Corvette Specifications
- The Corvette's first major restyling since 1963 occurred in 1968.
- As the sales brochure read, "Corvette '68... all different all over"
- The fast-back was replaced by a tunneled-roof coupe.
- It featured a removable back window and a two-piece detachable roof section or T-top.
- The convertible's optional hardtop had a glass rear window.
- The front end was more aerodynamic than those on previous Corvettes.
- As before, the headlights were hidden.
- Now they were vacuum-operated, rather than electrical.
- The wipers also disappeared when not in use.
- Except for the rocker panels, the sides were devoid of chrome.
- Conventional door handles were eliminated and in their place were push buttons.
- The blunt rear deck contained four round taillights with the word Corvette printed in chrome in the space between them.
- The wraparound, wing-like rear bumper and license plate holder treatment resembled that used on the 1967 models.
- Buyers had their choice of 10 exterior colors
- Tuxedo Black
- Polar White
- Corvette Bronze
- LeMans Blue
- International Blue
- Cordovan Maroon
- Rally Red
- Silverstone Silver
- British Green
- Safari Yellow
- All convertibles came with a choice of Black, White or Beige soft tops.
- Interior colors were
- Black
- Red
- Medium Blue
- Dark Blue
- Dark Orange
- Tobacco
- Gunmetal
- The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
- Convertible Serial numbers ranged from 194687S100001 to 194678S128566
- Coupe Serial numbers ranged from 194378S100001 to 194378S128566
Position |
Character |
Description |
1 |
1 |
Chevrolet Division |
2 & 3 |
94 |
body series: Corvette |
4 & 5 |
67 |
convertible |
37 |
coupe |
6 |
8 |
1968 |
7 |
S |
Assembled in St. Louis, MO |
8 to 13 |
100001 to 128566 |
production sequence |
- Engine serial number
1 to 7 |
0001001 |
sequential production number |
8 |
F or T |
Flint, MI or Tonawanda, NY |
9 to 10 |
Carburetion & transmission |
- HE = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor
- HO = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and four barrel carburetor
- HP = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, four-barrel carburetor
- HT = 327-cid 350-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, four-barrel carburetor
- IL = 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual or automatic transmission, four-barrel carburetor
- IM = 427-cid 400-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors
- IO = 427-cid 400-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors
- IQ = 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and four-barrel carburetor
- IR = 427-cid 435-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetor
- IT = 427-cid 430-hp V-8 with 12.5:1 compression ratio, manual transmission and four-barrel carburetor
- IU = 427-cid 435-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors
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- Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block next to the engine number
- The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
- The Fisher Body Style Number 68-19467 identifies a Corvette convertible
- The Fisher Body Style Number 68-19437 identifies a Corvette coupe
- The body number is the production serial number of the body.
- The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
- The ten 1968 Corvette exterior colors were:
- 900 = Tuxedo Black
- 972 = Polar White
- 974 = Rally Red
- 976 = LeMans Blue
- 978 = International Blue
- 983 = British Green
- 984 = Safari Yellow
- 986 = Silverstone Silver
- 988 = Cordovan Maroon
- 992 = Corvette Bronze
- Upholstery Codes
Color |
Vinyl Upholstery |
Leather Upholstery |
Black |
STD |
402 |
Red |
407 |
408 |
Blue |
411 |
412 |
Bright Blue |
414 |
415 |
Orange |
425 |
426 |
Tobacco |
435 |
436 |
Gunmetal |
442 |
|
Series No. |
Body/Style No. |
Body Type |
Factory Price |
Shipping Weight |
Production Total |
194 |
37 |
2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger |
$4663 |
3055 lb |
9,936 |
194 |
67 |
2-dr. Conv - 2 passenger |
$4347 |
3070 lb |
18,630 |
Feature |
Standard Engine (RPO L75) |
Optional Engine (RPO L79) |
Optional Engine (RPO L36) |
Optional Engine (RPO L71) |
Optional Engine (RPO L88) |
Type |
V-8, Overhead valve |
Block |
Cast iron block |
Displacement |
327 cid |
427 cid |
Bore & Stroke |
4.00 x 3.25" |
4.251 x 3.76" |
Compression ratio |
10.25:1 |
11.0:1 |
10.25:1 |
11.0:1 |
12.5:1 |
Brake horsepower |
300 @ 5000 |
350 @ 5800 |
390 @ 5400 |
