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The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette

1968 Bronze Corvette Convertible

"Corvette '68... all different all over". That's the quote from the sales brochure for the redesigned 1968 Corvette. The body was completely redesigned with the coupe losing it's fastback window but gaining a removable back window and removable t-tops for that almost convertible feel. The chassis itself did not change much from the 1967 model. The new hidden wipers and hidden headlights are vacuum operated instead of electrical. Door openers now use a push button to open and a push in handle to pull the door, this was only used on the 1968 model. The new auxilliary top for the convertible has a glass rear window. The new standard automatic was the 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic instead of the 2-speed PowerGlide used previously. A new fiber-optic monitoring system was added to the dash and "Astro-Ventilation" was added to improve the airflow in the cabin. The '68 Vette did not have the "Sting Ray" badging on it anywhere, it would return in '69 as "Stingray". 1968 was also the year that Zora Arkus-Duntov was named Chief Engineer of the Corvette.

Production Options and Build Statistics

Total 1968 Corvettes Built - 28,566

Total 1968 Coupes - 9,936
Total 1968 Convertibles - 18,630

Serial Numbers
Coupe194378S100001 - 194378S128566
Convertible194687S100001 - 194678S128566

The "Vehicle Identification Number" (also VIN or serial number) is stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.

Serial Number Decoder

PositionCharacterDescription
11Chevrolet Division
2-394Body Series: Corvette
4-567Convertible
4-537Coupe
681968
7SAssembled in St. Louis, MO
8 to 13100001 to 128566Production Sequence

Engine Serial Number Decoder

1968 Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block after the engine number

PositionValueDescription
1 to 70001001Sequential Production Number
8F or TFlint, MI or Tonawanda, NY
9 to 10Carburetion & 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

The body number plate is located on the engine side of the cowl. The Fisher Body Style Number identifies the model of Corvette. 68-19467 - Corvette Sting Ray convertible 68-19437 - Corvette Sting Ray coupe The body number is the serial number of the body. The trim number represents the color of the interior, the paint color is the exterior "Magic Mirror" paint color.

Production Options

RPO
Description
Cost
Total
Prod.
%
19437Base Coupe$4,663.00 9,936 34.8%
19467Base Convertible$4,320.00 18,630 65.2%
N/AGenuine Leather Seats$79.00 2,429 8.5%
A01Soft Ray Tinted Glass, All Windows$15.80 17,635 61.7%
A02Soft Ray Tinted Glass, Windshield$10.55 5,509 19.3%
A31Power Windows$57.95 7,065 24.7%
A82Headrests$42.15 3,197 11.2%
A85Custom Shoulder Belts$26.35 350 1.2%
C07Auxiliary Hardtop (Convert.)$231.75 8,735 30.6%
C08Vinyl Covering for Aux. Hardtop$52.70 3,050 10.7%
C50Rear Window Defroster$31.60 693 2.4%
C60Air Conditioning$412.90 5,664 19.8%
F41Special Front/Rear Suspension$36.90 1,758 6.2%
G81Positraction Rear Axle (all ratios)$46.35 27,008 94.5%
J50Power Brakes$42.15 9,559 33.5%
J56Special Heavy Duty Brakes$384.45 81 0.3%
K66Transistor Ignition System$73.75 5,457 19.1%
L36427ci, 390hp Engine$200.15 7,717 27.0%
L68427ci, 400hp Engine$305.50 1,932 6.8%
L71427ci, 435hp Engine$437.10 2,898 10.1%
L79327ci, 350hp Engine$105.35 9,440 33.0%
L88427ci, 430hp Engine$947.90 80 0.3%
L89L71 Engine with Aluminum Cylinder Heads$805.75 624 2.2%
M204-speed Manual Transmission$184.35 10,760 37.7%
M214 Speed Manual, Close Ratio Transmission$184.35 12,337 43.2%
M224 Speed Manual, Close Ratio, Heavy Duty Transmission (Rock Crusher)$263.30 80 0.3%
M40Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission$226.45 5,063 17.7%
N11Offroad Exhaust System$36.90 4,695 16.4%
N36Telescopic Steering Column$42.15 6,447 22.6%
N40Power Steering$94.80 12,364 43.3%
P01Bright Metal Wheel Cover$57.95 8,971 31.4%
PT6Red Line Tires F70 x 15$31.30 11,686 40.9%
PT7White Line Tires F70 x 15$31.30 9,692 33.9%
UA6Alarm System$26.35 388 1.4%
U15Speed Warning Indicator$10.55 3,453 12.1%
U69AM/FM Radio$172.75 24,609 86.1%
U79AM/FM Radio Stereo$278.10 3,311 11.6%

