Topic: manufacture questions
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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I bought a 1968 corvette stingray convertible in 1979, it has the 327, 350 horse designation and I have been told they didn't make this model in 1968. I bought the car from International Harvester as it was a company car. I wanted to get clarification on this. Thank you, John
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Bladenboro, NC - USA
Joined: 1/22/2006
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1972 conv., sunfire yellow, blk interior, blk vinyl and convertible top. Off frame restoration with American Speed 383 stroker engine producing 500hp plus a 200hp NOS system. MSD ignition. Hooker super competition headers with chambered exhaust.
They did in fact make that engine available is 1968. L-79 engine was 327/350hp.

SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA
Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942
Vette(s): 1976 L48 auto
1978 L82 4speed
1994 LT1 6speed
1978 L82 4speed
1994 LT1 6speed
Hey Jonh, what you have is correct, at least as for the 1968 model with a L79 option 327, it was a 350 hp engine... wheras the base 327 was a 300 hp engine. You can verify this if you can find the engine suffix that is stamped into the block on the pad, located on the passenger side of the engine, at the front of the engine just ahead of the cylinder head. It "should" have the letters "HP" or "HT" to be the 350hp engine(along with the last few numbers of the vehicle's vin). By the way, there were 9440 L79's produced... :)
Howdee nieghbor welcome to the club..I have a 69 that has the emblems and luovers you speak about..I believe that the 68 and 69 are identical except engine and door handle changes..ever get down to York you can stop by and compare if you like..but I am pretty sure that's the only difference..car show in Shrewsbury Friday night if you want to go!
Rich

My first parade at Carlisle 2010

SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA
Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942
Vette(s): 1976 L48 auto
1978 L82 4speed
1994 LT1 6speed
1978 L82 4speed
1994 LT1 6speed
I trust Jim on this one..there are not that many 68's around so I do get confused once in a while
..but how does a company car include a 68 convertable????? I guess IH had some fun back then!

Rich

My first parade at Carlisle 2010

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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20229
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
As all have said, the '68 Corvette was just a "Corvette"...no Stingray designation until '69. The fender vent louvers were a '69 only option, but a lot of '68 owners added them.
There were a few more differences in the two years, including the back-up lights, the push-button door handles on the '68 only, the interior door panels, and the key in the dash for '68 only.
You're a lucky guy to be able to get a car like that. Did you get any documentaion on the history?
Welcome to C3VR, too!
There were a few more differences in the two years, including the back-up lights, the push-button door handles on the '68 only, the interior door panels, and the key in the dash for '68 only.
You're a lucky guy to be able to get a car like that. Did you get any documentaion on the history?
Welcome to C3VR, too!

Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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