12/24/2013
Miles: 36,825 miles Few Corvettes get people's attention like a big block C3 roadster, and when they've got a big block under the hood, well, life doesn't get much better. This impressive Vette is an amazing driver that will put the hurt on a lot of newer performance cars, most of whom won't even bother trying after they get a look at the badges on the big block hood and the sound of the rumbling side pipes. The 1968 Corvette Stingray was made for Rally Red, and this one is vibrant and bright, without being over-restored. It shows a lovely patina that fits the car perfectly, with a great gloss on the paint that isn't a harsh 21st century look like many freshly painted 'Vettes. Gaps are about what you got from the factory in '68, the doors open and close properly, and that impressively aggressive hood shuts tight. Sure, it's got a 427 badge on it, but there's no reason to believe that's not how this one came, and with a few extra cubes under the hood, it's still plenty potent. The chrome bumpers were how this car was designed, so the clean bright pieces on this car are a welcome sight and fit the kamm-back rear end quite nicely. Glass, lenses, and emblems are all correct, and I personally like the custom hood treatment with the stripe that's under the clear for a seamless look and feel. This car carries the optional code 402 black leather interior, which was a very nice upgrade over the standard vinyl. With comfortable, deep buckets that look like your favorite leather jacket, they're the ideal complement to the slick bodywork. The seat covers, carpets, door panels, and other soft parts are all recently installed and in excellent order. Other cool details include the wood grain steering wheel, fiber-optic lamp monitors, and options like the built-in speed minder in the speedometer (heh, in a Corvette!). All the gauges look nicely preserved, while an AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit was fitted into the original center stack where it looks almost OEM. Overhead, there's a manual black convertible top that stows neatly under the hard deck, as well as a rather rare color-matched factory hardtop. That rumbling 454 under the hood wears a correct coat of Chevy Orange paint, bright aluminum valve covers, and an open-element air cleaner that all suggest that looking stock was not a priority for this horsepower factory. The engine was built for combat with an MSD ignition and a giant aluminum radiator with twin electric fans. The chassis is so clean that this had to be a body-off restoration and build, and everything still looks extremely fresh today. The ceramic-coated headers dump into chrome side pipes that sound spectacular, and the suspension is full of new components. With a 4-speed manual gearbox, this Corvette is a pleasure to drive and it feeds the stock rear end which is now full of 3.73 gears on a Posi. It's a bit unusual to see staggered tires on an early 'Vette, but there's a reason, bit the 225/70/15 front and 255/60/15 rear tires look right on fresh Rallys. You simply won't get 454 cubic inches in a Corvette roadster just anywhere, so you need to take advantage of opportunities when they arise. With a take-no- prisoners attitude, this Corvette is equally at home on the drag strip or out on the town. |