DavisZR1
11-23-2004, 04:07 PM
18,630 Convertibles
9,936 Coupes
What is significantly new from the previous model?
The wheelbase remained the same. Extensive changes were made to the interior and exterior. The body was based on the Maco Shark concept car.
A new door opening mechanism
Side vent windows were eliminated
No Stingray logo above the 4 side louvers (gills)
Backup lights were under the bumper.
Four red taillights were installed ('69 - '82 have only two)
Silver front grills with round corner parking lights.
A push button door lock that opened the door
No metal tips on the removable hardtop
The use of 7" wide Rally wheels.
Round exhaust pipes were installed on the '68 and '69 only.
DOT mandated side markers were small square lights on the front and rear fenders.
The coupe featured a scooped out roofline without the fastback look of the Stingray. This drastically cut the interior room.
The roof panels on the coupe were removable to permit an open-air "convertible" feel.
The rear window could be removed and stored in a tray under the rear deck.
There are three hoods designs available, depending on the engine you select.
The windshield wipers hid under a trap door that pops up when they were operated. The wiper door and the headlights were vacuum powered.
The interior is designed to resemble a jet fighter plane. The familiar rounded dash pods were eliminated to be replaced by an arched flat dash
The ignition switch was located in the dash and is the last Corvette to have had this feature until the C5 model. The in-between models placed the key in the steering column as part of the wheel lock thief prevention systems.
The center console had fiber optic monitors for the headlights and a set of cross flags.
The engine was basically the same as '67, except the large journal small block had appeared. This was the last year of the 327 in a Corvette. 327-300hp, 327-350hp
427-430hp L88 was still designed for racers only. The big blocks received a different hood with a v-shaped rise and a wide, flat look
The lower hood profile required the intake manifolds to be redesigned on the big blocks so that they were virtually flat and had their runners go down into the lifter valley
The L88 with its high rise manifold got a special hood. All big blocks had 427 on the side of the hood bulge.
The Rochester Quadra Jet carburetor appeared for emission purposes. The 400, 435 and 430 hp engines used a Holley.
AC almost beat Chevrolet to the Coke bottle design body with their 1965 Banshee, a two seater convertible sports car that would have been hefty competition for the Corvette. GM stopped it. Pontiac's president John DeLorean later became president of Chevrolet.
The designation T-top does not refer to the shape of the roof, but rather it is short for Targa Top. The original design was a pure Targa, but body flex demanded the center bar, discovered late in the design.
Due to policy changes in Chevrolet, Corvette was treated like all other car lines for the first time, and quality dropped drastically. With bad publicity in most magazines, policy was re-thought and Chevrolet quickly restored independence and quality to Corvette within a few months, but all 1968s carry the stigma of being "the worse quality" of all Corvettes.
All big block manifolds were redesigned to actually sink into the lifter valley, as the hood clearance was less than in '67 and back. As such, a 1965 to 1967 big block intake manifold won't fit in a 1968 or newer Corvette with a stock hood and air cleaner.
The exception to the above was the L-88. It retained the high rise manifold and also received a special hood, which was externally different this time.
Emission control equipment was installed on the first 1968's in the fall of 1967 even though the federal law required it only as of January 1, 1968.
1968 was the first year an AM/FM stereo was offered as an option.
In 1968-1972 the coupe's rear window was removable for more of a true convertible experience
The Sting Ray name was not used on the 1968 Corvette, but returned in 1969, spelled "Stingray."
Facts
Base sports coupe was $4663.00
Convertible sold for $4320.00
9,936 Coupes
What is significantly new from the previous model?
The wheelbase remained the same. Extensive changes were made to the interior and exterior. The body was based on the Maco Shark concept car.
A new door opening mechanism
Side vent windows were eliminated
No Stingray logo above the 4 side louvers (gills)
Backup lights were under the bumper.
Four red taillights were installed ('69 - '82 have only two)
Silver front grills with round corner parking lights.
A push button door lock that opened the door
No metal tips on the removable hardtop
The use of 7" wide Rally wheels.
Round exhaust pipes were installed on the '68 and '69 only.
DOT mandated side markers were small square lights on the front and rear fenders.
The coupe featured a scooped out roofline without the fastback look of the Stingray. This drastically cut the interior room.
The roof panels on the coupe were removable to permit an open-air "convertible" feel.
The rear window could be removed and stored in a tray under the rear deck.
There are three hoods designs available, depending on the engine you select.
The windshield wipers hid under a trap door that pops up when they were operated. The wiper door and the headlights were vacuum powered.
The interior is designed to resemble a jet fighter plane. The familiar rounded dash pods were eliminated to be replaced by an arched flat dash
The ignition switch was located in the dash and is the last Corvette to have had this feature until the C5 model. The in-between models placed the key in the steering column as part of the wheel lock thief prevention systems.
The center console had fiber optic monitors for the headlights and a set of cross flags.
The engine was basically the same as '67, except the large journal small block had appeared. This was the last year of the 327 in a Corvette. 327-300hp, 327-350hp
427-430hp L88 was still designed for racers only. The big blocks received a different hood with a v-shaped rise and a wide, flat look
The lower hood profile required the intake manifolds to be redesigned on the big blocks so that they were virtually flat and had their runners go down into the lifter valley
The L88 with its high rise manifold got a special hood. All big blocks had 427 on the side of the hood bulge.
The Rochester Quadra Jet carburetor appeared for emission purposes. The 400, 435 and 430 hp engines used a Holley.
AC almost beat Chevrolet to the Coke bottle design body with their 1965 Banshee, a two seater convertible sports car that would have been hefty competition for the Corvette. GM stopped it. Pontiac's president John DeLorean later became president of Chevrolet.
The designation T-top does not refer to the shape of the roof, but rather it is short for Targa Top. The original design was a pure Targa, but body flex demanded the center bar, discovered late in the design.
Due to policy changes in Chevrolet, Corvette was treated like all other car lines for the first time, and quality dropped drastically. With bad publicity in most magazines, policy was re-thought and Chevrolet quickly restored independence and quality to Corvette within a few months, but all 1968s carry the stigma of being "the worse quality" of all Corvettes.
All big block manifolds were redesigned to actually sink into the lifter valley, as the hood clearance was less than in '67 and back. As such, a 1965 to 1967 big block intake manifold won't fit in a 1968 or newer Corvette with a stock hood and air cleaner.
The exception to the above was the L-88. It retained the high rise manifold and also received a special hood, which was externally different this time.
Emission control equipment was installed on the first 1968's in the fall of 1967 even though the federal law required it only as of January 1, 1968.
1968 was the first year an AM/FM stereo was offered as an option.
In 1968-1972 the coupe's rear window was removable for more of a true convertible experience
The Sting Ray name was not used on the 1968 Corvette, but returned in 1969, spelled "Stingray."
Facts
Base sports coupe was $4663.00
Convertible sold for $4320.00