If you ever wondered what a 68 Vette was worth

[joe smith]

I only had a hankering for a Corvette once in my life. It was back in 66 when I was in the Navy. I had my eye on a 58 Corvette. The dealer talked me into a 60 Pontiac instead. He told me one of every three Corvettes in Southern California get stolen every year. That was enough to quell any Chevrolet interests I ever had. Another guy from my ship bought a 60 Vette and sure enough, two weeks later it went missing and was never heard from again.

Southern California, and its only become nicer and safer as the years go on..

 

[Sixpactogo]

View attachment 1238468

Nice! Looks about like the one I was looking at in CA except for the color. If I had to own one, that would be the only year for me. Thanks for showing.

 

[YY1]

I had a taste for a vette once.

Back in the late 00's when you could get a relatively nice L82 C3 for 5K or even less.

I looked at and drove a couple dozen including a few under 7K C4's.

What ultimately kept me away is that I just don't fit.

 

[33 IMP]

Tried to talk my dad into buying a 58 vette at an auction many years ago, as an investment if nothing else. (I think he passed, cause it was a four speed and he knew I WANTED it!).
Ice blue, silver cove, blue interior and roof.
290 horse 283, ramjet fuel injection, 4sp.
$4800/no sale. $5000 would have bought it. (90k today).

 

[Photon440]

$5,000 dollars in 1958 would be about the same as $45,000 now.

 

[33 IMP]

$5,000 dollars in 1958 would be about the same as $45,000 now.

The auction was probably in the mid to late eighties. Going rate for a fuelie vette was probably around 7-9 grand for a first series car, but the 58 was the least desirable because of the "gingerbread". You would be very lucky to buy that car for under 75k today.

 

[Cranky]

The auction was probably in the mid to late eighties. Going rate for a fuelie vette was probably around 7-9 grand for a first series car, but the 58 was the least desirable because of the "gingerbread". You would be very lucky to buy that car for under 75k today.

Gingerbread? Never heard that term before.....

And the car on CL doesn't look totally restored to me. Not even sure it's worth 30k with what it's been 'restored' with.

 

[khryslerkid]

Definitely not the original engine. 1969 was the first year for a vett equipped with a 350.

When I was a kid my neighbor, just getting out of high school, bought a new '68, yellow, 327 4 spd. Really a sharp looking car. He still owns it and it still looks great. (If you like vetts)

 

[33 IMP]

Gingerbread? Never heard that term before.....

And the car on CL doesn't look totally restored to me. Not even sure it's worth 30k with what it's been 'restored' with.

Gingerbread on the 58 was a phony vent in the cove, with three new pieces of chrome, two chrome strips on the trunk lid, and a bunch of phony non-functional louvers on the hood. The trunk strips and hood louvers were gone for 59/60. It seems nowadays the 58s are more popular than 59 or 60, because of the gingerbread.

 

[440 PHIXX]

Gingerbread on the 58 was a phony vent in the cove, with three new pieces of chrome, two chrome strips on the trunk lid, and a bunch of phony non-functional louvers on the hood. The trunk strips and hood louvers were gone for 59/60. It seems nowadays the 58s are more popular than 59 or 60, because of the gingerbread.

.
1958 was the apogee of chrome. Especially GM.

 

[Photon440]

The auction was probably in the mid to late eighties. Going rate for a fuelie vette was probably around 7-9 grand for a first series car, but the 58 was the least desirable because of the "gingerbread". You would be very lucky to buy that car for under 75k today.

Oh, I understand the car value. I just meant the value of the dollar itself as adjusted for inflation.

 

[Photon440]

Gingerbread? Never heard that term before.....

And the car on CL doesn't look totally restored to me. Not even sure it's worth 30k with what it's been 'restored' with.

Gingerbread was a term also used in Bob Lutz's books on Chrysler as a term for extra trim on cars that was low cost to produce but added to the style and looks of a car.

 

[Cranky]

Gingerbread on the 58 was a phony vent in the cove, with three new pieces of chrome, two chrome strips on the trunk lid, and a bunch of phony non-functional louvers on the hood. The trunk strips and hood louvers were gone for 59/60. It seems nowadays the 58s are more popular than 59 or 60, because of the gingerbread.

The fake louvered hood wasn't needed imo but that and the trunk 'ribs' is something that set the car apart from the others. The one year only stuff is something that draws my attention. The 63 split window was another draw for me as I liked the coupes and the rear window treatment was different but I can understand people not liking the lousy rear view visibility...

Gingerbread was a term also used in Bob Lutz's books on Chrysler as a term for extra trim on cars that was low cost to produce but added to the style and looks of a car.

Somehow that term evaded me all my life lol

 

[Budnicks]

I like the 68's, they were cheap for a long time
of the gen 3's
I had a couple 68-71's, 71 LS6 was the best
I had a 62 fuelie org., but it was turned into a S/C 8.90 car
& I had a presitine 65 425hp 396 4 speed also

BBC was a hot bastard, in more than one way
& yes they did have a cooling problem, it was solved in 69
there are work arounds, easy fixes
also;
the body bonding was different too
it showed up as they aged with 'dot like' depression deals under the paint
all **** that can be worked around, wouldn't stop me from buying one

68 BB 427 car, not mine (same color as my 71)
& a sbc 327 car next to it

69 L88 Not mine, I love the Gold

70 LT1-350-ZR1
1 of like 25, I hate red, not mine either

71 454 LS6, 4 speed ZR2
I love the greens in that era, not mine either
I wish
(my 71 was Silver with Balck interior, owned by a former Oakland Raider)

 

[Budnicks]

My problem was more with the silk shirt half-buttoned up,
gold chain & ostentatious, huge watch wearing, 3rd world
know-nothings, with a lil' $$ types
that gravitated, to the Corvette brand...

the cars aren't that bad when you know the quirks
& all the ones I had, are worth more than my current 68 RR
go figure

 

[Moms68]

1958 was a major change from the 1957 vettes. It is longer and wider than its predecessor. 4 speed manual transmissions made their debut in late 1957 (the T-10-1) and was not well received at first. Quad headlights, as well as the Wonder Bar signal seeking AM radio, and seat belts were added. All colors were one year offerings, mine is Signet red which I've heard described as tomato soup or lipstick red. Panama Yellow and Silver Blue cars are very cool too.
Yes, they are over the top styling-wise, as was all 1958 vehicles. You either love them or hate them.

 

[ord27]

the Holy Grail in the Corvette world

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2846349162...rentrq:fae2655017e0a765dbd4f214fff7de50|iid:1

 

[fratzog lover]

In the Corvette world ‘68 and ‘64 were both less than desirable. ‘68’s first year of the C3 had numerous issues. 30k may not be that far off as a good price.[/QUOTEDuntov talked about not releasing it. He was very disappointed with it. 68 MY vettes had problems galore, especially body fitment.