Why does my '68 not look like other '68s?

[angry planet]

I just got a 1968 corvette and when I was looking for parts for it, I noticed that the grille area on mine doesn't look like the parts in catalogs for 1968s.

Here is mine
http://objectone.com/Corvette/DSCN1806.JPG

Notice the continuous grille and separate rhombus-shaped turn signal light

here is what all others I have seen look like:
http://objectone.com/Corvette/other%2068.jpg

Notice the two separate grilles and internal circular light.

What is going on here? Any ideas?

[Wegone]

The blue one is 70-72 ..the red is a 68

[angry planet]

The VIN number says it is a 68. What should I do to figure out what is going on?

[angry planet]

Actually, the pics I see of 70-72 vettes have separate left and right grilles with an area in the center for a plate. Mine is continuous.

[Wegone]

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/

hope this helps...

[TWINRAY]

Originally Posted by angry planet

The VIN number says it is a 68. What should I do to figure out what is going on?

Could have had a front clip replacement since the shark gills are post '69. Just noticed, your door handles aren't '68. '68 had the push button. From what I can see in the photo, you have the '69 or later door handle style. Either the car has had a major redo as far as fiberglass replacement, or someone screwed up when registering it.

[Vettehead Mikey]

I'd say that a previous owner did some extensive modifications.

1) your front grill assembly was never used on a production Corvette

2) the hood is an aftermarket '73 and up 'long hood'

3) the side gills are from 70-72

4) the drivers door is '69 and up

5) rocker panels are post '69 config. (not sure what year)

6) Corvettes did not have retractable radio antennas until the late 70s

7) the luggage rack is an aftermarket addition

8) there is a strange looking 'split' in the middle of your hardtop. Is it two piece, or just a pin stripe?

Having nit picked all of this, I do like the look of the car! One of the nicer customs I've seen.

BTW, the red '68 does not have an original hood on it either.

[Martin72]

The blue one is 70-72 ..the red is a 68

I agree...the front of the blue one is from the '70 to '72 years.....with a custom grill installed. It also has a custom "long-type" hood with the wiper door removed.

It also looks to have '69 or later doors....the '68 had a push-button to open the door.

If the VIN says '68....then it's a '68 with a few custom touches added over the years.

[Martin72]

Oops....looks like Vettehead Mikey replied while I was typing my message...

[angry planet]

Very very interesting. Thanks everyone for the replies.

Vettehead Mikey: the spilt in the top is because it has t-tops.

This is my first project / collector car. What does all this mean with respect to its value? I paid 10k for it, thinking it was a '68. Did I get completely screwed?

[TWINRAY]

Originally Posted by Martin72

Oops....looks like Vettehead Mikey replied while I was typing my message...

Ditto - how did he type all that stuff so fast?

[Vettehead Mikey]

Originally Posted by TWINRAY

Ditto - how did he type all that stuff so fast?

I used a finger on EACH HAND to type! Goes much faster that way.

[Vettehead Mikey]

Originally Posted by angry planet

Very very interesting. Thanks everyone for the replies.

Vettehead Mikey: the spilt in the top is because it has t-tops.

This is my first project / collector car. What does all this mean with respect to its value? I paid 10k for it, thinking it was a '68. Did I get completely screwed?

Your top appears to be a removable hard top intended for a convertible model. No factory convertible hardtop had t-tops also!

Did you get screwed? Not at $10K assuming the car is in good mechanical condition. Does it have the original engine/drivetrain?

[angry planet]

That is an excellent question It supposedly has the original engine and drivetrain, but it was supposedly a '68 too, so I guess I can't be sure now. It does run well though.

You are right about that hard top. I have a convertible top with it, but the owner didn't know how to change from the t-top to the convertible top, and after looking at it for awhile, I couldn't figure it out either, so I just brought the convertible top inside to deal with later.

I just ran out and checked the VIN number again. THe 6th digit is definitely an '8', so at least SOME part of it was a 68.

[Wegone]

Does it have 4 red stop lights..backup lights under the rear bumpers.. if so it is a 68 tail clip, 68 did not have wheel flairs..not sure about the side maker lights..they don't look right.. the vin # should be on the block also.

Steve