• The Corvette's first major restyling since 1963 occurred in 1968.
• As the sales brochure read, "Corvette '68... all different all over"
• The fast-back was replaced by a tunneled-roof coupe.
• It featured a removable back window and a two-piece detachable roof section or T-top.
• The convertible's optional hardtop had a glass rear window.
• The front end was more aerodynamic than those on previous Corvettes.
• As before, the headlights were hidden.
• Now they were vacuum-operated, rather than electri­cal.
• The wipers also disappeared when not in use.
• Except for the rocker panels, the sides were devoid of chrome.
• Conventional door handles were eliminated and in their place were push buttons.
• The blunt rear deck contained four round taillights with the word Corvette printed in chrome in the space between them.
• The wraparound, wing-like rear bumper and license plate holder treatment resembled that used on the 1967 models.
• Buyers had their choice of 10 exterior colors
  • Tuxedo Black
  • Polar White
  • Corvette Bronze
  • LeMans Blue
  • International Blue
  • Cordovan Maroon
  • Rally Red
  • Silverstone Silver
  • British Green
  • Safari Yellow
• All convertibles came with a choice of Black, White or Beige soft tops.
• Interior colors were
  • Black
  • Red
  • Medium Blue
  • Dark Blue
  • Dark Orange
  • Tobacco
  • Gunmetal

I.D. NUMBERS

• The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
• Convertible Serial numbers ranged from 194687S100001 to 194678S128566
• Coupe Serial numbers ranged from 194378S100001 to 194378S128566

  Position	Character	Description
  1	1	Chevrolet Division
  2 & 3	94	body series: Corvette
  4 & 5	67	convertible
  	37	coupe
  6	8	1968
  7	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
  8 to 13	100001 to 128566	production sequence

• Engine serial number

  1 to 7	0001001	sequential production number
  8	F or T	Flint, MI or Tonawanda, NY
  9 to 10	Carburetion & transmission	HE = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor HO = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and four barrel carburetor HP = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, four-barrel carburetor HT = 327-cid 350-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, four-barrel carburetor IL = 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual or automatic transmission, four-barrel carburetor IM = 427-cid 400-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors IO = 427-cid 400-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors IQ = 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and four-barrel carburetor IR = 427-cid 435-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetor IT = 427-cid 430-hp V-8 with 12.5:1 compression ratio, manual transmission and four-barrel carburetor IU = 427-cid 435-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors

• Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block next to the engine number
• The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
• The Fisher Body Style Number 68-19467 identifies a Corvette convertible
• The Fisher Body Style Number 68-19437 identifies a Corvette coupe
• The body number is the production serial number of the body.
• The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
• The ten 1968 Corvette exterior colors were:
  • 900 = Tuxedo Black
  • 972 = Polar White
  • 974 = Rally Red
  • 976 = LeMans Blue
  • 978 = International Blue
  • 983 = British Green
  • 984 = Safari Yellow
  • 986 = Silverstone Silver
  • 988 = Cordovan Maroon
  • 992 = Corvette Bronze
• Upholstery Codes

  Color	Vinyl Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
  Black	STD	402
  Red	407	408
  Blue	411	412
  Bright Blue	414	415
  Orange	425	426
  Tobacco	435	436
  Gunmetal	442

Series No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
194	37	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$4663	3055 lb	9,936
194	67	2-dr. Conv - 2 passenger	$4347	3070 lb	18,630

TRANSMISSION

• Standard Manual Transmission: three-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
• Automatic Transmission: Three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter (optional)
• Optional Manual Transmission: High-performance four-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
• Optional Manual Transmission: Special high-performance four-speed manual all-synchromesh close-ratio transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
• Optional Manual Transmission: Special heavy-duty four-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter

