What are the pros & cons of the 68s?

[Greg L.]

While searching for a 68-69 tri-power project car I've been learning a little bit about the 68s that make me wonder if I should restrict my search to only the 69s. Even though the 68 and 69s look very similar I'm starting to get an uneasy feeling about owning a 68.

Those of you that have or have had a 68, what would you say are the pros and cons of owning one as compared to a say a 69 which has parts that are more easily available? I've heard of some not so obvious things that are different on the 68 like headlight doors, door glass, frame, chassis components, etc, etc, etc not to mention the obvious interior pieces as well as the body being more prone to cracking and I start to wonder if this is all just a bad reputation from the very first 68 or where they all like that?

I'd just like to hear everyones thoughts on the 68 so that I don't buy one and then regret it later.

Greg Linton
#45455

[Paul B.]

...nobody wants 'em... *NM*

[Jacob A.]

Re: ...nobody wants 'em...

Greg,

Michael Antonick's Corvette Illustrated Buyer's Guide is a great tool for such a comparison. I will try and sum up your answer for you based on that book and also with first hand knowledge, since I currently have a 69 big block roadster and one of my best friends has a 68 small block roadst er.

The 68 did have a lot of problems as it was not really tested as well as it should have been pre-release. From what I understand, and someone correct me if I am wrong... Zora was let go right before the 68's were released and brought back to save the Corvette from Quality Control Issues for the 69 models.

Things that are very noticeable and obviouly more convenient on a 69 would be the entry into the car. The 68 has 2 things you have to do... push a button and depress a latch to pull. The 69 has no push button, the opening mechanism is incorporated into the one exterior door handle on each door. The 68's have tight cabins inside. No real comfortable place for your left arm.... The door panels upper shape and steering wheel's size have everything to do with the interior's lack of spaciousness in a 68. On top of that the 69 has an interior door pull, where as the 68's is kind of hidden under the upper bolster of the door which is kind of uncomfortable to deal with. The 68 has no map pockets and the key is still in the dash. I am pretty sure the radiator's were repositioned just a smidgeon or something to help with cooling issues that the 68's had. THe 68's had 7 inch Rally's and the 69 has 8's. The 68's weren't Stingray's, just corvettes, and they weren't offered with side-pipes making the 69's the only C-3's available with sidepipes. The side louver covers were also only offered in 69. The 68's were notorious for squeaks and rattles, they were supposedly addressed on the 69's.

I tried to warn my buddy about the differences between the two year models, and he still bought the 68. Of course he told me a couple of months after he got it, and then I had gotten my 69 that he now agrees the 69 is the more comfortable and user friendly car.

On top of everything... 69's seem to have a better re-sale value than 68's.

Hope this helps!

Jacob
# 40987

[Warren F.]

Re: What are the pros & cons of the 68s?

Greg,

The 1968 model just had a bunch of teething problems to iron out, as the initial year of the "new Corvette". The '69 model is just a more refined version of the original.

Oddly enough, just like the differences between the 5 years of the Sting Ray models, there are distinct differences between the first 5 years of the "early sharks" 1968 thru 1972, they may appear similar, but there are a myriad of minor changes.

[Edward M.]

Re: What are the pros & cons of the 68s?

Restoring a 68 can also be a pain. There are so many "one year only" parts on these cars that are not being reproduced. And I have yet to see anyone successfully duplicate the appearance of the gas door rivets after the gas door is removed for painting.

I have been playing with this issue for about 10 years (on and off) and I own 32 1968 gas door lids. I tell people that each of these are the beginning of a project car.

[Don Izzo]

Re: What are the pros & cons of the 68s?

I own a 68 roadster, two tops. Bought the car for under 10 grand. A real nice driver, and a convetible to boot! I recall the seat backs where stamped "PILOT" on the back. I would guess that this could mean that I have one of the Pilot cars. Makes it all that more interesting to me Anyway.And while there are some problems with parts like the instrument housing or the center shift console (one year only), Once these things are addressed IMO the 68 is as nice to drive and own (after all it is the first C3!) as say my buddies 74 t-top car that rattles like a box of toy jacks!

Don

[Howard K.]

Re: What are the pros & cons of the 68s?