435 @ 5800 |
560 @ 6400 |
Torque |
360 lb-ft @ 3400 |
360 lb-ft @ 3600 |
460 lb-ft @ 3600 |
460 lb-ft @ 4000 |
|
Main bearing |
five |
Valve lifters |
hydraulic |
Mechanical valve lifters |
Camshaft |
|
high-performance camshaft |
Special-performance camshaft |
Special ultra-high-performance camshaft with .5365-inch intakes |
Fuel supply |
Rochester Type 4MV four-barrel Model 7028207 |
Holley four-barrel |
Three Holley two-barrels |
Single Holley 850CFM four-barrel |
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- Standard Manual Transmission: three-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
- Automatic Transmission: Three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter (optional)
- Optional Manual Transmission: High-performance four-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
- Optional Manual Transmission: Special high-performance four-speed manual all-synchromesh close-ratio transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
- Optional Manual Transmission: Special heavy-duty four-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
Feature |
Convertible |
Coupe |
Wheelbase |
98 inches (2.489 m) |
98 inches (2.489 m) |
Overall length |
182.1 inches (4.625 m) |
182.1 inches (4.625 m) |
Overall width |
69.2 inches (1.758 m) |
69.2 inches (1.758 m) |
Overall height |
|
48.6 inches (1.234 m) |
Front tread |
58.3 inches (1.481 m) |
58.3 inches (1.481 m) |
Rear tread |
59.0 inches (1.499 m) |
59.0 inches (1.499 m) |
Frame |
Full-length ladder type with five cross members. Steel box sections, welded. |
Front suspension |
Independent, unequal-length A-arms, coil springs; tubular shocks and stabilizer bar |
Rear suspension |
Independent, trailing arms, toe links, transverse chromium-carbon steel leaf spring, tube shocks, and anti-roll bar |
Steering |
Saginaw recirulating ball, 17.6:1 ratio, 2.9 turns to lock, 39.9 turning circle |
Rear axle type |
Sprung differential, Hypoid gear |
Brakes |
Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs; 11.8-inch diameter, single calipers |
Total swept area |
259 sq. in. per ton, 461.2 sq. in. total |
Wheels |
6" wide slotted steel 15" 5-lug disc |
Standard rear axle ratio |
3.36:1 |
Optional rear axle ratio |
3.08:1, 3.36:1, 3.55:1, 3.70:1, 4.11:1, 4.56:1 |
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- RPO 898 Genuine leather seat trim ($79)
- RPO A01 Soft-Ray tinted glass, all windows ($15.80)
- RPO A31 Electric power windows ($57.95)
- RPO A82 Headrests ($42.15)
- RPO A85 Custom shoulder harness ($26.35)
- RPO C07 Auxiliary hardtop for convertible ($231.75)
- RPO C08 Vinyl cover for auxiliary hardtop ($52.70)
- RPO C50 Rear window defroster ($31.60)
- RPO C60 Air conĀditioning ($412.90)
- RPO F41 Special front and rear suspension ($36.90)
- RPO G81 Positraction rear axle, all ratios ($42.35)
- RPO J50 Power brakes ($42.15)
- RPO J56 Special heavy-duty brakes ($384.45)
- RPO K66 Transistor ignition system ($73.75)
- RPO L36 427-cd 390-hp V-8 ($200.15)
- RPO L68 427-cid 400-hp V-8 ($305.50)
- RPO L71 427-cid 435-hp V-8 ($437.10)
- RPO L81 427-cid 435-hp V-8 ($437.10)
- RPO L79 327-cid 350-hp V-8 ($105.35)
- RPO L88 427-cid 560-hp V-8 ($947.90)
- RPO M20 Four-speed manual transmission ($184.30)
- RPO M21 Four-speed close-ratio manual transmission ($184.30)
- RPO M22 Heavy-duty close-ratio four-speed manual transmission ($263.30)
- RPO M35 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatĀic transmission ($226.45)
- RPO N11 Off-road exhaust system ($36.90)
- RPO N36 Telescopic steering wheel ($42.15)
- RPO P01 Bright metal wheel cover ($57.95)
- RPO PT6 Red stripe nylon tires F70 x 15 ($31.30)
- RPO PT7 F70 x 15 white stripe tires ($31.35)
- RPO UA6 Alarm system ($26.35)
- RPO U15 Speed-warning indicator ($10.55)
- RPO U69 AM-FM radio ($172.75)
- RPO U79 Stereo radio ($278.10)
- Just over 80 percent of 1968 Corvettes were equipped with four-speed manual transmission
- 81 percent had tinted glass
- 36.3 percent had power steering
- 19.8 percent had air conditioning
- 33.7 percent had power brakes.
- The L79-powe red Corvette of this year could go from 0-to-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and from 0-to-100mph in 20.7 seconds.
- The L71 -powered Corvette of this year could go from 0-to-30 in 3.0 seconds; from 0-to-5O in 5.3 seconds and from 0-to-60 in 6.5 seconds.
- It did the quarter mile in 13.41 seconds at 109.5mph.
- Top speed (L71) was 142 mph.
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