1968 Corvette

Description

1968 was the first year of the third generation of the Corvette, which lasted until 1982.

The Corvette had a completely new body for 1968, based on the Mako Shark II concept car. It was 6.9 inches longer, 0.4 inches narrower, and 1 inch lower than the C2 Vette. The body is often said to have a Coke bottle shape. The coupe version featured removable T-Top roof panels and a removable rear window which was now a small vertical pane with flying buttresses on each side.

The interior was also completely new for 1968. The dash was redesigned to feature a large tach and speedometer, auxiliary gauges moved to the center of the dash, and a fiber-optic lamp monitoring system was added to the center console. It was the only year for the key ignition on the dash for the C3's.

1968 was also the only year for the push-button door locks, and was the only time there was no "Stingray" script above the fender louvers until 1977. The rocker panel trim was black instead of chrome.

The front grills had a blacked-out horizontal bar pattern with round signal lights set into their outer corners. The windshield wipers were concealed by a power-operated door at the base of the windshield.

The base 327 engine carried over from last year, with 300 horsepower and 360 foot-pounds of torque. 1968 would be the only year for the 327 small block Chevy in a C3. The other engines also remained the same, including the tri-power (three-2 BBL carbs) 427 rated at 435 hp, and the L88 engine underrated at 430 hp.

1968 Corvette Key Differences

Push-button door locks and no "Stingray" script above fender louvers with four vertical slots identify a 1968 Corvette. Also the ignition key on the dash is specific to 1968

Similar Years

1968 and 1969 Vettes are quite similar, sharing the same grill, round front signal lights, and side louvers.

How to Identify a 1968 Corvette

1968 Corvette Door Lock

• 1968 was the only year that used a push-button door lock below the door handle (1968)

1968 Corvette Fender Louvers

• The functional front fender vents consisted of four vertical louvers (1968-69)
• The chrome inserts shown here were not standard

1968 Corvette Grill

• The grill was of a horizontal bar pattern (1968-69)
• Front signal lights were round (1968-69)
• A one-piece chrome front bumper was used (1968-72)

1968 Corvette Removable Roof

• On coupes, two removable roof panels (T-Tops) were standard for the first time (1968-82)
• 1971 Vette shown

1968 Corvette Rear Window

• On coupes, the rear window was small, flat, and vertical (1968-77)
• The rear window was removable for open-air motoring (1968-72)

1968 Corvette Dash

• The dash featured a large speedometer and tachometer directly in front of the driver (1968-82)

1968 Corvette Dash Center

• The other gauges were clustered in the center section of the dash (1968-82)
• The ignition key was located on the dash for the last year (1968)

1968 Corvette Windshield Wiper Flap

• A vacuum-powered flap at the rear of the hood concealed the windshield wipers when not in use (1968-72)

1968 Corvette Fuel Filler Cap

• The design of the fuel filler door was new (1968-73)

1968 Corvette Front Flags Emblem

• The front flags flags emblem was similar to the one used on the previous year's Corvette (1968-72)

1968 Corvette Tail lights

• The tail lights on the new Corvette continued in the same style with four round red lights (1968-82

1968 Corvette Rear Spoiler

• A rear spoiler was integrated into the tail end of the C3 Corvette (1968-73)
• Two piece chrome rear bumpers were similar to those used on the previous generation Corvette (1968-73)

1968 Corvette Hood

• The standard Vette hood was smooth with a slightly raised central bulge running down its length (1968-72)
• The black stripe shown was not standard

1968 Corvette 427 Hood

• With the optional big block engine came a revised hood with a raised center section and integral air exhaust vents (1968-72)
• "427" badges were mounted on the hood

1968 Corvette Rear Insignia

• The rear face of the new Vette received a "Corvette" insignia made up of individual chrome letters (1968-73)

1968 Corvette Headlights

• Vacuum powered hidden headlights of a new design continued the tradition of the C2 Vette (1968-82)

More 1968 Corvette Pictures

For more photos of vintage 1968 Corvettes, visit the C3 Corvette Image Gallery at the Muscle Car Jungle.

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