, auto, with air, power brakes & steering, 28,000 miles, one owner from Van Nuys, CA. Stolen. I had original title, paid $5,500 in 2006. Thief filed for title. I was a few days late. Police said it was a civil matter and their Captain was going to buy it.
True story. Wichita, KS police.
That notch back and long trunk make these look awkward.
I agree with you 100%. I ordered one new in late 67, and I specifically ordered the fastback version for that very reason. The decklid looked like there was room to land a 747 with ease there.
Then you’d probably like the “regular” Impala! It has a fastback look! Like the 65-67 Impala. My dad had one in yellow with the 327. Yep, Dad went to work in it.
As much as I like 68s I have to agree with you. The original and 1st two door Caprice in 66 was a beautiful design and looked very balanced. Every year after that that roof design just got uglier and uglier……..
I had a light blue 67 Caprice with a 327 2 barrel, bucket seats, no vinyl top. Beautiful car. Was young and dumb. Wish I had it now. Looking at this 68 Impala I don’t believe it has only 10,000 miles. The engine bay condition says so. Not enough pictures. Still a nice car just not that nice.
Had one in the 70’s, nice riding car!
Also 68 327 4bbl, which is the base power plant Camaro Z-28 used as first year for large journal crankshaft! It would spin 8-9K car got rusty and put the 327 in my 69Chevelle SS Convertible, while I was rebuilding the L34 350hp 396, bouts 1977
Nice unit but I feel a bit pricey!
Asking WAY too much money for a small block car. All other speculation is moot. Peace yall.
Very refreshing to see a true well taken care of chevy. These were very maintainable, affordable and great on the hiway. Did we really need much more?
My first car was just like this one with the exception mine had a 307, powerglide tranny and power brakes. Going wasn’t much of a problem with these cars but stopping with drum brakes especially manual ones must have been a handful.
Not seeing anything about this car worth even $30K. Nice condition, but so what. Special history or rare options? Not a convertible, just a Chevy 2 Dr. Low $20s or less. $30 K range is real money, you want with value down the road, this ain’t it.
I actually like the formal look on the Custom Cpe. My neighbor in my hometown in N Mn. had a red one with black vinyl roof. 327 with 3-on the tree.
My uncle bought a ’69 Caprice coupe. Both of these were instrumental in my first car purchase of a ’70 Caprice cpe.
As to this car, the color looks a little like Autumn Gold although that didn’t come out til ’70. Hard to tell from the pictures.
Having a/c with out power brakes and maybe steering is a bit of a head scratcher.
I believe for 10,000 miles that trunk should be spatter paint too.
The trunk looks sprayed with bedliner looks rusty on the left. Looks like car was a gold color.
I had a 68 Caprice almost just like this, mine was forest green with black interior. It had the 327 with ps, brakes and ac. Bought it from my Uncle who had purchased it new and worn it out. I carried a gallon of oil under the hood to refill it at every gas stop! But, the room inside with those big bench seats, much better than the Mustang I had for dating purposes! Traded that oil drinking pig in on a gas drinking 454 Cheyenne pickup. Lots of room inside and in the bed on that one, too!
I have an original brochure for this car, and yes, that roofline was optional. Looking through that brochure makes me so sad. Back in the day you had roof choices, and color choices! Every vehicle wasn’t always painted black, white, or silver with a charcoal gray interior. Gawwd I miss choices
PS. Don’t even get me started on black rims and this concrete gray vehicle color trend
35k for a 327 bench seat car? I got my 68 ss 427 z24 z03 w/ tach and guages factory posi custom coupe for 29k a few years ago and it’s a rust free original west coat car. I guess prices have gone up. the last few years.
Here’s a true 68 Impala story: In 1979, I was a student at Ohio State and worked at Camp’s Carryout on 17th Avenue. Camp’s actually delivered beer etc. to all the dorms on campus, and a beat-up ’68 Impala was the delivery vehicle. State liquor laws be damned.
Students would call the store, place the order, and I would load the Impala chock-full of beer, wine, cigs, chips, you name it. The trunk was full, the back seat, the passenger side…stuffed. I would drive that ’68 Impala on to campus and meet the kids at the loading docks of the dorms and deliver the goods, with no ID checks at all….nothing. My tips? Usually a beer or a doobie, and sometimes maybe a buck or two.
The Michigan/OSU game in November of 1979 was electric on campus. I had a full Impala load of Stroh’s and Boone’s Farm and Merit cigarettes as I tried to navigate my way to the dorms. The roads were all blocked off with traffic and cops. I knew the streets, and weaved my way down the alleys to within a block of the dorm complex on 11th Avenue. The last leg would have me going the wrong way on a one-way side street to get to the dorms.
As I made my way down that last block, going the wrong way, some guy yells from the sidewalk “HEY, you’re going the wrong way!!”. His buddy slugs him in the arm and says “That’s the Camp’s guy!”.