Corvette History 1968-1982 Corvettes (C3)1968 Chevrolet Corvette
1968 Chevrolet Corvette
Contributed by Mike Antonick, Editor "Corvette Black Book"
The chassis remained virtually unchanged in this, the first third-generation model, but the body and interior for 1968 were completely new, based on the Mako Shark show car. But it wasn't called a Mako Shark as expected, or a Sting Ray as in 1963 through 1967. For the first time, the coupe featured removable roof panels (T-tops) and a removable rear window. Wheel width increased to seven inches. This was the first Corvette without side vent windows and the last (until 1997) with an ignition switch on the instrument panel. To tidy up the engine bay and improve weight distribution, the battery was moved to a compartment behind the seats. A light monitoring system used fiber optics to display exterior lamp function on the instrument panel. Optional automatic transmissions were 3-speed Hydromatics, replacing Corvette's earlier 2-speed Powerglide units. Despite media criticism of spotty quality--especially from Car and Driver magazine which refused to road test a 1968 Corvette due to its poor quality--28,566 of the 1968 models were sold, a new record. Chevrolet dealer and Corvette driver Don Yenko won the SCCA Class A Divisional Championship.
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