1968 Chevrolet Corvette Description
No Reserve Auction! Best bid takes it! Willing to end auction for the right price!
Up for sale is an unrestored 1968 Corvette Convertible with numbers matching 427 engine and manual transmission. I purchased it from the owner of the last 30 years. I intended to do a restoration project on it, but just don't have the time. It appears to be all there and ready for a restoration. The 427 engine is out of the car and has been for some time. The prior owner removed it to restore it and put a 1970 corvette 350 in its place. It is currently in the vehicle and turns freely. It goes with the car. The 427 engine was taken apart and cleaned, with all parts there, but not put back together.
As you can see from the pictures of the engine, the engine is a 427 from a very early 1968 corvette.
This is what I found regarding the serial number:
3916321 427ci, 390 HP, 2 Bolt Main – This block only used until January 1968
3916321 427ci, 400, 430 & 435 HP 4 Bolt Main – This block only used until January 1968
I've also added pictures of the engine tag. As you can see, it is numbers matching.
It also shows the engine to be an IL- 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual or automatic transmission, four-barrel carburetor
I am readily available to answer questions and show the vehicle. It is currently located in my garage in Morgantown, West Virginia.
"Corvette '68... all different all over". That's the quote from the sales brochure for the redesigned 1968 Corvette. The body was completely redesigned with the coupe losing it's fastback window but gaining a removable back window and removable t-tops for that almost convertible feel. The chassis itself did not change much from the 1967 model. The new hidden wipers and hidden headlights are vacuum operated instead of electrical. Door openers now use a push button to open and a push in handle to pull the door, this was only used on the 1968 model. The new auxilliary top for the convertible has a glass rear window. The new standard automatic was the 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic instead of the 2-speed PowerGlide used previously. A new fiber-optic monitoring system was added to the dash and "Astro-Ventilation" was added to improve the airflow in the cabin. The '68 Vette did not have the "Sting Ray" badging on it anywhere, it would return in '69 as "Stingray". 1968 was also the year that Zora Arkus-Duntov was named Chief Engineer of the Corvette.Production Options and Build Statistics
Total 1968 Corvettes Built - 28,566Convertibles - 18,630
Coupes - 9,936
Convertible Serial Numbers: 194687S100001 to 194678S128566
Coupe Serial numbers: 194378S100001 to 194378S128566
The "Vehicle Identification Number" (also VIN or serial number) is stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
PositionCharacterDescription
1 | 1 | Chevrolet Division |
2 & 3 | 94 | Body Series: Corvette |
4 & 5 | 67 | Convertible |
37 | Coupe |
6 | 8 | 1968 |
7 | S | Assembled in St. Louis, MO |
8 to 13 | 100001 to 128566 | Production Sequence |
Engine Serial Number
1968 Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block after the engine number
PositionCharacterDescription
1 to 7 | 0001001 | Sequential Production Number |
8 | F or T | Flint, MI or Tonawanda, NY |
9 to 10 | Carburetion & Transmission | - HE = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor
- HO = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and four barrel carburetor
- HP = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, four-barrel carburetor
- HT = 327-cid 350-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, four-barrel carburetor
- IL = 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual or automatic transmission, four-barrel carburetor
- IM = 427-cid 400-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors
- IO = 427-cid 400-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors
- IQ = 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and four-barrel carburetor
- IR = 427-cid 435-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetor
- IT = 427-cid 430-hp V-8 with 12.5:1 compression ratio, manual transmission and four-barrel carburetor
- IU = 427-cid 435-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors
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The body number plate is located on the engine side of the cowl. The Fisher Body Style Number identifies the model of Corvette.
68-19467 - Corvette Sting Ray convertible
68-19437 - Corvette Sting Ray coupe
The body number is the serial number of the body. The trim number represents the color of the interior, the paint color is the exterior "Magic Mirror" paint color.
Production Options
RPODescriptionPriceProduction
19437 | Base Coupe | $4,663 | 9,936 |
19467 | Base Convertible | $4,320 | 18,630 |
N/A | Genuine Leather Seats | $79 | 2,429 |
A01 | Soft Ray Tinted Glass, All Windows | $15.80 | 17,635 |
A02 | Soft Ray Tinted Glass, Windshield | $10.55 | 5,509 |
A31 | Power Windows | $57.95 | 7,065 |
A82 | Headrests | $42.15 | 3,197 |
A85 | Custom Shoulder Belts | $26.35 | 350 |
C07 | Auxiliary Hardtop (Convert.) | $231.75 | 8,735 |
C08 | Vinyl Covering for Aux. Hardtop | $52.70 | 3,050 |
C50 | Rear Window Defroster | 31.60 | 693 |
C60 | Air Conditioning | $412.90 | 5,664 |
F41 | Special Front/Rear Suspension | $36.90 | 1,758 |
G81 | Positraction Rear Axle (all ratios) | $46.35 | 27,008 |
J50 | Power Brakes | $42.15 | 9,559 |
J56 | Special Heavy Duty Brakes | $384.45 | 81 |
K66 | Transistor Ignition System | $73.75 | 5,457 |
L36 | 427ci, 390hp Engine | $200.15 | 7,717 |
L68 | 427ci, 400hp Engine | $305.50 | 1,932 |
L71 | 427ci, 435hp Engine | $437.10 | 2,898 |
L79 | 327ci, 350hp Engine | $105.35 | 9,440 |
L88 | 427ci, 430hp Engine | $947.90 | 80 |
L89 | L71 Engine with Aluminum Cylinder Heads | $805.75 | 624 |
M20 | 4-speed Manual Transmission | $184.35 | 10,760 |
M21 | 4 Speed Manual, Close Ratio Transmission | $184.35 | 12,337 |
M22 | 4 Speed Manual, Close Ratio, Heavy Duty Transmission (Rock Crusher) | $263.30 | 80 |
M40 | Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission | $226.45 | 5,063 |
N11 | Offroad Exhaust System | $36.90 | 4,695 |
N36 | Telescopic Steering Column | $42.15 | 6,447 |
N40 | Power Steering | $94.80 | 12,364 |
P01 | Bright Metal Wheel Cover | $57.95 | 8,971 |
PT6 | Red Line Tires F70 x 15 | $31.30 | 11,686 |
PT7 | White Line Tires F70 x 15 | $31.30 | 9,692 |
UA6 | Alarm System | $26.35 | 388 |
U15 | Speed Warning Indicator | $10.55 | 3,453 |
U69 | AM/FM Radio | $172.75 | 24,609 |
U79 | AM/FM Radio Stereo | $278.10 | 3,311 |
Color Options for 1968
Interior colors are suggested by Chevrolet, any combination could be ordered.
