The Caprice was Chevrolet’s version of a Cadillac. Beginning as a trim upgrade on the Impala in 1965, it quickly became a series of its own. This 1968 edition combines luxury with performance using a numbers-matching 427 cubic inch V8 under the hood. But the car has undergone a rebirth since we last saw it nine months ago. At the time, it was a mostly running original with tired paint and interior. Now it’s a beautiful street cruiser with fresh paint (color change) and fancy wheels. Formerly in Tacoma, Washington, the Chevy is now in Costa Mesa, California, and is available here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $39,500.
Our own Mike Stephens had the honor of critiquing this classic a few months ago and here’s what he found at the time. The green paint was tired, and the interior had gotten messed up from a leaking tarp that had been covering the auto for a time. The body was mostly solid, though the floors needed work after the leaky tarp. Fortunately, the factory 427 V8 and TH-400 automatic transmission were in okay shape but needed some attention. In April 2023, the asking price was $9,800.
Fast-forward several months and this Caprice has found a new lease on life. Apparently, it was purchased and moved south to California for a restoration (or sorts) by a company whose logo appears on some of the photos. Most of the focus was on the body, paint, and interior though the engine/transmission with 42,000 miles seems to have been refreshed and repainted. The seller advises that a lot of metalwork was needed, but the ease of available parts helped with the project.
The green paint is gone in favor of Onyx Black which looks to have been lavishly applied. Much of the interior has been redone, but not all (the door panels may be original, and the seller says you may want to replace them later, but not right away). Some of the exterior chrome trim is gone but has been retained with the original wheel covers for the buyer to take home.
This Caprice now rolls on wide chrome wheels and tires that have that low-rider look to them. Tons of other new parts include an aluminum radiator, windshield, chrome valve covers, alternator, and brake work plus a rebuild of the original Holley carburetor, and a Flowmaster exhaust system. The factory radio is still playing, but there’s Bluetooth audio in the glove box. While there’s no mention of a frame-off restoration, it looks like a lot of care was taken to combine the best of what once was with what’s new and fresh has been accomplished here. Check out the links to the seller’s video as well as the accompanying eBay listing.
Low rider
I wish he would have concentrated all his time and money to restore it back to original. Restomods only appeal to the guy that modded it. I, (John Q. Public) don’t care for it. If anyone wants a nice, somewhat rare, beautiful classic car, then they’ll have to un-do all the mods done. Too bad…
I respectfully disagree. I believe there are lots of people who will like this makeover more that just restoring the car to it’s old self. They’ll probably get about 40K for it this way. I doubt a stock restoration would come close.
I’m one of the people who like this makeover. My grandmother wouldn’t even drive this car in the original form. Good stance, nice wheels, and anything but that bla green paint. Nice.
Should have kept original including the color. With a big block original to the car it would be worth just as much.
Agree Tom..
Beautiful paint job but don’t like the gangster look with those Wheels. 16″ Cragars 5 spoke rims would look nice on this. Raise the Chevy up a little. I wonder if the wipers work? Is that a true 425hp 427 engine? Otherwise good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Nice ride, but if you are going to give it the modern look also give it an overdrive transmission.
Where do you stop? I think what many people overlook is insurance companies will not insure a car with modifications that don’t meet or exceed factory specs. And I’m almost positive looking at this car it does not.
Does it have or come with the headrest? I like the makeovers.
40k and I have to roll my own window down. Typical, paint wheels, bags, and airplane race seats.
Lose the Ghetto rims and put some nice Rally’s on there or old style American racing mags.
Beautifully done, but I would ditch those wheels. Also, I will never own another black car. Just too hard to keep clean and they are too hot in the sun.
GS Caprice/ Ghetto Sled
I’m not a fan of the wheels, and not sure whats going on with the rear window trim. The stainless rain gutter and front window trim is present and bright, the rear should follow the theme. I could do without those seats as well…
The Good: Console, bucket seats, 427 big-block. The Bad: black paint, low profile “rim protector” rubber with large diameter tires and rims. The Ugly: The price tag, because I can’t afford it, LOL!
I think it would look better with some 60-Series white letter tires on classic Cragar rims, but that’s just me. It’s hard to tell if the car originally had a vinyl top or a painted roof, but I like that the vinyl is non-existent after the restoration. No mention of what suspension is under the car, but I’m not a fan of airbag springs, I prefer classic steel coil springs, thank you very much.
I’m with you on the black paint, though. I owned a black car once. Once! For the very reasons you describe, it was too hard to keep clean. Looked good for about ten seconds after you washed it, then the pine pollen covered it like it was attracted to the black paint! Don’t even get me started on what road salt did to the looks of the black paint! Yuck!
And no AC!
Once again, it’s all about the dollar.
Good afternoon,
Boy what comments. This is a beautiful car and the owner has done a remarkable job with this car. I would not be ashamed to drive it or be seen in it. For the ones that don’t know anything about cars this is not a Ghetto car because it has chrome wheels and they have a larger wheel diameter. I am 85 and my daily driver is a ’93 Lexus SC300 coupe. I paid $250.00 for the car several years ago and now I have thousands in it and I am still going strong. By the way I have 18″ low profile tires and wheels on my lowered SC. I do have eight other cars but his is my favorite even over my BMW’s.
I just wonder of all the people that made a negative comment, how many of you are living in the old world driving cars with sun visors? Oh and about the comment of getting rid of those airplane seats, I have a Commercial license to fly but I have never seen any seats like that in a airplane. Maybe they are out there but I never saw them.
Please remember to not make a negative comment unless you know what you are talking about. Have a good day.
I hope it is going to be a good year for each and everyone of you.
Bill Smith
Oh boy, I made the comment about the airplane seats. Let me retract that to junkyard Lexus seats. Now with that said I have a warehouse full of vehicles and yup there are a few that rolled off the line with 18 inch rubber. To each his own but anyone today can roll over to the rim source and dump 5 to 10k on rims and yes as the comments say most every old car in the city has rims on it. Have you seen an original square box Caprice or 71 to 76 Chevy, only in my building around here. I liked it better green and I doubt there will be a rush to buy a no optioned wheeled out shiny city cruiser. I could be wrong but there are quite a few around here and very few takers. I love my 59 Impala convertible but it doesn’t need huge low profile tires like my Solstice….Ride on
Some want orriginal and some like the RM style…neither are right nor wrong.
This lil car-is beautiful
The car looks good, but since it sounds like it has original pedigree, I would have gone the restoration route. It’s got the 427, so taking it to original would be a nice homage to what was. The green paint/interior refreshed could be nice, even if it’s not a popular pick from the color chart. Regardless, it’s still on the road and I applaud any effort, to my taste or not, to save the old cars from extinction. My .02 ……
Here Is Your Hobby: How to ruin a car in several easy steps.