My old Ghetto Ride, a '68 L36 Roadster

[JeffKeryk]

I've had this car for a long time; it was pretty rough when I got it. It's a numbers car, a Plane Jane 1968 Corvette 427, late build.
Years ago I asked my BIL to come and get it; paint and chrome were done, and I had a full interior kit and rag top in boxes. Seats were already rebuilt with new foam, etc. Mark is a true craftsman; his attention to detail is off the freakin' charts.

The '68s were funny cars. The drivetrain options were carried over from the '67 and there are numerous parts used that were left over from '67.
Mid-Year Vettes were "Sting Ray" while '69 and later C3s used the "Stingray" badge. The '68 did not use any Stingray badging. The exhaust pipes were 2.5" in diameter like the '67, in '69 they choked down to 2".

My car is pretty stock. The 427 breathes through beautiful ceramic coated Hedman headers with turbos and tips out the back. Incredible sound. 2nd gear in the wide ratio Muncie will get you sideways. And yes, the synchros are shot! I can't downshift into 2nd; Mark says he can. I have a new Auburn 3:36 Posi as the original carrier was cracked. Wonder how that happened?

A true piece of Americana! I hope you like it.

 

[BornSlippy]

Can we see under the hood?

 

[JeffKeryk]

Can we see under the hood?

The car is in Gig Harbor, WA at my sister and BIL place. He has a "Garage Mahal". I will ask for some engine pics, but it is a stock L36 427/390. Looks like this, but not as clean. Mark has a nasty roller engine he wants to swap in while he details the stocker.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Old pics...

 

[Leo99]

Those are a sleek machine! I had a neighbor convince a guy that he was a detailer and he dropped off a similar Sting Ray. Think it was a 68 350 cu inch/ 350 HP. My neighbor comes over my house in it and says, Hey, want to go for a ride? We were out joyriding and had that thing up to triple digits on the interstate near our house in no time. Just seeing one brings back times when I had nary a care in the world.

 

[Astro14]

I love that car!

 

[factorytuned2012]

Sweet car. Only thing I'd change are the flowmasters.

 

[Patman]

Gorgeous!! If I ever win a boatload of money I want to buy an early C3, I would probably go for a 69 though since that’s the year I was born I would love one in either Lemans Blue or Riverside Gold

 

[JeffKeryk]

62 Fuelie and 68 L36. Both highly original cars. My BIL has an eye for detail that is on another level. Guess who got him started on his Corvette addiction? He drove my car, went home and bought a '69 BB Coupe. He got the Fuelie from a rich collector that Mark did a high end granite kitchen for. The guy sold him the 62 as a basket. He searched for years to find parts. He now has 3 complete Mechanical FI systems. His education on the early cars is bought and paid for. His 62 wins every show. He drives 'em both.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Those are a sleek machine! I had a neighbor convince a guy that he was a detailer and he dropped off a similar Sting Ray. Think it was a 68 350 cu inch/ 350 HP. My neighbor comes over my house in it and says, Hey, want to go for a ride? We were out joyriding and had that thing up to triple digits on the interstate near our house in no time. Just seeing one brings back times when I had nary a care in the world.

69 was the 1st year of the 350. 68 used the 327. IMO, the small blocks are better balanced cars. Drive a LT-1 sometime, with its high winding 350. They were screamers in their day.
Of course there is nothing like the BB torque, so there's that.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I love that car!

One thing I like about the 68 is the low back seats. Kinda Italian looking, to my eye, but I am somewhat prejudiced...
I think 68 was the last year they were available without headrests; 69 started the mandatory head restraints.

 

[CorvairGeek]

The bigger steering wheel (IIRC) and dash ignition stand out in my mind for my folks '68. They bought it new (yellow coupe), 427/390, manual steering and brakes. Seems odd to me now.

 

[factorytuned2012]

Wasn’t there a 427cu tri-power rated at 430hp but actual hp figures were closer to 500hp and torque was monstrous at around 510. I read that many muscle cars were derated for insurance purposes

 

[97prizm]

I've had this car for a long time; it was pretty rough when I got it. It's a numbers car, a Plane Jane 1968 Corvette 427, late build.
Years ago I asked my BIL to come and get it; paint and chrome were done, and I had a full interior kit and rag top in boxes. Seats were already rebuilt with new foam, etc. Mark is a true craftsman; his attention to detail is off the freakin' charts.

The '68s were funny cars. The drivetrain options were carried over from the '67 and there are numerous parts used that were left over from '67.
Mid-Year Vettes were "Sting Ray" while '69 and later C3s used the "Stingray" badge. The '68 did not use any Stingray badging. The exhaust pipes were 2.5" in diameter like the '67, in '69 they choked down to 2".

My car is pretty stock. The 427 breathes through beautiful ceramic coated Hedman headers with turbos and tips out the back. Incredible sound. 2nd gear in the wide ratio Muncie will get you sideways. And yes, the synchros are shot! I can't downshift into 2nd; Mark says he can. I have a new Auburn 3:36 Posi as the original carrier was cracked. Wonder how that happened?

A true piece of Americana! I hope you like it.

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Very cool! I've been to the Corvette Plant three times, have you ever been?. It seems like Corvettes have had odd things like "Stingray" spelled out vs a badge over the years. From reports the early 90s ZR-1s had two different header manufacturers. Apparently some late 91s or early 92s got one brand of header on the left one on the right.

 

[ka9mnx]

When that (new) design came out I hated it. Now I think it's the best design ever.

Yours is a beautiful example. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Very nice and I like the factory wheels. I had a 69 roadster with factory wheels with the trim rings and center caps as well. Mine was Bridgehamton blue with a white convertible top and black interior. 4 speed 350/350 hp. I always like the black color on the C3 Corvettes.

 

[IndyFan]

Love it! Wow, gorgeous car! The C6 was my favorite, but I think I have to give the crown to the lines on that 68 convertible. Drop dead gorgeous with the top down!

Get that transmission rebuilt and drop that gear and GO!!

The one I haven´t liked so much is the C8. It looks more like a Lambo than a Vette. However, I saw a white Indy 500 Official Car C8 yesterday and it looked pretty good in white.

Let´s see some interior pics of that roadster!

This one now pales a little bit after seeing that. But it still has the genetic resemblance in the lines to its great grandfather.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Very nice and I like the factory wheels. I had a 69 roadster with factory wheels with the trim rings and center caps as well. Mine was Bridgehamton blue with a white convertible top and black interior. 4 speed 350/350 hp. I always like the black color on the C3 Corvettes.

67 was the 1st year of the beautiful Ralley Wheel, 15x6, 1 year only
68 used 15x7, 1 year only
69 forward used the 15x8

I have a set of aftermarket 16x8 Wheel Vintiques Chtome Ralleys with 255/50/16 Comp TAs that make the car sit lower. Perfect!

 

[AutoMechanic]

Nice shiny looking car. I’ve never been big on Corvettes but some of them do look good. Those white letter tires too man make it look so good.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Wasn’t there a 427cu tri-power rated at 430hp but actual hp figures were closer to 500hp and torque was monstrous at around 510. I read that many muscle cars were derated for insurance purposes

The L88 option, 67, 68 and 69, but it used a single Holley 4 BBL. Factory racer, very few sold. High ticket cars today. The HP rating was accurate at the RPM it was measured at, but it revved far higher so output was closer to 600 HP.