1968 Chevrolet Corvette
C3 · First year of the third-generation Corvette, styled after th... · The first C3 — the Mako Shark comes to the street
Ultra Rare
Production & Overview
Total Production
28,566
Original MSRP
$4,663
Assembly Plants
St. Louis, MO
Wheelbase
98 inches
Body Styles
Coupe (T-top) · Convertible
Curb Weight
Unknown
Notable Packages & Production
L88 427 — L88
long low Mako Shark body, hidden headlights, raised L88 hood with rear-facing cowl induction
10x or more over a base 1968
80
produced
L71 427/435 Tri-Power — L71
Three two-barrel carbs, solid lifters
2-3x base
rare
Available Engines
327 327ci — V8
Base engine
300 hp
L79 327ci — V8
High-performance 327
350 hp
L36 427ci — V8
Base big block
390 hp
L68 427ci — V8
Tri-Power 427
400 hp
L71 427ci — V8
Tri-Power, solid lifters
435 hp
L89 427ci — V8
L71 with aluminum heads — rare
435 hp
L88 427ci — V8
Race engine sold for the street, deliberately under-rated. About 80 built — the most valuable 1968 Corvette.
430 hp
Buyer Checklist
⚠ Clone warning: L88, L71 and L89 clones exist at every price level — engine codes and paperwork decide value. Always verify with cowl tag, engine stamp, and registry before purchase.
Check the engine suffix code and partial VIN stamp on the block
Inspect the frame — especially the rear kickup area in front of the rear wheels
Check the birdcage (steel cage under the fiberglass) for rust around the windshield and door pillars
Test the vacuum-operated hidden headlights and wiper door
Check T-top panels for fit and water leaks
Look for fiberglass stress cracks and repairs
Verify the trim tag for paint and interior
Big-block cars: confirm correct hood, radiator and heavy-duty parts
Known Problem Areas
Frame rust at the rear kickups
Birdcage rust hidden under the fiberglass
Vacuum headlight and wiper door failures
Water leaks around the T-tops and windshield
First-year build quality issues and interior heat
Big-block clones
What Drives Value
↑ Increases Value
Documented L88
L71 or L89 with matching numbers
4-speed manual
NCRS Top Flight or Bloomington Gold certification
Original paint
↓ Decreases Value
Big-block clone
Frame or birdcage rust
Poor fiberglass repairs
Non-original engine
Restoration Overview
Difficulty
Medium
Parts Availability
Excellent — C3 Corvette parts are widely available
Driver Quality Cost
$20,000 – $40,000
Show Quality Cost
$60,000 – $120,000
Key Suppliers
Corvette Central · Zip Corvette · Paragon Reproductions
Pop Culture & Legacy
The C3 body ran from 1968 to 1982 — the longest-running Corvette generation
Styled after the Mako Shark II concept car by Larry Shinoda under Bill Mitchell
Other Chevrolet Corvette Years