c3dreaming

New to this forum, so hello! I don't currently own a Vette, but I have been searching for the right one. I have a question to ask. I recently looked at a 68 convertible. All the numbers on the car check out so far except the trim tag. The tag reads K07 for date, 420 for trim, 983 for paint. The car is painted British Green with Saddle interior. Problem is, nowhere I read shows 420 Saddle as an interior color for 68. The last six of the VIN is 421740, which appears to have been in the May 68 build sequence. The tag reads K07, which is June 68 for the build date. I have read where their may have been some special order combinations not on the normal list of colors. Is it possible that this car may have been one of those? Is the VIN build sequence close enough to the build date listed on the tag? Or, is my hunch that the car has a replacement tag from a 69 Vette that was swapped onto it make more sense? If they replaced the entire interior, they did a thorough job and looks like it belongs there. A little confused, so your input would be appreciated. Thanks

JC68

c3dreaming

The saddle interior color was added sometime during the 1968 model year. Early sales brochures don't show it but the later editions do. Saddle was definitely in production by the June production date of the car you looked at.

John

c3dreaming

John,
Thanks for that info. What do you think about the difference in the VIN sequence compared to the tag date code? Would this be close enough to be considered acceptable or normal? Thanks

JC68

c3dreaming

I think the K07 body build date is about where it should be for build sequence 21740. The books I have show 20928 as the last car built in May 1968. They had finally figured out how to build them by then, over 3,000 car were produced in June. That is over 750 per week.

John

65GGvert

The trim dag date info is correct for your vin (June). 420 is the correct code for saddle. The color code is correct for British Green. The info you provide lines up. It wouldn't be easy to find a 69 trim tag with correct colors and build date to line up with your vin. 983 was called Fathom Green in 69.

Easy Mike

Your car (21740) came along 812 units into June production. The plant averaged about 110 cars a day. June 7th was a Friday.

Your numbers are fine.

c3dreaming

Wow! Thanks for all the quick responses. That was really bothering me, especially when considering this kind of money. Not buying it for an investment, but want to make sure it's a correct car. I may end up pulling the trigger on this one.

c3dreaming

Another two questions I have. 1) The car has the 69 style sidepipes on it. Would these possibly have been offered as a build option on this later 68 or were they most likely added? The rear valence has no exhaust provisions in it, but I guess they could have been filled before a repaint. 2) It also has the luggage rack on it. Were most of these factory installed or a dealer installed option? He doesn't have the build sheet, but it may still be on top of the tank, or lost forever for all I know. Thanks

capevettes

No sidepipe cars in 68. Most likely added by a previous owner and a 69 sidepipe rear valance or aftermarket valance was added. Some fill the holes and paint them.

The luggage racks were dealer add-ons.

c3dreaming

Again, thanks to all for the clarifications. Have a good weekend!

gbvette62

Side pipes were a 69 option only, but they've been added to a lot of cars over the years.

If you take a look at the back side of the rear valance, it's usually pretty easy to identify a car that has been converted to side pipes.

69's built with side pipes, had different rear fenders, than ones with under car exhaust. There is a straight seem in the rear fender, were it meets the rear valance, on cars built with side pipes. Cars with under car exhaust, had a half circle cut out in the rear fender, for the exhaust bezel. Aftermarket rear valances for side exhaust cars, have half circle "ears" on each side of the valance, to fill the half circle in the fender. A rear valance with the "ears" is usually a dead giveaway, to a car that's had side exhaust added, because people rarely go the trouble to change the rear fenders, when adding side exhaust.

Make sure the back-up lamps are still in the rear valance panel. I've seen a few 68's, that have had 69 valances used when side pipes were installed.

Good luck with your purchase!

c3dreaming

And another question I have...Could the car be fairly easily converted back to rear exhaust, or do you have to make major cutting modifications to the area on the side where the side pipe comes out? Novice here, so please bear with me!

gbvette62

Unlike a 63-67's, where there are two tabs on each side of the car that have to be cut off to add side exhaust, there are no mods needed to the rocker area of 68-82's.

c3dreaming

Again, thank you for the quick response. Take care!