Vehicle Description
It's little wonder that Chevy kept its third generation of 'Vettes
around for a full 15 model years. Just take a look at this stunning
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L36 427/390HP Convertible. It's hard to
believe it left the factory some 50 years ago already looking this
awesome - it bears as close a resemblance to its concept car
inspiration as any production vehicle likely ever has - and it
proudly wears a killer shade of Tuxedo Black both inside and out.
With a rumbling 427/390 V8 big block under the hood, a quick
shifting 4-speed manual at the helm, and a top that goes down so
the driver can bask in the awe of all onlookers, this
black-on-black 1st generation C3 is the one you want if you love to
make a grand entrance.
Those flowing lines and sweeping front fenders harken back to
Chevy's Mako Shark II concept car, which wowed audiences at car
show expos only a few years before. Its open-air convertible
configuration looks great on the model and the Tuxedo Black shade
this '68 wears today is absolutely dialed-in. Finished in the mid
2000s, it retains a deep, lustrous shine with only minor signs of
use to be found (typical light swirl marks from car washes, not
much more) and it's obviously the result of the hefty $8k paint job
it received during the restoration. If you're going to paint a car
black, you better be darn sure the body is straight, and the
fiberglass on this C3 is laser straight with no signs of stress or
worry anywhere. The car's stock appearance remains thoroughly
intact - after all, why mess with such a winning look? With that
killer big block hood, front fender 'gills', and chrome side pipes,
you're really never going to sneak up on anyone, but my goodness do
they accentuate the design. The assembly of chrome on board -
including the front and back bumpers, the windshield trim, the
taillight casings and all the requisite badging throughout and
'Chevrolet' script on the rear tail panel - has a very fresh
appearance. Hideaway headlights have been a defining feature for
this model for a big portion of its existence and the ones here sit
nice and flush in their lowered position and raise into place with
no issues. When the skies darken, a black cloth convertible top
stands by for protection, and it folds away neatly under the rear
cover.
There's a great looking interior waiting beyond those doors. The
bucket seats wear correct covers that blend perfectly with the
all-black surroundings and sit over an expanse of plush black
carpeting that looks very fresh. The door panels have the look of
being very recently replaced and have yet to develop any sign of
wear - there's not even a hint of discoloration on their armrests.
Just beyond the sporty, thick-rimmed 3-spoke steering wheel, the
dash area - always a focal point for Corvette's designers over the
years - has that distinctive aeronautically inspired look the model
became known for. The dual displays in the instrument cluster, as
well as the additional aftermarket VDO gauges at the center of the
dash that replace the originals, are all nice and clear and
function as intended. A straight, supple-looking dash pad runs
across the top - always a welcome find in a classic convertible
like this - and the factory middle console houses a chrome shifter
that manages the quick-shifting 4-speed underneath.
The engine compartment on this classic is looking sharp and is
filled by 427 cubic inch V8 - the largest displacement engine
offered at the time. It wears a proper aluminum intake manifold,
chrome air cleaner and chrome valve covers and featured a full 390
horsepower when it first left the factory. It's not the original
the car was born with, but it is period-correct, decoding to a 1967
L36 that obviously fit in like a glove. It fires up with ease and
is running incredibly strong, with signs of maintenance throughout
(we do have several receipts from 2003 on), including a Holley
4-barrel carburetor, newer alternator, and a big aluminum radiator
with dual electric fans up front that keep the big engine cool in
any situation. Paired with a quick-shifting 4-speed manual
transmission, it's the best drivetrain combination one could as
for, with a massive torque curve felt in each gear and power up and
down the throttle. And thanks to the side-pipe exhaust, the
soundtrack is one-of-a-kind. You'll find power-actuated disc brakes
at all four corners to provide prompt, fade-resistant stops and, in
an era when leaf springs were still the norm, this 'Vette sports an
independent rear suspension that was light years ahead of the
competition, along with a responsive power steering system that's
easily managed on modern roads. Bright 15" stock Corvette Rallye
wheels wrapped with beefy 235/60/15 Indy 500 redline tires complete
the look of this head-turning classic.
This 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible offers an unbeatable
combination of originality and open-air driving exhilaration. Call
today!
