for sale 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 427/400 Convertible SURVIVOR

Matt Harwood · July 3, 2019

This is the third of four very original, low-mileage Corvettes I acquired from a collection (the others being the silver '68 L89 and the red '70 LS5), and it's no less impressive. It's had just two owners from new, shows 50,112 original miles, and carries its original, numbers-matching L68 427/400 engine with three carbs and matching-numbers Muncie 4-speed. It's a survivor in just about every sense of the word, although I think there has been some touch-up paint on the driver's door, or maybe just the jambs because the trim tag has been painted. Everything else looks original and I can find no evidence of overspray or masking or anything that would suggest significant paint work. It has also been modified with an aftermarket stereo and a set of beautiful headers and a new stainless exhaust system, but the original manifolds and radio are included if you want to take it back to 100% stock. The code 972 Polar White paint is in fantastic shape given its age and I wouldn't even think of restoring anything on the car. I like the low-key look, and most folks do a double-take when they see the '427' badges on the hood. Fit and finish are exemplary (for Corvettes, anyway) and there's a feel in an unrestored car, especially a Corvette, that you just can't put back in. It's tight, smooth, and doesn't rattle. Chrome is excellent, the grilles up front are not cracked or broken, and all the lenses are bright and clear. Sure, it's got some signs of age and use, but it would be a shame to upgrade anything cosmetically on this car.

The original interior is likewise very nicely preserved, with beautiful original sat covers, factory carpets, and a woodgrained steering wheel to warm things up a bit. All the gauges are fully operational except the clock, which wants to work and probably only needs to be cleaned and lubricated. The aforementioned Alpine stereo was professionally installed with a removable speaker box in the rear cargo bay, and the original radio and center stack bezel are included if you want to go back to the original radio. The fiber-optics work, the headlights flip up with authority, and even the wiper door eases its way open when you hit the switch. Not many options, but it does carry both its original black vinyl convertible top (yep, that thing's 50 years old) as well as the optional color-matched hardtop, which I believe has been repainted.

The engine is unquestionably the original, numbers-matching L68 427 cubic inch V8 with a correct IM suffix code and partial VIN, and carries three freshly-rebuilt Holley 2-barrel carbs to make a user-friendly 400 horsepower. It's a hydraulic cam, which is the primary difference from the legendary 427/435, and I find there's very little performance difference between this car and the mighty L89 parked next to it--they're both ferociously fast and an absolute blast to drive. It's content to trundle around town and doesn't get hot or fussy, but the harder you drive the better it seems to like it. Hammer the shifts, pin the throttle, hang on with both hands, and this car will dance with you in a way that'll make you laugh out loud. I totally understand why these cars are cherished and why the guys who owned them in the '60s were The Man. That's also the original 4-speed manual gearbox (Muncie M20) spinning the factory rear end with what my butt thinks are 3.36 gears. The aforementioned custom exhaust system is stainless and sounds spectacular but never invasive, so you can drive this car gently and it won't beat you up. Sharp eyes will also spot the fiberglass rear leaf spring, which does ride notably better than the original and brings the bonus of less weight. It tracks well, although the original-spec Firestone F70-15 Wide Oval whitewalls are a little twitchy on broken pavement, and I kind of dig the hubcaps instead of the usual Rally wheels.

Documentation includes 50 years of receipts, title work, and other details collected over the years.

I'm not necessarily a Corvette guy, but whenever I get in one of these cars I think it would be easy to become one. Few cars are as much pure, unadulterated fun as these big block C3s, which do bring sufficient handling and braking to make them impressive performers. The coupes are great, but hammering the gears in a convertible with the big 427's exhaust note howling behind you is an experience to savor. This car delivers in big ways without being too flashy about it. Asking price is $69,900, which buys you a car with a pedigree and a spot on any Corvette show field in the world. Thanks for looking!