I've got another prospect for a car and am looking for more thoughts and explanations on this one. Hunting a currently drivable Big Block project on my budget has been tough. Sheesh... Thanks, by the way, all you guys who've sent PM's with a few nice cars to consider around the 15k range!

Back to topic, basically I'm looking at a 68 427/390 convertible w/4spd. The car starts/stops runs great. But the easy explanation ends there. The car is a numbers matching block to the frame/drivetrain, however the body is a completely different number set off of a 68 427/430 car. My understanding was that the original frame was burned and they replaced it with this one.

The car needs paint in a bad way, as it is a Frankenstein of faded colors, but body is otherwise good. Frame no major rust issues and birdcage looks to be fine. Interior needs to usual restoration, seats no too bad looking, door panels a few cracks, carpet needs love.

First off, my goal is a driver car - something that looks good 10 feet away, drives nice and can run while working to better restore itself to something that looks good enough to maybe throw into a show or two (way down the line after tons sunk in). Most of the projects I find in my range aren't road safe or are not complete enough to realistically consider as a potential (driver project car).

So my questions start here. How in the world would the titling work on something like that? Would I have to title based on the body and the Pillar VIN , or the drivetrains title/VIN? What kind of complications could I expect in trying to inspect and title something like that in Texas? Is this something I should even be overly concerned about?

Given the general condition explained, what kind of price range should I expect to see on a car like this? It's list at 17,500 - is this decent on a Frankenstein car like this or should I negotiate more? Or should I just forget my first pick of having a C3 vert 427 car and grab the 74 454 coupe that is local and in great shape paint/motor for 13500?

Thanks for the thoughts/answers in advance!

 

Hi r,
The 73 seems to be the easy way out.
But, a 73 454 coupe will never be a 68, 427, convertible.
Two VERY different cars!
Which do you really want?
A car is titled by the vin tag on the a-pillar. Is there a title for the vin/body?
Regards,
Alan

 

I would go for the 74 it was the last year of the big block. First year of the urethane bumper front and rear only year for the split rear facia.
The 68 on the other hand was the first year of the c3 design the frames where weaker in strength than the later years.
My dad had a 68 327/350hp 4spd convert loved the car but the frame was like a flexi flier LOL I remember the right corner of the hood always popping going over railroad crossings and such.

 

The 454 is a 74, so it would be a B pick for me, my love is in the chrome bumpers, the vented hoods, and the slight lip in the rear verses the rounded back. And I've always like Vert over Coupe. That said I would embrace the 74 454 happily - until now my previous two vettes have be 76's coupes, so I'm not stranger to the body style and do like it. I always told myself that my next vette would be a Big Block, so the 74 does meet that goal.

But a 427 vert has been my top pick for as far back as I can remember.

I did confirm, there is a clean title for the body matching the Pillar VIN. The frame, engine, etc is just a bill of sale - so in that respect I should be okay?

 

I wasn't aware of the frame flex - that sucks. As I understand, regardless of going with the 68 or the 74, there are a few 1 off parts that each has when it comes to any resto work; of course that's not as big a deal on the 74 as all I need to do with it is replace the driveshaft, replace heater core, and maybe a brake job. The 68 would be more of a labor of love, considering price was right and no red flags.

 

Hi r,
Sorry, I mis-read….73.
The 68 frames were more flexible, true. The 'shakes' had more to do with 'cowl shake' in convertibles; under dash braces were added by Chevrolet to help that problem.
That wouldn't stop me from owning a 68 convertible. I'd slow down for railroad tracks and adjust the hood latches very carefully.
Regards,
Alan

 

either way you will have miles of smiles.
....the 68 I referred to was my first Vette ride that I can remember and my Dad and I had a lot of fun with it. The next was a lowly 65 convert 327 300 horse car with side pipes.....I can remember sneaky out from the gas station early just to go cruise with it. The beast we di was a 67 427 tripower coupe.....man that couldn't keep tires on it. I always was fond of the c2 and early c3.
My is the best yet because it has taken so long to be financially in a position to have another one to play with. At 49 and my Dad at 74 it should give us a lot of fun and hopefully he will cruise with it with my Mom more than I will drive it.

Sorry didn't mean to thread jack

 

Are you aware the chassis/frame is "basically" the same from 63 to 82, with things like brakes and rear ends etc changing, and nearthe end did I hear get thiner metal, never noticed that in either of the 81's or 76 I owned....and the mid years 63-67 could be bought with big blocks just like later c3's.

Well in my case I wouldnt take a 74 seen one the other day in traffic, stunning but not what I wanted.... yet would love even a ragged 68-69,
I looked long and hard for my 69 convertible ( 2 years ) because I had to have a 69, convertible and bb, I added the 454, I couldn't care less about numbers matching, building my car to suit me,

I paid like 6K for my 69 in '09 it ran sorta...lol small block was toast,
As I rebuilt things I broke a rear strut n a pot hole, learned rust wasn't horrible but was bad, I bought a new rebuilt chassis, all powder coated with all the new vette brakes goodies on it,
Like Alan pointed out the shakes were from blasting over train tracks with no dash braces...cowl shakes

As far as the frame itself in late 68 the chassis got the same rear braces that carried on but the 63-68 frames are not some flex prone mess as you are suggesting, perhaps your dads 68 was all rusty or had worn out suspension but the popping hood was from a latch not adjusted right not some frame flexing that much.....or the car would have had far more issues than just popping the hood.


in my case adding the rear bracing isn't the only frame spots I will be beefing up...but i tend to overbuild....

 

org 68 was a 430hp?,that means it was an L88 car?,if so its very rare

 

I just never understood the need for a C3 convertible, when a coupe already had removable tops. But, maybe that's just me.

I would go for the 'ready-to-go' '74 BB coupe.

 

id go for the 68, well at least i prefer the 68 body, and if neither of these ideal wait for the right one.....search a bit longer

 

Here are the pics for the 68 - trying to figure out what the value should be on this so figure pics may help:

 

For contrast - this this 74 I'm going for at 13500 unless I can figure out the value on the 68 and negotiate it. Head tells me the 74 is the sure thing/way to go, Heart says the 68 is worth the work/risk....

 

I love 68 convertibles as much as anyone but given the choice between those 2 cars I would take the 74. That 68 is going to take a great deal of work and I would say will be very expensive to get it where you can enjoy it. I would keep looking for a better convertible or if you like the 74 buy it.

 

Given the general condition explained, what kind of price range should I expect to see on a car like this? It's list at 17,500 - is this decent on a Frankenstein car like this or should I negotiate more?




Is the car in the pic the one that is priced at $17,500? If so........It's overpriced about $12,000....in my opinion as a rookie.

 

Really? I wouldn't know myself. Never driven a coupe with the T tops off. But I do know I LOVE my convertible!

 

That 68 does not look like a good deal at all for $17.5k. I'm not sure how the birdcage and frame aren't shot when everything else on the car appears to be, lol.

 

68 No way for $17K. I see an easy 15K into that car.

At $32K you could buy a ready to drive BBC car.

The 74 does look nice though but I had to have BBC convertible.

 

The view I love in my convertibles is always looking over my right shoulder completely over the rear deck. Its a view that no other car can offer.

Completely open air.

 

Ask the seller more questions about the car. Frames don't burn; they're steel. There is no engine identification information in the VIN. What verification is being offered for the body being a "427/390 car"? Have you checked to ensure the care has a clear title?