Okay, I know this is , but hey, I've got to be sure.

Yesterday I had a look at a '68 BB vert. Drivable. Needs work. Not a basket case, at least from first impressions, but FAR from great. Owner told me it was father in laws car left for the grandkids, but dad feels a 427 in the hands of a 16 year old = so he'd rather sell.

He says the numbers point to the car having it's original engine, but I did not yet look at them. What number on the engine where needs to match what number on what other part of the car?

Also, it's an automatic and has A/C controls. Would a '68 427 come with an automatic transmission? A/C compressor is missing.

The line on the tach seemed to start at 5300 RPM, but I can't remember if that was a red or yellow line starting at 5300. The air cleaner has a 390hp sticker on it, so I assume that would be the base 427. 427 hood of course.

My Vette mechanic is going to inspect it this morning. He will look for rust and clues of old damage to the frame & birdcage, mechanical soundness, etc. He is a good C3 mechanic, but he's not an NCRS enthusiast knowing every correct detail. What else should I have him look for to confirm this was a factory BB, and not a clone?

The body needs some attention. Paint is worn, but not horrible. interior is the same. Worn, but not shockingly bad. convertible top is in remarkably good shape for what he says is the original. He also has a black vinyl hard top for it. He's asking $28,500 based of off what he's seen in the paper. (He really does not know what to ask) I've recently seen a nice '69 restored BB vert (possible clone) go for $25,500. What's a fair general ballpark range for a car like I'm looking at based off what I've stated here? I won't make a solid offer 'till my mechanic gives it the once over.

Oh yea, Texas car, but the interior smelled a little musty/moldy. Sign of anything? And the console plaque is gone. Probably safe to say the fiber optics don't work,

Thanks!

 

Look at the pass. side front engine pad. It should have part of the car's vin on it along with a engine code if it is the original. The casting date on the block should fit with the build date of the car. That would be on the vin plate. A 68 bb should have a 3916321 or a 3935439 engine block casting. The casting date should be on the block on the pass. side near the freeze plug.
The 427 was availble with AC in the 390 and 400 hp engines, and was availble with auto. The tach should redline at 5600 for either engine.
The caps on the half shafts should be the heavy duty style ones, and not the u-bolt type found on the small blocks
The price seems pretty high to me for that car. By the time you put it back right, you will have way too much in it. I wouldn't pay more than 14 or 15 thousand for it, and that's assuming it is original. You will still be deep in it when you finish, but you will have a nice car,
There are other numbers to look at for originality, but these should point you in the right direction.
Hope this helps, Tom

 

Number on flat machined pad on passenger front of engine below valve cover should partially match VIN. A/C with auto is authentic. Redline at 5600, yellow at 5300. Most old cars smell musty. Unless you see visible water damage, musty wouldn't worry me unless it smelled badly of mildew. $28.5K for a car as you describe in the condition you describe is way freakin' high, IMHO. No more than $21K, and maybe less, since it sounds like it needs some considerable work.

[EDIT: Dammit, Tom, you beat me to the draw. I gotta learn to type faster! ]

JB

 

Thanks guys! That helps a lot!!!!

 

Date codes on these blocks are located on the passenger side just above the drain plug (apx under the #4 spark plug and just in front of the starter). Ther are many, many things to look for to determine originality. I would try to find an NCRS person in your area to go through this Vette with you. Pay him/her travel time + $150.00 or so; this will be the best money you can spend before plucking down cash on a vette. Price is high for what you described; I've seen near perfect '68's go for less than 28K. This one sounds like a 15K car to me. Good luck and let us know what you find out/decide. Happy Holidays, G.

 

I have a 68 big block and the redline does not start until 6300 RPM.

 

the 435 hp cars (tripower) redline is 6500. The 390 and 400 hp cars redline is 5600.

As others have mentioned, it is first a good idea to determine if the engine is original. Easiest way is to see if the engine is stamped with the car's vin. It would be highly unusual to fake a 390 hp car by restamping a replacement engine.

I agree the car appears to be overpriced, by quite a bit! But there is a lot that goes into determining value. For example, if it is a 390 hp car, the original numbered and dated Qjet carb would cost you upwards of $600 to replace. A serviceable replacement Qjet could be found for $150 or so...

 

I had my mechanic look the car over today. The good news is there is no rust. The frame appears to be straight, and it is not a clone. The engine numbers match, and all the other assorted things that belong on a BB are there. The yellow line started at 5300 and the redline at 5600 just as it's suppose to on a 390hp. I'm confident it is a factory BB. The bad news is it needs a lot to bring it up to snuff. My mechanic and I discussed it for quite a while. The car got there under it's own power, but my mechanic says in order to bring the '68 mechanically to a condition equal to that of my '79 I'd be looking to spend $5-$7K just to start, and the car would be in his shop for at least a month. That does not include the needed cosmetic reconditioning. He said every piece of rubber and plastic on the car was in need of replacement including the tires, weather stripping, bushings, etc, among other things. Only the Tach and oil pressure gauge appeared to be working. No other controls functioned. The seats need to be reupholstered and door panels need replacement. Vacuum system needs attention because the headlamps won't rise. There is so much more. It's basically a worn out long setting 36 year old car that has the potential to be restored to something desirable. Still, right now it ONLY has potential. Getting beyond that takes $$$$$$. He was asking $28,500 in the paper. I told him, please don't be insulted, but I'm only willing to offer $15-$16K, and I told him in detail why. He honestly feels the car only needs a carb adjustment, and he says he's turned down an offer of $22,500. I told him he should have took it.

