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I don't think that there are any 3 speed manual transmission C3's.
unless you are referring to the 3 speed TH400 automatic trans?
the manual 3-speed was the standard transmission in '68. However, Very few cars were actually sold with the 3-speed. They are rare but not really worth more than the 4-speed cars..
RPOZ4Z: Black book does make reference to 3spd...and I do believe there were a few 69's with them too. The reason I ask... there is a 68 Vert 3spd here in cali for sale...not a bad price either...Muddy
Grandsport: Thanks! Yea, I really wouldn't want one myself...but in value...if it was rare, I might be persuaded .
Last edited by Muddywaters; Sep 2, 2006 at 09:20 PM.
I am not going to do the rithmetic for you, but the 3 speed was the STANDARD transmission. The black book gives you quantities for all the optional transmissions. Add up all the M-21, M-20, M-22, and automatic transmissions and subtract that number from total 68 production and you will get a pretty good guess as to how many 68s escaped from the factory with the standard 3 spd manual transmission. several hundred I would guess. In my opinion, in this case "rare" does not equal "valuable" or "desireable", but if you like it, go for it!
At a recent car show, I talked to the owner of an unrestored 68 with the 3 speed manual. He was the original owner. The car showed its age. A recent appraisal according to the owner valued the car at 125,000. Not my cup of tea, but I guess it might be worth something. FWIW
At a recent car show, I talked to the owner of an unrestored 68 with the 3 speed manual. He was the original owner. The car showed its age. A recent appraisal according to the owner valued the car at 125,000. Not my cup of tea, but I guess it might be worth something. FWIW
If that owner gave me that story I would literally be lying on the ground laughing!! If the car was worth even one fourth that amount you would see fakes all over the place. Resto shops would be pulling the original M-20s and M-21s and restamping 3 speed transmissions pulled from grandma's Chevy II.
Yeah that's nuts. I remember an ad a couple years back for a 69 convertible that was advertised as being special because it only had one option, the am/fm radio. Was Lemans Blue with blue interior with the 3-spd but was priced about where a nice 4-spd car would be.
..."theorectically" since coupes were about "1/3" of the amount produced compared to convertibles, if you take 1/3 of 326, you have 107 3spd coupes made vs 219 3spd '68 convertibles made...
...this is just a "theoretical" number, not fact...
...I love the 3spd cars-over the last 20yrs or so, I've probably seen 8-12 3spd cars for each year made in the C3, '68 & '69.
If that owner gave me that story I would literally be lying on the ground laughing!! If the car was worth even one fourth that amount you would see fakes all over the place. Resto shops would be pulling the original M-20s and M-21s and restamping 3 speed transmissions pulled from grandma's Chevy II.
Prndl: I have to agree and, I see how you came about the numbers withing the Blackbook... Thanks! Muddy
In a restoration book i have (corvette 1068-1982 by richard prince) there were 28566 corvettes built in 68. 18240 of them had either the 4 speed xms or the turbo hyd. transmissions which leaves 10,326 three speeds. dose'nt sound too rare to me.