I am interested in purchasing a 68-72 vette and have been looking for information on-line for a few months. I have seen several 68s advertised with the word stingray above the gills on the side of the car. I was under the impression that c3s did not have stingray on them till 69. I also remember reading someting about how the back-up lights were outside the tail-lights but im not sure about that. Would someone please help me with some visual ques that are apparent between diferent model years?

Thanks

|UPDATED|6/30/2002 12:49:21 PM|/UPDATED|

Not sure on the tail lights, but this is kinda how I remember the different years: 53-62 before pop up lights; 63-67 Sting Ray, mid-years; 68 no side badging; 69-72 chrome bumper, flat window, Stingray (one word starts); 73-like 78-79 no tails and big tails on pace an anniversar cars I think, some with hatch windows but don't open; 80-82 all big tails, 82 CE hatch opens only.

Basically:
53-62 no pop up lights
63-67 mid-years
68-73 baby tails
74-78 or 9 (don't recall right now and too lazy to go look it up!) no tails
80-82 big tails
84-96 C4's
97-present flat tails

I believe the '68s had little rectangular backup lights mounted below the rear bumpers inboard of the exhaust tips. They moved to inside the inboard tail lights in '69. The '68s also had the ignition switch located in the dash to the right of the steering wheel. The steering column mounted interlocking ignition switch appeared on the '69s.

Dar is correct in that the '68s did not have the Stingray badging above the gills, that started in '69.

'68s and '69s had four vertical gills that were replaced on the '70-'72s by a single gill with 3 by 4 rectangular grid insert.

'68s and '69s also had round, or bullet, shaped front turn signals and exhaust tips. The '70-'72s had a larger turn signal that filled the outboard corners of the grill ('70s and early production '71s had clear lenses while later '71s and 72s had amber lenses) and rectangular exhaust tips.

'68s had 327 and 427 engine options, the '69s had 350s and 427s, and the '70-'72s had 350s and 454s. The LT1 version of the 350 was introduced on the '70s and positraction became standard that year as well.

The source for most of the above info is "Corvette - America's Sports Car" by Randy Leffingwell. It is a great book with lots of pictures (B&W and color). It was published in 1997 so there isn't much in there about the C5s, but it covers the C1-C4 years very well (in my opinion).

Hope that helps some.

I just got that book. My mom and dad picked it up for me the other day when they saw it at a bookstore. I don't read many books, but I'm eager to start it. I'm saving it for my vacation to Florida on July 4th. It looks like a really good book.

The other very obvious distinction on a '68 is the push button to open the doors from outside rather than the paddle which was only a finger recess on the '68.

You're right, forgot about that one. Good catch...!!!


Jim O.

I love the chrome bumber vettes, but mine is special to me. Last year of the C3 body style and the ONLY Corvette with a left-up rear hatch. Good luck in your quest for the car

Sometimes I wish I had a lift up hatch. Sure would make it easier to get things from the rear area.



|QUOTE|82dukman said: I love the chrome bumber vettes, but mine is special to me. Last year of the C3 body style and the ONLY Corvette with a left-up rear hatch. Good luck in your quest for the car |/QUOTE|

|QUOTE|blk79 said: Sometimes I wish I had a lift up hatch. Sure would make it easier to get things from the rear area.
|/QUOTE|

I agree with you!!!! when I know I have to get something that I know will be a PITA with my vette ...I take Hubby's..
sure would like to find a wrecked 82..with the back still intact.....would exchange the window for a hatch!
I have looked at conversion kit!! WOW!!!!! EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!

|UPDATED|6/28/2002 6:07:42 PM|/UPDATED|

Definitely no stingray badging !!