How Rare is my vette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 48
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From: Oklahoma City Ok
How Rare is my vette
I have a 1968 Corvette Conv.L-36 390 hp muncie 4-speed air conditioning no power steering no power brakes polar white medium blue interior. The car has 36k original mile and I bought it from the original owner and I have the original title and original paper work on the car.I have had the car for about 5 years.And the paint is the original paint the only thing that is not original on the body is the glassed in L-88 hood scoop.The car is about 95% original.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
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From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
To tell you the truth, your car is like any other 68 vette. What you have, that most don't have is the paperwork. Paperwork does not make the car rare. Productivity numbers determine if a car is rare.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 9
From: Crescent City, CA
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
28,566 vettes in 1968. 18,630 were converts, 7,717 were L36's.
2/3's were converts and about 1/4 were L36's. So that makes about 4,941 convet L36's made.
You could probably narrow down the options even more. 23,257 4-speeds, 12,364 with power steering, 9,559 with power brakes and only 1,868 in Polar White.
Hope this helps.
Terry
Another Great White owner
[Modified by trw, 7:30 PM 11/7/2003]
2/3's were converts and about 1/4 were L36's. So that makes about 4,941 convet L36's made.
You could probably narrow down the options even more. 23,257 4-speeds, 12,364 with power steering, 9,559 with power brakes and only 1,868 in Polar White.
Hope this helps.
Terry
Another Great White owner
[Modified by trw, 7:30 PM 11/7/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
Yep, the color is the rarest part of the car. If production records were kept and you could know how few white L36 4 speed verts were made, I am sure that would be a low number.
But your documentation makes the car valuable.
Has it ever been judged?? (NCRS, Bloomington)
But your documentation makes the car valuable.
Has it ever been judged?? (NCRS, Bloomington)
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 48
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From: Oklahoma City Ok
Re: How Rare is my vette (LAvetteman)
Never judged i did'nt think that the car was original enough with the L-88 scoop on it and the holley 850 double pumper and the edelbrock intake and headers would kill it even though the original owner put them on back in the early 70's after he got back from vietnam.The car has a intersting history other than the carb,hood,intake and headers the car is all original well it has been balanced blue printed and the heads were ported and polished and the cam I was told was the same as the L-88 cam and it has solid lifters all this was told to me by the original owner I would love to dyno it to see hp ratings but the car has some engine deteration so I dont want to push until I pull the motor and refresh it .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
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From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: How Rare is my vette (GDaina)
Air Conditioning/convertable/ big block conbination is the thing that makes you car rare. And desirable. Try to find another one!!!! You'll see what I mean. :thumbs:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: How Rare is my vette (bluevetteman)
Air Conditioning/convertable/ big block conbination is the thing that makes you car rare. And desirable. Try to find another one!!!! You'll see what I mean. :thumbs:
Another way to judge a car if it's rare.......the cost to acquire that car..
You have to distinguish between rare and desireable. Just because it's desireable, does not make it rare. On the flip side, just because a car is rare, does not make it desireable...I own an 82 Buick Regal Sport Coupe, V-6 Turbo, 2020 produced...out of the total Regal production numbers, this is an extremely rare car, just as the 67 L-89 and L-88's are, but is it desireable? Not a chance, now if the car were a GN, it would be another story.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,563
Likes: 2
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
I really, really LOVE Corvettes- they're great cars! But 'rare'??
Except for a few prototypes and racers, they're an American mass-produced vehicle. It's an awesome car, but relatively common.
:yesnod: :yesnod:
my opinion
Except for a few prototypes and racers, they're an American mass-produced vehicle. It's an awesome car, but relatively common.
:yesnod: :yesnod:
my opinion
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,446
Likes: 2
From: Not Correctly Restored Stingray Fla.
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
Boy when you first described the car, the only change was the hood. What "would" have made the car more rare (without the engine mods) is that it could have beed catagorized as a "survivor". Originale everything and only 36k. But since the engine mods :thumbs: you'll probably here alot of different things. I usually hear, about '68's, it's not one of your better years ONLY because of "68 only" parts and their hard to find. I think it's a great looking year like the 69 because of the gills. Have lots of fun with it :cheers: You can probably get your hands on that black book and it could tell you about how rare it is.
[Modified by lotahp, 6:00 PM 11/8/2003]
[Modified by lotahp, 6:00 PM 11/8/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: How Rare is my vette (GDaina)
Air Conditioning/convertable/ big block conbination is the thing that makes you car rare. And desirable. Try to find another one!!!! You'll see what I mean. :thumbs:
Desireable, yes, rare...hardly...rare=67 L-89 18 produced, 67 L-88 20 produced, 68 L-89 600+ produced, 68 L-88 100+ produced, same with 69, those are rare numbers.