RPOExteriorInteriorSoft TopProduction
900 | Tuxedo Black | B-DB-DO-GU-MB-R-TO | B-BG-W | 708 |
972 | Polar White | B-DB-DO-GU-MB-R-TO | B-BG-W | 1,868 |
974 | Rally Red | B-R | B-BG-W | 2,918 |
976 | Lemans Blue | B-DB-MB | B-BG-W | 4,722 |
978 | International Blue | B-DB-MB | B-BG-W | 2,473 |
983 | British Green | B | B-BG-W | 4,779 |
984 | Safari Yellow | B | B-BG-W | 3,133 |
986 | Silverstone Silver | B-DB-GU | B-BG-W | 3,435 |
988 | Cordovan Maroon | B | B-BG-W | 1,155 |
992 | Corvette Bronze | B-DO-TO | B-BG-W | 3,374 |
Color Codes: B=Black, BG=Beige, DB=Dark Blue, DO=Dark Orange, GU=Gunmetal, L=Leather, MB=Medium Blue, R=Red, TO=Tobacco, V=Vinyl, W=White
Interior Colors
ColorVinyl RPOLeather RPO
Black | Base | 402 |
Red | 407 | 408 |
Blue | 411 | 412 |
Medium Blue | 414 | 415 |
Orange | 425 | 426 |
Tobacco | 435 | 436 |
Gunmetal | 442 |
1968 Corvette Specifications
Mechanical Dimensions
FeatureConvertibleCoupe
Wheelbase | 98 inches (2.489 m) | 98 inches (2.489 m) |
Overall length | 182.1 inches (4.625 m) | 182.1 inches (4.625 m) |
Overall width | 69.2 inches (1.758 m) | 69.2 inches (1.758 m) |
Overall height | 48.6 inches (1.234 m) |
Front tread | 58.3 inches (1.481 m) | 58.3 inches (1.481 m) |
Rear tread | 59.0 inches (1.499 m) | 59.0 inches (1.499 m) |
Frame | Full-length ladder type with five cross members. Steel box sections, welded. |
Front suspension | Independent, unequal-length A-arms, coil springs; tubular shocks and stabilizer bar |
Rear suspension | Independent, trailing arms, toe links, transverse chromium-carbon steel leaf spring, tube shocks, and anti-roll bar |
Steering | Saginaw recirculating ball, 17.6:1 ratio, 2.9 turns to lock, 39.9 turning circle |
Rear axle type | Sprung differential, Hypoid gear |
Brakes | Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs; 11.8-inch diameter, single calipers |
Total swept area | 259 sq. in. per ton, 461.2 sq. in. total |
Wheels | 6" wide slotted steel 15" 5-lug disc |
Standard rear axle ratio | 3.36:1 |
Optional rear axle ratio | 3.08:1, 3.36:1, 3.55:1, 3.70:1, 4.11:1, 4.56:1 |
Engine Specifications
FeatureBase RPO L75RPO L79RPO L36RPO L71RPO L88
Type | V-8, Overhead valve |
Block | Cast iron block |
Displacement | 327 cid | 427 cid |
Bore & Stroke | 4.00 x 3.25" | 4.251 x 3.76" |
Compression ratio | 10.25:1 | 11.0:1 | 10.25:1 | 11.0:1 | 12.5:1 |
Brake horsepower | 300 @ 5000 | 350 @ 5800 | 390 @ 5400 | 435 @ 5800 | 560 @ 6400 |
Torque | 360 lb-ft @ 3400 | 360 lb-ft @ 3600 | 460 lb-ft @ 3600 | 460 lb-ft @ 4000 |
Main bearing | Five |
Valve lifters | Hydraulic | Mechanical valve lifters |
Camshaft | High-performance camshaft | Special-performance camshaft | Special ultra-high-performance camshaft with .5365-inch intakes |
Fuel supply | Rochester Type 4MV four-barrel Model 7028207 | Holley four-barrel | Three Holley two-barrels | Single Holley 850CFM four-barrel
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