1968 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

This handsome 1968 Corvette is what smart Corvette buyers who liked going around corners received when they stepped up and bought an all-new Stingray. With a matching-numbers L79 327, a 4-speed gearbox, and a fantastic British Green paint job, it's an ideal way to own a vintage Corvette without spending a fortune.

You'd think that British Green would look all wrong on such an American icon as the Corvette, but the truth it that it looks like a million bucks. Code 983 British Green is the car's original color, and if I'm looking at the figures correctly, it was actually 1968's most popular hue. Thanks to a comprehensive restoration in 2012, it looks like a million bucks, perfectly capturing the color and offering an incredibly slick look under the right lights. Whatever the color, the important thing is that the fiberglass underneath is quite well preserved and shows none of the usual cracking or split seams that you find on neglected cars. It's also the kind of car that you won't mind packing up for a week on the road, perhaps heading to one of the great Corvette events that are held all over the country and where driving your car is 90% of the fun. And when you arrive, an early C3 will find a very enthusiastic crowd waiting to have a closer look.

Chevrolet called this interior "standard" but it's anything but. One look at the interior will convince you that they didn't cut any corners when they restored this car. Fresh upgraded leather seat covers replicate the originals and with new foam underneath, they're firm, comfortable, and elegant. There's also a fresh set of carpets on the floors and a pair of new door panels to complete the look. A skinny woodgrained steering wheel continues to link the Corvette to its European inspirations and gives it an upscale look inside, and the gauges look as if they might be original (the 71,945 miles shown are authentic, by the way). 1968 Corvettes debuted the fiber-optic lamp monitoring system in the center console, which is always a cool feature for first-time Corvette owners, and there's a correct AM/FM radio in the dash. And, of course, it's hard to resist a Corvette with a shift-it-yourself gearbox, especially when it's topped by a big chrome shifter knob. A snug-fitting white convertible top stows easily in just a few seconds, so there's really no excuse not to enjoy your new 'Vette alfresco, but there's also a removable hardtop, just in case.

The engine is the original, numbers-matching 350 horsepower L79 327, pampered all its life, so it runs like a small block Chevy fresh off the line. And while the 327 lived in the shadow of the mighty 427, it's important to note that this car will idle all day in traffic and not foul its plugs, it's considerably easier on gas, and quite honestly, the way this one revs makes it a favorite for those who like to drive. The block wears correct Chevy Orange paint, a stock intake, 4-barrel carb, and a set of ram's horn exhaust manifolds feeding a brand new exhaust system. The Muncie M21 close-ratio 4-speed snaps off rapid-fire shifts like a bolt-action rifle, and the suspension rides better than you'd expect from a car with this one's capabilities. 3.70 gears on a Posi keeps the high-revving L79 in the fat part of its power band, and it's got both power steering and power brakes. Classic Rally wheels are a period-correct look on a Corvette, and these wear 225/70/15 BFGoodrich radials all around.

Documented with things like a factory build sheet, reproduction window sticker, owner's manual, and restoration receipts, this is a pedigreed actual mileage Corvette convertible that's also a blast to drive. Call today!