It appears this '68 and I probably won't have a future together, but that's okay. The owner was a nice guy. He just thinks he has more than he actually does. I told him if the car does not sell, and he starts to think my offer was more realistic to call me to discuss it, and that's that for that.

Thank you all for the info. I appreciate it!

 

Don't bother with this guy anymore. I have run into many like him over the years. They have it their head what they feel the car is worth and they won't budge. It would be obvious to anyone on the C3 forum, that the car aint worth what he is asking because many here have restored this type of car. Your mechanic is right too. You would be looking at between 12-15k by the time you finished it. Looks like this guy will be keeping the car, getting the carb adjusted and waiting for a sucker and you will find the right car eventually. Best of luck finding it too.

 

Tho, in a way the guy's right. In another ten years or so, it'll likely be worth that. All he's got to do is wait!

JB

 

there are a lot of 68-72 out there for that price or less in better shape .when you start adding up the cost of parts to make it right you can turn a deal into a night mare in no time.keep looking .

 

I don't know, guys. Original motor BB Air Cond. two top Convertible...solid frame, etc. 28.5K is probably a bit high, but here in my neck of the woods (Baltimore/Washington), you would be dreaming if you thought that you could TOUCH a car like that for 15-18K.

Here where I live, I don't doubt that he turned down 22.5K Chuck

 

Three or four weeks ago there was an ad in the local auto trader for a '68 convertible at a large new car dealer's used lot. I rushed over to look, but it was already sold. It was a trade-in that needed paint, interior, and who knows what else, but the frame was solid. Base motor with a four-speed. Someone was waiting at the door when they opened that morning to buy it. Price- $7000.00

Rich

 

Well, this is '05, not '15, so it's worth what it's worth, and $28K+ it's not. I asked him if he ever considered just keeping it, and he said no because he thinks there is always a chance one of his kid's will find the keys, take it out and kill themselves in it.

That's there in Rustville. If he wants what he wants then he needs to put it on a trailer and drive it to the East Coast. The car is simply not worth $22+K here. Remember, I've seen restored and ready to go '69 BB verts here for $25,500.

For $7K it would have been worth it.

 

Hi

And the console plaque is gone

68 had no console plate. This only appeared in 69 and up.

Gunther

 

Yhttp://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=976307 You can drive this one home if you wanna buy the gas. It's already nice..

 

From the Manheim Auction Classic Car "value" site:

68 Convertible:

Fair: 10K
Good 17.5K
Excellent 30.5K
Show 36K

THEN, ADD
5K 427 engine
3K Factory Air Cond.
2K Both Tops


From the NADA Classic Site:
427/AC/

Lo Retail 14.7K
Average Retail 28K
Hi Retail 41.8K

 

68's are sleeping now. they have a few parts on them that are hard to locate and are not reproduced. mine had a broke rear window lock, and we had to machine two to make it work, and i think we did better than gm, because they are not pot metal. also the shifter plate and guage bezel top. this year of car will eventually come out of the closet and go up in value. i am betting on it. i bought my 427/390 two years ago with 49k documented on it 4 speed w/o air for 22.5. it has not seen the rain or dark since 1974. it has lazy headlights, and lucas wipers (intermitant), but i don't plan on driving it in the rain anyway. if you could get the guy down to 20 it is probably a good deal

 

I started to wonder if that was the case. Thanks for letting me know.
That is a nice car. Don't know if the colors are my taste, but thinking... Thanks for the heads up on that!
I have no background in appraising vintage cars for their dollar value, but I feel my experience as a one time Quality Assessment Auditor for General Motors qualifies me to accurately judge that car's current state of condition. To be general, this car is "fair" at best, and that's being a bit liberal. Manhein says $20K. NADA says as low as about $15K. My mechanic says no more than $18K based off of his mechanical assessment. Price guides are just that, "guides", not absolute values. We all know ultimately a car, ANY car is worth only what someone is willing to pay you for it. To me personally, to put up with the hassle this car would bring I'm not willing to give over about $16K, but that's what it's worth to me alone. I'd consider $18, but I'd probably say no. Again, that's what it's worth to ME . This car could be the EXACT car someone else has been looking for down to every option, color, etc. So they might be willing to pay his price simply because they have been searching for a car factory configured exactly as this one is. I'm not that person, but if the '68's owner waits long enough that person may come along. I sincerely wished him the best of luck finding the right buyer, and gave him some suggestions on how he might better achieve that goal. Barrett Jackson time is coming here to where I live, and if he parks it at the VERY popular local weekly cruise-in/car show the week of B.J., he may just find a buyer closer to his asking price.

I saw the guy yesterday who had the restored Monaco Orange '69 BB Vert I mentioned before. He said he had a hell of a time selling it, and only ended up with $26,500. It was non matching, but in AWESOME overall condition. A far better choice than this '68, so if my acquaintance got what he got for his '69, this guy with the '68 is being VERY unrealistic. Nonetheless, Chuck, I appreciate you view and input!
This is another thing I sort of already knew, but was reminded about by others like 100 times since I started flirting with this '68. All the unique hard to find parts for that year car in this one's condition is definitely a minus.
I think that may be the high side of "fair", but more than it's worth to me. Sounds like you have a sweet car though!