Color Options for 1968

Interior colors are suggested by Chevrolet, any combination could be ordered.
RPO
Color
Cost
Soft Top Color
Interior Color
Total
Prod.
%
900Tuxedo Black$0.00B-BG-WB-DB-DO-GU-MB-R-TO 708 2.5%
972Polar White$0.00B-BG-WB-DB-DO-GU-MB-R-TO 1,868 6.5%
974Rally Red$0.00B-BG-WB-R 2,918 10.2%
976Lemans Blue$0.00B-BG-WB-DB-MB 4,722 16.5%
978International Blue$0.00B-BG-WB-DB-MB 2,473 8.7%
983British Green$0.00B-BG-WB 4,779 16.7%
984Safari Yellow$0.00B-BG-WB 3,133 11.0%
986Silverstone Silver$0.00B-BG-WB-DB-GU 3,435 12.0%
988Cordovan Maroon$0.00B-BG-WB 1,155 4.0%
992Corvette Bronze$0.00B-BG-WB-DO-TO 3,374 11.8%
Color Codes: B=Black, BG=Beige, DB=Dark Blue, DO=Dark Orange, GU=Gunmetal, L=Leather, MB=Medium Blue, R=Red, TO=Tobacco, V=Vinyl, W=White

Interior Colors

RPO
Color
Cost
Total
Prod.
%
BaseBlack Vinyl$0.00 N/A N/A
402Black Leather$0.00 N/A N/A
407Red Vinyl$0.00 N/A N/A
408Red Leather$0.00 N/A N/A
411Blue Vinyl$0.00 N/A N/A
412Blue Leather$0.00 N/A N/A
414Medium Blue Vinyl$0.00 N/A N/A
415Medium Blue Leather$0.00 N/A N/A
425Orange Vinyl$0.00 N/A N/A
426Orange Leather$0.00 N/A N/A
435Tobacco Vinyl$0.00 N/A N/A
436Tobacco Leather$0.00 N/A N/A
442Gunmetal Vinyl$0.00 N/A N/A


1968 Corvette Specifications

Mechanical Dimensions

FeatureCoupeConvertible
Wheelbase98 inches (2.489 m)98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall length182.1 inches (4.625 m)182.1 inches (4.625 m)
Overall width69.2 inches (1.758 m)69.2 inches (1.758 m)
Overall height48.6 inches (1.234 m)48.6 inches (1.234 m)
Front tread58.3 inches (1.481 m)58.3 inches (1.481 m)
Rear tread59.0 inches (1.499 m)59.0 inches (1.499 m)
FrameFull-length ladder type with five cross members. Steel box sections, welded.Full-length ladder type with five cross members. Steel box sections, welded.
Front suspensionIndependent, unequal-length A-arms, coil springs tubular shocks and stabilizer barIndependent, unequal-length A-arms, coil springs tubular shocks and stabilizer bar
Rear suspensionIndependent, trailing arms, toe links, transverse chromium-carbon steel leaf spring, tube shocks, and anti-roll barIndependent, trailing arms, toe links, transverse chromium-carbon steel leaf spring, tube shocks, and anti-roll bar
SteeringSaginaw recirculating ball, 17.6:1 ratio, 2.9 turns to lock, 39.9 turning circleSaginaw recirculating ball, 17.6:1 ratio, 2.9 turns to lock, 39.9 turning circle
Rear axle typeSprung differential, Hypoid gearSprung differential, Hypoid gear
BrakesHydraulic, vented four wheel discs 11.8-inch diameter, single calipersHydraulic, vented four wheel discs 11.8-inch diameter, single calipers
Total swept area259 sq. in. per ton, 461.2 sq. in. total259 sq. in. per ton, 461.2 sq. in. total
Wheels6" wide slotted steel 15" 5-lug disc6" wide slotted steel 15" 5-lug disc
Standard rear axle ratio3.36:13.36:1
Optional rear axle ratio3.08:1, 3.36:1, 3.55:1, 3.70:1, 4.11:1, 4.56:13.08:1, 3.36:1, 3.55:1, 3.70:1, 4.11:1, 4.56:1


Engine Specifications

FeatureBase RPO L75RPO L79RPO L36RPO L71RPO L88
TypeV-8, Overhead valveV-8, Overhead valveV-8, Overhead valveV-8, Overhead valveV-8, Overhead valve
BlockCast iron blockCast iron blockCast iron blockCast iron blockCast iron block
Displacement327 cid327 cid427 cid427 cid427 cid
Bore & Stroke4.00 x 3.25"4.00 x 3.25"4.251 x 3.76"4.251 x 3.76"4.251 x 3.76"
Compression ratio10.25:111.0:110.25:111.0:112.5:1
Brake horsepower300 @ 5000350 @ 5800390 @ 5400435 @ 5800560 @ 6400
Torque360 lb-ft @ 3400360 lb-ft @ 3600460 lb-ft @ 3600460 lb-ft @ 4000
Main bearingFiveFiveFiveFiveFive
Valve liftersHydraulicHydraulicHydraulicMechanical valve liftersMechanical valve lifters
CamshaftHigh-performance camshaftHigh-performance camshaftSpecial-performance camshaftSpecial ultra-high-performance camshaft with .5365-inch intakes
Fuel supplyRochester Type 4MV four-barrel Model 7028207Holley four-barrelHolley four-barrelThree Holley two-barrelsSingle Holley 850CFM four-barrel

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