Bill T.
Tried to respond to your e-mail, but there was a spam guard that prevented my reply. Glad to help you with some values on your 68 L71, but I need some more info. Do you have the tri-carbs on the car and does it have the smog pump and extras? Does it have the original radio and seat belts? Also, look on the drivers door cowl post and tell me the paint and trim codes. Also, do you have the warranty booklet and original protect o plate? How many miles on the car and is it the original block. If so, what are the numbers on the pad. There are two sets. With this info and what you have already provided I can give you some real nice values on what to expect. P.S. Your tach should have a 6500 rpm red line. If not, let me know.

Mark
68 L71 Coupe

Mark,
Just got back from vacation - Thanks for the response.
Here are the details:
1-My car came with TriCarbs but the owner before me removed them and installed a Holley 750 double pumper.

2-Smog pump&extras (not there now, don't know about new)

3-Orig radio & seat belts (been removed)

4-Paint & Trim codes
CHEVROLET F05
TRIM 442
986 PAINT

5-Warranty booklet (no)
Protect-o-plate (not sure what this is ??)

6-miles on car (aprox 75,000)

7-Orig block (Yes)

8-pad numbers
3916321
also has (conv) stamped just above the pad

9-My tach red lines @ 6,500

Thanks for your help Mark.
I really hate to part with my C3 but I fell in love with the C5's :-)

Thanks again,
Bill

Bill

First some verifications. Your codes show that the car originally was painted Silverstone Silver with a Gunmetal Gray Vinyl interior. The fact that you have the build sheet and that your tach shows a 6500 RPM redline definately shows this is a 427/435hp car. The code you provides shows the car was built on January 5th, 1968. The casting date on the passenger side of the block (upside down) should pre-date the build date of the car. Usually 2 to 6 weeks. In the future I feel the 68 and 69 big block cars are going to take off in value. For the moment here is what I think.

You're missing quite a few items to make this a Top Flight car, i.e., tri-carbs, smog pump, transister ignition. Its quite expensive to round up this stuff, but can be done. You definately have a 427 block by the casting number, but if it is a true 435hp/4 speed block, then it will have a number on the pad that starts with the letter T and ends with IR. The "IR" is the code for 435hp. If indeed that is on the block pad, then this helps in value and would verify the proper and original block. If so, as the car is currently in primer, that will detract in value, but most projects need a paint job anyway, so you've actually helped some people by having it in primer. A really nice, well documented 435hp car will bring up to $35,000 in my opinion (not a top flight NCRS car, it will bring more). So we start subtracting from $35,000. As you need paint,carbs, intake, transister ignition, seat belts, etc. plus I'm sure other things, I feel the car may bring $20,000 to $23,000. You don't have the warranty book or protect o plate, but you do have the tank sticker. A warranty book and protect o plate can be obtained. Check Hemmings for that. Guy by the name of Jim Clemons can make one. He charges $275.00 for it. He also probably has the warranty book also. On a quick sale You may have to go $15,000, but try and get up to $20,000. This is based upon the interior, mechanicals being pretty decent. If anyone else has any comments on values, please chime in. Maybe Johnny 427/435 may know something on the value also, as he has a 69 435hp. Hopefully he will read this and comment also, as 68 and 69's are close in value.

Good luck! Wish it was close by, as I would be interested. Johnny may be interested also.

Mark

|UPDATED|8/1/2003 2:39:00 PM|/UPDATED|

Do you have pics of the car?

Hope to have one posted soon. 1st time in this Forum so I need to read the "how to" section on posting digital photos ...

I would love to get my hands on a 427/435. Mine is a small block.

I know what you mean. My Dad had a 64 with a 327 that he thought was Bad until he drove my Big Block

Got any pictures yet?

Just got back from vacation. Hope to post pics soon.

Posted car on eBay (item# 2442108180) thought it was sold @ $11,600. but deadbeat bidder Planning to relist soon. Let me know if you're interested