Corvette Model Gallery
1968 Roadster
Press criticism of the new ‘68 was swift and savage. Road
& Track Magazine wrote, "we feel the general direction
of the changes is away from sports car and toward Image and
Gadget Car. And since the Corvette is America’s only sports
car, this direction is a disappointment to us." The most
damning comments came from an editor at Car & Driver who was
critical of almost everything in the new car and declared it
"unfit to road test."
Some of this criticism from the press and new owners was
deserved. While the new car was seven inches long, luggage room
was less and more difficult to access. The car was more difficult
to get into and once in shoulder room was at a premium.
Ventilation from the new ‘Astro-Ventilation’ system,
which did away with the side vent windows, was inadequate and
excess heat from the engine compartment made life in the cockpit
even more uncomfortable. Engine overheating, especially in slow
city traffic, would remain the most frustrating problem for C3
owners and a problem that would never be fully solved. While some
of these problems had been in the initial design and others were
the common problems associated with nearly every first year
design, some have suggested that many could be traced back to
GM’s decision to treat the Corvette as just another GM
product. The Vette was not, ‘just another GM car’ and
its owners, willing to spend more on their car then any other GM
product had higher expectations.
While fault could be found with fit and finish no one could fault
Corvette’s performance, especially when equipped with one of
four 427 cid engines. Even the super critical Car & Driver
referred to a big block equipped coupe as "a 2-door rocket
sled." Racers were also quick to recognize Corvette’s
ability on the track, especially the 430 hp L88 of which 80 were
factory built. Teams and individuals would quickly line up to
purchase and modify their cars and Corvettes would go on to
dominate SCCA racing events for several years to come.
The buying public didn’t listen to the press, buying more
than twenty-eight thousand, the most ever, with convertibles
outselling coupes almost two to one, Even Car & Driver in its
annual poll had to accept that the readers had chosen the
Corvette as best all around car. The era of the C3 had begun.
The model:
Tom Hastings built this beautiful model from the
Revell 1968 convertible - great kit.
• Paint: Testors Boyd's True Blue Pearl over gray primer to
darken it a bit.
Shabo redline tires. Much more accurate than the kit
tires. The wheels needed to be narrowed for the new tires to look
right.
Engine detailed. Cut air cleaner apart to add the screen that
Revell left off. The wire looms were Detail Master items.
Model Car Garage photo-etch kit. Outstanding addition! Check the
keys on the driver's seat. I also added their GM seat belt
hardware. Position of the belts is not stock, but I had to show
them off.
First time I used flocking. Outstanding results.
If
you would like to contact Tom on this model his e-mail address is: tomsgfx@earthlink.net
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Page updated 12/04/02