I have had several 68s and loved each and every one of them. I currently have a 68 L89. There are several corvettes that are unique to their year which gives them whatever value they have. I personally would rather have a 68 over a 69 because of the differences, such as the ignition switch still on the dash and backup lamps under the bumpers, hardtop unique to the year, etc, etc. To each their own, but be sure and buy a car based on your desires and not others. By the way i also made profit on each and every 68. There are many many people that love that year and that car. I think some people are still living in the 70s-80s

[Gene M.]

Re: What are the pros & cons of the 68s?

A 68 327 small block 350 HP convertible w/ hard top International blue with dark blue interior sits in my garage. This car is the cleanest lines and void of all the badges that ruin a car. It's the only c3 with a 327 (best motor ever). This car gets as much if not more attention as my mid years. It is the cleanest of the c3 as far as pollution stuff and extra hoses and #@*% that doesn't look good. True the vacuum system is prone to leaks but all the c3 had these problems. I think it is the lightest of the c3's. Mine is 3050 lbs. The 350 hp has more chrome under the hood than any vette.

The best part is you can fit rubber under it that will not fit under a mid year.

[Lawrence Berte]

Re: What are the pros & cons of the 68s?

I own a 68 L68 convertible, and 70 300HP coupe. Both have been fully disassembled for restoration. The 70 is nearing completion, after 14 years down. The differences between 68 & 69 are relative to mine. The 68 rear kick-ups have no gusset brace attaching them to the rear crossmember, there is no gusset plate within the rear frame pocket where the trailing arm attaches. The front spindles and bearings are smaller in size, the front differential suppport bracket has no gussets, the radiator support does not attach to the front crossmember- (it attaches to the front frame horn extentions), the upper cowl assembly at the right hood latch attachment point is different, the steel windshield to cowl structure has no gussets, it has no tubular nor solid rod bracing in windshield to lower side cowl (nor to steering column), fiberglass on firewall to floor (seems) thinner (every 68 I have seen has stuctural damage in this area) by no means do I say they ALL have this issue, the front fenders have no upper corner to header gussets. Thats a few differences that can cause the 68's to shake, shimmy, and rattle. I should mention mine is a very early 4-speed, no-A/C model.

[Steve Wallach]

Re: What are the pros & cons of the 68s?

Love my 68, and I have no interest in a 69. 69's will always be a "second year car". 68's are more difficult to find some parts for, since several changes were made for the 69 model year. This can also make looking for specific parts more of a challenge, but also more rewarding....

I also have a 67 and an 01 Z06. If you're going to drive it often, a 69 might be of more interest, I don't drive my 68 or 67 so comfort isn't an issue...

Cheers,

Steve

[Chuck R.]

Re: ...Gee wiz Paul

Maybe us 68 owners are just gluttons for punishment, do ya think?

I'm sure that the 53s and the 63s when they first came out were rock solid right out of the gates and didn't have nary a squeek, rattle or leak "issue" either I suppose. Yeah right.

Give me a break! Every model change had it's boat load of issues that needed to be worked through so that the following years were "better" products.

I look at my 68 as the "first shark" not a problem child

Unique Firsts (to the best of my feeble C-3 memory)
Vacuum actuated headlights and wiper door
Astro ventilation
15" wheels
fiber optics
removable targa tops
removable rear window
push button/detent flapper plate door handles
thumb wheel vetilation controls
center console guages
backup lights below the bumpers
door adjar warning lights
Seat belt warning lights
rear window defroster
car alarm system
AM/FM STERIO radio
side marker lamps
And that wonderful big block hood

Yeah 68s had their problems, but the bar they raised for future C's makes all the boo boo's and "one off" issues go away as far as I'm concerned.

I think I'll keep it Paul,

Respectfully,

Chuck Rice

[Ridge K.]

[Patrick H.]

Re: ...Gee wiz Paul

I think Paul's comment was supposed to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

He owns a very nice Bowtie 68 coupe.

Patrick

[Chuck R.]

Re: Bowtie huh Pat?

A bowtie would look very nice right now to cover up that noose around my neck

Sorry Paul, I get all passionate and stuff when I hear 68 jive.

Humble Chuck

[Chris Patrick]

Re: ...nobody wants 'em...

This is so full of minor petty items, I wouldn't respond except someone will believe it because it was on the NCRS TDB.

The 68 did have a lot of problems as it was not really tested as well as it should have been pre-release. From what I understand, and someone correct me if I am wrong... Zora was let go right before the 68's were released and brought back to save the Corvette from Quality Control Issues for the 69 models.

