1968 Chevrolet Corvette L36 427/390HP Convertible

Description

It's little wonder that Chevy kept its third generation of 'Vettes around for a full 15 model years. Just take a look at this stunning 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L36 427/390HP Convertible. It's hard to believe it left the factory some 50 years ago already looking this awesome - it bears as close a resemblance to its concept car inspiration as any production vehicle likely ever has - and it proudly wears a killer shade of Tuxedo Black both inside and out. With a rumbling 427/390 V8 big block under the hood, a quick shifting 4-speed manual at the helm, and a top that goes down so the driver can bask in the awe of all onlookers, this black-on-black 1st generation C3 is the one you want if you love to make a grand entrance.

Those flowing lines and sweeping front fenders harken back to Chevy's Mako Shark II concept car, which wowed audiences at car show expos only a few years before. Its open-air convertible configuration looks great on the model and the Tuxedo Black shade this '68 wears today is absolutely dialed-in. Finished in the mid 2000s, it retains a deep, lustrous shine with only minor signs of use to be found (typical light swirl marks from car washes, not much more) and it's obviously the result of the hefty $8k paint job it received during the restoration. If you're going to paint a car black, you better be darn sure the body is straight, and the fiberglass on this C3 is laser straight with no signs of stress or worry anywhere. The car's stock appearance remains thoroughly intact - after all, why mess with such a winning look? With that killer big block hood, front fender 'gills', and chrome side pipes, you're really never going to sneak up on anyone, but my goodness do they accentuate the design. The assembly of chrome on board - including the front and back bumpers, the windshield trim, the taillight casings and all the requisite badging throughout and 'Chevrolet' script on the rear tail panel - has a very fresh appearance. Hideaway headlights have been a defining feature for this model for a big portion of its existence and the ones here sit nice and flush in their lowered position and raise into place with no issues. When the skies darken, a black cloth convertible top stands by for protection, and it folds away neatly under the rear cover.

There's a great looking interior waiting beyond those doors. The bucket seats wear correct covers that blend perfectly with the all-black surroundings and sit over an expanse of plush black carpeting that looks very fresh. The door panels have the look of being very recently replaced and have yet to develop any sign of wear - there's not even a hint of discoloration on their armrests. Just beyond the sporty, thick-rimmed 3-spoke steering wheel, the dash area - always a focal point for Corvette's designers over the years - has that distinctive aeronautically inspired look the model became known for. The dual displays in the instrument cluster, as well as the additional aftermarket VDO gauges at the center of the dash that replace the originals, are all nice and clear and function as intended. A straight, supple-looking dash pad runs across the top - always a welcome find in a classic convertible like this - and the factory middle console houses a chrome shifter that manages the quick-shifting 4-speed underneath.

The engine compartment on this classic is looking sharp and is filled by 427 cubic inch V8 - the largest displacement engine offered at the time. It wears a proper aluminum intake manifold, chrome air cleaner and chrome valve covers and featured a full 390 horsepower when it first left the factory. It's not the original the car was born with, but it is period-correct, decoding to a 1967 L36 that obviously fit in like a glove. It fires up with ease and is running incredibly strong, with signs of maintenance throughout (we do have several receipts from 2003 on), including a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, newer alternator, and a big aluminum radiator with dual electric fans up front that keep the big engine cool in any situation. Paired with a quick-shifting 4-speed manual transmission, it's the best drivetrain combination one could as for, with a massive torque curve felt in each gear and power up and down the throttle. And thanks to the side-pipe exhaust, the soundtrack is one-of-a-kind. You'll find power-actuated disc brakes at all four corners to provide prompt, fade-resistant stops and, in an era when leaf springs were still the norm, this 'Vette sports an independent rear suspension that was light years ahead of the competition, along with a responsive power steering system that's easily managed on modern roads. Bright 15" stock Corvette Rallye wheels wrapped with beefy 235/60/15 Indy 500 redline tires complete the look of this head-turning classic.

This 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible offers an unbeatable combination of originality and open-air driving exhilaration. Call today!