Story
1968 Chevrolet Corvette
The 1968 Corvette introduced the third-generation body while retaining the two-seat layout, 98-inch wheelbase, independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes beneath it. Chevrolet built 28,566 cars: 9,936 coupes and 18,630 convertibles. The coupe brought two removable roof panels and a removable rear window, while concealed headlamps, a vacuum-operated wiper door, four fender gills per side, fiber-optic light monitors, and the separate door-release button identify the first C3 model year.
Six engine configurations belong on this one model-year page. The standard 327-cubic-inch V8 produced 300 gross horsepower and the L79 327 produced 350. Big-block buyers could select the L36 427 at 390 horsepower, the triple-carburetor L68 at 400, or the solid-lifter L71 at 435. Eighty competition-oriented L88 cars were recorded with a deliberately conservative 430-horsepower rating. L89 supplied aluminum cylinder heads for 624 L71 orders and is a subset of that path, not another 624 cars to add to production.
A three-speed manual remained standard, joined by M20 wide-ratio, M21 close-ratio, M22 heavy-duty close-ratio, and M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic choices. Chevrolet recorded 23,177 regular four-speed orders, 5,063 automatics, and 80 M22 orders; the residual standard three-speed count is 326. The M40 three-speed automatic replaced the earlier Powerglide. Optional F41 suspension, J50 power assist, J56 heavy-duty brakes, and G81 Positraction expanded the chassis configurations.
The published regular-color table lists ten colors totaling 28,565 cars, one fewer than total production. The same public page separately says ten cars received nonstandard colors or primer, so those statements cannot be reconciled into a reliable color total without a more detailed factory ledger. Vinyl or leather trim, head restraints, shoulder belts, power windows, air conditioning, telescopic steering, power steering, auxiliary hardtops, and transmission-specific consoles add further configuration differences.
Authentication begins with the 194378 coupe or 194678 convertible serial pattern and ownership history, then reconciles the trim tag, tank sticker or shipping data, body source, frame, engine pad and suffix, castings and dates, induction, transmission, differential, brakes, suspension, paint layers, glass, trim, cabin, and restoration history. Tri-Power induction, aluminum heads, L88-style equipment, hoods, wheels, colors, and leather can all be recreated. Correct-looking parts support inspection but do not independently establish an original configuration.