When the C3 Corvette broke cover for the 1968 model year, it immediately grabbed the motoring public’s imagination. A total of 28,566 buyers raced out and slapped down their cash to park one in their driveway. Even in its most basic form, it offered winning performance for its owners. However, if that wasn’t enough, buyers could order their cars with engines with power to burn. That was the case with this Corvette, and it is a potent classic that is now looking for a new home. Located in West Des Moines, Iowa, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $42,900, but the option is available to make an offer.

The initial impressions of the LeMans Blue Corvette are pretty positive, and when you dig deeper, it doesn’t seem to disappoint. The paint shines beautifully, although I can spot evidence that suggests that it may have received a partial repaint at some point. There is no evidence of any significant chips or scratches and no signs of any checking in the paint. The fiberglass is free from cracks and crazing, and there are no issues around the bonding strips. Two of the known weak points of early C3 Corvettes are the operation of the headlights and the wiper door. These can become sluggish, or they can stop working altogether. That isn’t a problem here, with the owner emphasizing that both features work exactly as Chevrolet intended. Delving below the surface reveals some positive news. This is a rust-free survivor, with a frame and birdcage that are structurally sound. The chrome and trim are in excellent order, and I can’t spot any flaws or defects in the glass.

If this Corvette is to be considered purely as a survivor-grade car, then its interior condition is definitely acceptable. It is upholstered in black vinyl, and this appears to be free from any significant wear or damage. The same is true of the dash, while the wheel shows no problems. The carpet is faded, but that is a common issue with these cars. There is no appreciable wear, so there is no immediate need to consider replacement. However, with a complete carpet set costing less than $300, it might be worth the investment if the buyer wants to boost the interior to the next level. There have been no aftermarket additions, with the factory radio remaining intact.

Now we get to the part of the story that you’ve probably been waiting for. The entry-level Corvette came equipped with a 327ci V8 that delivered 300hp. With a 3-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission bolted to the back of that V8, it could rip through the ¼ mile in 15 seconds. That wasn’t bad, but for some buyers, it wasn’t anywhere near enough. That was the case for the first owner of this Corvette because he chose to hand over an additional $305.50 to equip the vehicle with the L68 version of the 427ci big-block. This monster came with a trifecta of Holley 2-barrel carburetors bolted to it and pumped out 400hp. Hooked to the back of this Tri-Power is the 3-speed automatic transmission that feeds all of those ponies to the Posi rear end. Did this upgrade make a difference? Just a bit! The ¼ mile could now be demolished in 13.9 seconds, and if you kept your boot to the floor, the big-block would run out of breath at 147mph. I love to be the bearer of good news, and there seems to be plenty with this car. The starter isn’t original, nor is the center carburetor in the Tri-Power setup. Otherwise, this is a complete, numbers-matching classic. Of course, you now probably want to know how well the Corvette runs and drives. The answer to this is “very well.” It seems that this classic is ready to hit the road, with the next owner needing to do nothing.

Opening the hood of any classic car from this era to find a Tr-Power setup is enough to get the pulse racing. When it is original, and it is contained in a vehicle that is as tidy as this 1968 Corvette, that’s even better. While the L68 option was not a cheap one, 1,932 buyers chose to slap down their cash for it. It wasn’t the cheapest engine in the Corvette’s armory, but it was a long way from being the most expensive. Today, good examples of the ’68 Corvette with an original L68 will easily command sale prices of over $40,000. That suggests that the BIN on this one is probably in the ballpark, and it makes me wonder whether one of the 91 people watching the listing might hit the button on this one. If they did, I’d hardly blame them. Would you?