Another way to judge a car if it's rare.......the cost to acquire that car..
You have to distinguish between rare and desireable. Just because it's desireable, does not make it rare. On the flip side, just because a car is rare, does not make it desireable...I own an 82 Buick Regal Sport Coupe, V-6 Turbo, 2020 produced...out of the total Regal production numbers, this is an extremely rare car, just as the 67 L-89 and L-88's are, but is it desireable? Not a chance, now if the car were a GN, it would be another story.
Desireable, yes, rare...hardly...rare=67 L-89 18 produced, 67 L-88 20 produced, 68 L-89 600+ produced, 68 L-88 100+ produced, same with 69, those are rare numbers.
Another way to judge a car if it's rare.......the cost to acquire that car..
You have to distinguish between rare and desireable. Just because it's desireable, does not make it rare. On the flip side, just because a car is rare, does not make it desireable...I own an 82 Buick Regal Sport Coupe, V-6 Turbo, 2020 produced...out of the total Regal production numbers, this is an extremely rare car, just as the 67 L-89 and L-88's are, but is it desireable? Not a chance, now if the car were a GN, it would be another story.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City Ok
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
Well 2 years ago I was at the Eureka Springs vette weekend and I think there was around 1000 vettes and mine was the only big block 68 vert atleast as fas as I could tell so I was impressed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 1
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
There are very few Corvettes that are really "rare" by true collectors' definition. '67 L88 and L89, '63 ZO6 and Grand Sports, ZL1, otherwise, you really need to get into combining options to get into 10 or 12 cars produced.
Heck, I determined when my '99 was lost in the flood, it was probably one of three silver/black/black convertibles with 6 speed, Z51 suspension, HUD and no other weight adding options. Rare? Yes...would that ever matter in valuation? Nope.
Rare can be a relative thing. Ferraris are rare compared to Corvettes, but when you look on the lawn of Monterey's Concorso Italiano, they seem as rare as Civics. But, if you walk into collector Jon Shirley's garage and there's a GTO and a 275GTS/4, those are rare cars (the 275GTS/4 being the rarest production Ferrari made at like 12 cars.)
You have to keep in mind that most American production cars are not rare by absolute terms, because GM/Ford/Chrysler couldn't make money off a rare car.
Heck, I determined when my '99 was lost in the flood, it was probably one of three silver/black/black convertibles with 6 speed, Z51 suspension, HUD and no other weight adding options. Rare? Yes...would that ever matter in valuation? Nope.
Rare can be a relative thing. Ferraris are rare compared to Corvettes, but when you look on the lawn of Monterey's Concorso Italiano, they seem as rare as Civics. But, if you walk into collector Jon Shirley's garage and there's a GTO and a 275GTS/4, those are rare cars (the 275GTS/4 being the rarest production Ferrari made at like 12 cars.)
You have to keep in mind that most American production cars are not rare by absolute terms, because GM/Ford/Chrysler couldn't make money off a rare car.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
68, IMO I think you have a rare, desirable, and valuable vette. But as you can see, its all about perspective.
I agree, you will not find original carbon copies of your 68 often. Enjoy your vette. :)
I agree, you will not find original carbon copies of your 68 often. Enjoy your vette. :)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 1
Re: How Rare is my vette (LAvetteman)
Absolutely, don't get any of us wrong! Your car is fantastic and desirable (and will certainly skyrocket in value in the next 10 years.) In relative terms, you have a rare combination of options.
And I'm sure it looks and drives wonderful!
And I'm sure it looks and drives wonderful!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Re: How Rare is my vette (68vetteguy)
You can be pretty safe in knowing that your car is THE ONLY one assigned YOUR car's serial number. That makes it truly one-of-a-kind indeed!! :D
I have to admit, it does seem odd that the car would have been built with NO power options but WITH A/C. I don't know how rare that would make it, but in my mind, it IS unique. Your paperwork is certainly a plus!
Never mind the :bs comments about '68 not being the best year. I'd put a nice '68 up against any other year Corvette out there. I'd certainly never turn down a nice '68 in favor of a less than nice one of another year.
I have to admit, it does seem odd that the car would have been built with NO power options but WITH A/C. I don't know how rare that would make it, but in my mind, it IS unique. Your paperwork is certainly a plus!
Never mind the :bs comments about '68 not being the best year. I'd put a nice '68 up against any other year Corvette out there. I'd certainly never turn down a nice '68 in favor of a less than nice one of another year.
