VETTE68327

HELLO, I have a '68 roadster with the following info on it:

CHEVROLET K05
TRIM 420, 988 PAINT

According to the info I have been able to research, 420 (SADDLE) was not available in 1968 nor was TOBACCO with CORDOVAN MAROON. The color appears to be SADDLE or possibly TOBACCO, but I'd like to be sure before ordering interior parts.

Thanks in advance for any help !!!!

wisoutlaw

Are you sure it's a '68? Trim 420 (saddle) and Paint 988 (Burgundy) was a valid combination in '69. I'm not sure what you mean by the K05. There was no option package like that in '68, but there was in '69. It was a block heater, which would be a weird option to list on the trim plate.

gbvette62

How about some pictures of your interior, and the trim tag?

Just because Cordovan Maroon wasn't listed as being available with Tobacco, doesn't mean that it couldn't be ordered. The combination wasn't recommended, but if you had a friendly dealer, who trusted that you would take the car when it came in, it could be ordered that way. Of course, it would have been trim code 435, not 420.

The K05 is the body build date. "K" would have been June, and 05 was the fifth. What is your VIN number? If you go to the C3 Birthday Calculator, you can plug in your VIN, and it will tell you when your car was built. If the tag is original to your car, it should be within a day or two of June 5th.

VETTE68327

Yes, At least according to the VIN, registration and insurance ID card

VETTE68327

I will try to post a picture of the tag and interior if I can figure out how! You do bring up an interesting idea about special order from dealer. perhaps being produced so late in the year, they had discontinued TOBACCO and started with SADDLE?

Easy Mike

Saddle became available late in 68. Technically, any color combination could be requested. Tobacco and maroon may not have been on the GM preferred combination list, but you could get it if you asked for it.

Saddle is tan; tobacco is brown.

I'll go with 21300 or close on the consecutive unit number.

VETTE68327

MIKE, What does "I'll go with 21300 or close on the consecutive unit number." mean?

It's kind of hard to determine the true original color. 45 years of fading and weather have taken their toll. judging by the color under the sill plate, its STILL hard to judge, is it tan or brown!

Easy Mike

Speculation on my part for the last five digits of your VIN. The last May car was #20928. The assembly line probably ran on Saturday, June 1. Closed Sunday. Ran Monday and Tuesday June 3 and 4. Your car was on the line Wednesday June 5 based on the K05 time/build code. They averaged 110-120 cars a day. 20928 + 360 gets you to the 21288 range.

This is 68 Tobacco. Definitely a brown.

VETTE68327

MIKE,

21508, They must have pumped up production in early June, LOL
If the seats and interior in that picture are TOBACCO, I definitely have a 420 SADDLE interior! Thanks for all your help and info!!!!

gbvette62

21508 was built on June 6th 1968, which fits perfectly with the June 5 body build date.

Easy Mike

I didn't miss it by much.