CHASSIS

Feature	Convertible	Coupe
Wheelbase	98 inches (2.489 m)	98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall length	182.1 inches (4.625 m)	182.1 inches (4.625 m)
Overall width	69.2 inches (1.758 m)	69.2 inches (1.758 m)
Overall height		48.6 inches (1.234 m)
Front tread	58.3 inches (1.481 m)	58.3 inches (1.481 m)
Rear tread	59.0 inches (1.499 m)	59.0 inches (1.499 m)
Frame	Full-length ladder type with five cross members. Steel box sections, welded.
Front suspension	Independent, unequal-length A-arms, coil springs; tubular shocks and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension	Independent, trailing arms, toe links, transverse chromium-carbon steel leaf spring, tube shocks, and anti-roll bar
Steering	Saginaw recirulating ball, 17.6:1 ratio, 2.9 turns to lock, 39.9 turning circle
Rear axle type	Sprung differential, Hypoid gear
Brakes	Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs; 11.8-inch diameter, single calipers
Total swept area	259 sq. in. per ton, 461.2 sq. in. total
Wheels	6" wide slotted steel 15" 5-lug disc
Standard rear axle ratio	3.36:1
Optional rear axle ratio	3.08:1, 3.36:1, 3.55:1, 3.70:1, 4.11:1, 4.56:1

OPTIONS

RPO 898 Genuine leather seat trim ($79) RPO A01 Soft-Ray tinted glass, all windows ($15.80) RPO A31 Electric power windows ($57.95) RPO A82 Headrests ($42.15) RPO A85 Custom shoulder harness ($26.35) RPO C07 Auxiliary hardtop for convertible ($231.75) RPO C08 Vinyl cover for auxiliary hardtop ($52.70) RPO C50 Rear window defroster ($31.60) RPO C60 Air con­ditioning ($412.90) RPO F41 Special front and rear suspension ($36.90) RPO G81 Positraction rear axle, all ratios ($42.35) RPO J50 Power brakes ($42.15) RPO J56 Special heavy-duty brakes ($384.45) RPO K66 Transistor ignition system ($73.75) RPO L36 427-cd 390-hp V-8 ($200.15) RPO L68 427-cid 400-hp V-8 ($305.50) RPO L71 427-cid 435-hp V-8 ($437.10) RPO L81 427-cid 435-hp V-8 ($437.10) RPO L79 327-cid 350-hp V-8 ($105.35) RPO L88 427-cid 560-hp V-8 ($947.90) RPO M20 Four-speed manual transmission ($184.30) RPO M21 Four-speed close-ratio manual transmission ($184.30) RPO M22 Heavy-duty close-ratio four-speed manual transmission ($263.30) RPO M35 Turbo Hydra-Matic automat­ic transmission ($226.45) RPO N11 Off-road exhaust system ($36.90) RPO N36 Telescopic steering wheel ($42.15) RPO P01 Bright metal wheel cover ($57.95) RPO PT6 Red stripe nylon tires F70 x 15 ($31.30) RPO PT7 F70 x 15 white stripe tires ($31.35) RPO UA6 Alarm system ($26.35) RPO U15 Speed-warning indicator ($10.55) RPO U69 AM-FM radio ($172.75) RPO U79 Stereo radio ($278.10) HISTORICAL NOTES Just over 80 percent of 1968 Corvettes were equipped with four-speed manual transmission 81 percent had tinted glass 36.3 percent had power steering 19.8 percent had air conditioning 33.7 percent had power brakes. The L79-powe red Corvette of this year could go from 0-to-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and from 0-to-100mph in 20.7 seconds. The L71 -powered Corvette of this year could go from 0-to-30 in 3.0 seconds; from 0-to-5O in 5.3 seconds and from 0-to-60 in 6.5 seconds. It did the quarter mile in 13.41 seconds at 109.5mph. Top speed (L71) was 142 mph. 1968 CORVETTE Click here for Corvette books Books on other automobiles Dictionary of over 15,000 Automotive Terms Cadillac History Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook a@motorera.com 1960 1961 1962 1963-67 overview 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 June 18, 1999