Yes, there were problems. Wasn't this the John Delorean years? Reorg Corvette into the Chevrolet process and treat it like just a car? So Zora didn't have the full say, and I believe he was out on sick leave, returning to find that the person he assigned to several problems had been shuffled off by Chevy brass to do other things.

Most of those issues were solved in the first month or two. They sold over 28,000 cars, 2500 in Oct, 2200 in Nov, and 2300 in Dec. This is more than for the same months for MY1967. It is less than MY 1969 by a small amount, however, it could be due to Sep. being only 900 cars.

Do you think that a terrible car would have been built in these numbers if it were not selling?

Things that are very noticeable and obviouly more convenient on a 69 would be the entry into the car. The 68 has 2 things you have to do... push a button and depress a latch to pull. The 69 has no push button, the opening mechanism is incorporated into the one exterior door handle on each door.

Wow, is that hard! You have to wrap your fingers around a handle and push a button on the '67 and back. I guess those '67s are worthless!

The 68's have tight cabins inside. No real comfortable place for your left arm.... The door panels upper shape and steering wheel's size have everything to do with the interior's lack of spaciousness in a 68. On top of that the 69 has an interior door pull, where as the 68's is kind of hidden under the upper bolster of the door which is kind of uncomfortable to deal with. The 68 has no map pockets and the key is still in the dash.


You really don't know much about '68s, do you? Or are you fat? I find the '68 a much better fit in performance driving. Remember, they were built to drive and drive fast, not sit in some judging field. Lots of '68s have a door pull, the big long strap, not just the under bolster grip. And unlike the cheap '69, they don't pull out 3 years later and tear up the door panel.

I am pretty sure the radiator's were repositioned just a smidgeon or something to help with cooling issues that the 68's had. THe 68's had 7 inch Rally's and the 69 has 8's. The 68's weren't Stingray's, just corvettes, and they weren't offered with side-pipes making the 69's the only C-3's available with sidepipes. The side louver covers were also only offered in 69. The 68's were notorious for squeaks and rattles, they were supposedly addressed on the 69's.

Many of the changes you find are due to a few things that are not necessarily better. Some are to improve manufacturing efficiency. Ask Jim Ingle his opinion on that some day. Others were changed to decrease costs. Ever notice how late C3s have the metal header bar glued to the reinforcing strip instead of riveted? Saved a lot of money, but you don't find those riveted separating and peeling apart like the glued ones do.

The '67 only had 6 inch Rally wheels, so I guess it is really crap.

Actually, in Chevrolet literature, including the sales book, it is a Corvette Sting Ray. So is the '69. So it didn't have an extra piece of chromed pot metal dangling off the side. I think it looks much cleaner and it is a lot easier to wax when I do.

Chrome louver covers? I wouldn't have ordered them if I could. I bet you ordered the bumper strip for your '97 C5, right?

Squeaks and rattles? All Corvettes have them to an extent. The majority of these '68 ones were eliminated very early on, again, your lack of knowledge of these cars and any manufacturing process is extremely lacking.

You also act like the only way you can own one is in the stock, original configuration. How many do you think put on the 8 inch Rally wheels as soon as they were available?

'69 can't be that great, either. They had to add flares to the '70 and change the side louvers. The interior became better. '69 is so plain and cheap, with the cheap panel in the center of the door panel.

Petty list can work the other way.
- No horsepower sticker on '68 console. You really need one?
- Only C3 with four red taillights.
- No Federally mandated column-locking ignition key. Live Free or Die.
- The door flap doesn't fall down and require replacement like '69-'82 from cheap springs.
- 10,000 less than a '69. More exclusive club.
- last with a 327, the second best small block ever built. The 302 has that honor.
- lighter weight than '69.
- don't have to have the key to move it around the garage or turn the steering to work on it.
- Key is in the dash like all real Corvettes. Or do you call all midyears garbage, too?
- The first of the series. The only ones that count are first and last. '69 is what, oh, second year.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST!

On top of everything... 69's seem to have a better re-sale value than 68's.

That is because of the uneducated or the "know it alls" who have read a 40 year old Car & Driver magazine and think that is still true 40 years later. Or who think it was true for the entire year.

IF you bother to check, Car & Driver a couple of months later did test the '68, and gave it a GLOWING report as the best Corvette ever. That was only a few months after '67 models were new, so consider how good the '68 had to be.

But no one focuces on that, only the bad issue.