| This handsome 1968 Corvette convertible is pretty close to what a most Corvette buyers received when they stepped up and bought an all-new Stingray. With a snarling matching-numbers 327, a 4-speed manual gearbox, factory A/C, and a lot of updates, it's an ideal way to own a vintage Corvette without spending a fortune. Code 974 Rally Red is this car's original color, and while you've seen a lot of red Corvettes before, who can argue when the car looks this good? 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. The restoration was completed a few years ago, but it still has a great look that will have people turning to watch as you motor past. Even up close, there are very few flaws, and those that you do find are going to take a lot of looking, so you know this is a nice car. But 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 per cent of the fun. And when you arrive, an early C3 will find a very enthusiastic crowd waiting to have a closer look. The chrome is quite nice, the emblems and badges are correct, and there were no liberties taken with the stock look. This is Corvette restoration done right. The trim tag says this car came with the standard interior, but you can already see that it's anything but. Both buckets have been replaced with leather chairs from a late-model, and along with new door panels and fresh carpets, it feels like a much younger car. A three-spoke steering wheel continues to link the Corvette to its European inspirations and gives it an upscale look inside. There's also a tilt/telescope column that makes it very easy to get comfortable. Note that all the gauges, including the clock, are fully functional, and based on how crisp and clear the markings are, I suspect they were recently rebuilt. There's also professionally-installed AM/FM/CD stereo system with amplifier that hides out of sight but sounds amazing. It's also got a nicely fitted black convertible top, so you'll want to take advantage of every sunny day to open this one up. The engine is the original, numbers-matching 300 horsepower 327 with a fresh tune-up, so it runs like a small block Chevy should. 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 with the A/C blasting and not foul its plugs, it's considerably easier on gas, and quite honestly, 300 horsepower still makes this a very potent machine. The block wears correct Chevy Orange paint, and has been dressed up with finned valve covers and an Edelbrock air cleaner, and the overall look is pretty impressive. The 4-speed manual gearbox snaps off rapid-fire shifts and the suspension rides better than you'd expect from a car with this one's capabilities. Long-tube headers feed a fresh Flowmaster dual exhaust system, so it sounds properly nasty and original Rally wheels wear 235/60/15 BFGoodrich radials. Color codes from the trim plate. Built date is K05. 89,028 miles from the odometer. BiN $33,995. August 23, 2015. |
