1968 6cyl 3spd

[BuddyH]

I have access to a 1968 250 6 cyl with RPO M11 option (3 spd floor shift). 100% bone stock original.
Does anyone know the production numbers on this car? How rare is it?

[bertfam]

For a list of options and how many were made, click HERE.

You didn't say if it was a Coupe or Convertible, but for 1968, the L22 was installed in 28,647 cars and the M11 was installed in 30,192 cars.

Ed

[BuddyH]

It is a coupe. Vinyl buckets, dog dish 14". Completely original. Been sitting in a garage 30+ years. Trying to decide on it's future.

[BULLITT65]

I am not so worried about rarity with a car like that. If the body is solid and the drive train just needs a little freshening up, but is usable, that is what matters for value. Can you post any pics for us?

[BuddyH]

A buddy of mine has the pics. I will try to get him to send to me for posting this evening. I went to his shop today and looked at the pics and what info he has.
Body is very straight with some rot on r/r quarter panel and r/s door (lower edge rear). Chrome and brightwork look good with no dents or scratching. Seats look good but carpet/headliner are toast as well as the door panels. Dash is untouched (still has original A.M. radio). This is a no frills coupe except it is the L22 engine with M11 trany (factory floor shift 3 spd). Everything is there right down to the air cleaner. A little water showing on the dip stick. If this car is rare enough we are considering a restoration. Does anyone have any idea how many of these may still exist?
If we decide to sell as is, what would the market be like on it?
Thanks

[BULLITT65]

Everything is relative here. I doubt anyone is going to be able to give you useless advice until they see some pics.
"Rarity " is not the best measure when deciding weather to restore, or not. They made many 68 SS 350 cars and any of those in the same condition is going to go for more than your convertible. Even the base model V8 hardtop which they made the most of would likely sell for more.hope this helps

[TimL68]

I have a convertible model with the 3-speed M11 option. Love this car, the torque of the i6 paired with the 3 on the floor is a blast to drive around town.

The market is for those of us that still see something in the straight sixes that retain their originality. Breaks my heart to see these motors pulled for a 502. There are plenty of worn out 327's out there that are better candidates.

Market prices vary but most original metal survivor coupes are floating around $20-25K, 'verts $25-30K.

[BULLITT65]

I have actually witnessed the opposite, I have seen the coupes going for more in the last year or 2. (like for like condition). I have actually seen a couple fo 68 convertibles that were in nice driver condition sell for under 20k.
I don't deny that guys like the convertibles, but my point is just because they made less 6cylinder convertibles, and less with a 3 speed does not make it so coveted all of sudden, to give a restoration the green light. Like most of these (sub SS) cars more of value tends to be in the body condition, and less about the drive train.IMO

[69Z28-RS]

I love the white/red '68 convert that Tim posted and he's right, the 250 ci 6 cyl with 3 speed runs really good and is economical...  I'd love to have one as a daily driver (coupe or convert)..

Gary

[BuddyH]

Thanks all for the input. I guess I was hoping that this car was more rare than it is and someone was going to say there are fewer than 100 known to exist. That would entice me towards a 10 point restoration. Sounds like the effort might not be worth it after all. And I respectfully disagree with the earlier poster, rarity is everything. Case in point, if there were only 100 SS350 cars known to exist today can you imagine what they would be worth? Thank you again for your input.

[BULLITT65]

Again the SS 350 has always been in demand so sure if there was less the price would go up. A 68 camaro in general has a certain level of demand, but if you took all the variations, the 6cyl 3 speed convertible would not be near the top of the list. There has never been a huge demand or people seeking it out. This goes for any car. You have to have that higher demand at one point, no matter the scarcity. There are many older cars in cherry condition that don't rake in huge amounts of cash. They could even be a convertible or rare color. Plain and simple the large demand just isn't there. We can agree to disagree. I'm ok with that. 

[TimL68]

Very true, has to be the right car/right buyer. In my case, my very first car was a '68 straight six on the column that I sold off at the age of 19, regretted it every single day since. This time around I knew exactly what I was looking for and that I was willing to pay regardless the asking price. There are definitely not many of these L6/L22's left around that are unmolested. It took me four years of searching to find this combination and I travel from Virginia to New Mexico to get her.

Back to original question for rarity, there were more L22 made than L6's, about 46,000ish i6 coupes to 3,400ish i6 convertibles. As to where it was built, Norwood made something like 5 to 1 over Van Nuys.

[BULLITT65]

The color combination on your convertible is one of my favorites. White with red, or Silver with red, i always thought looked good. In fact Gary gave me a hard time when I bought my white 69 recently, saying to bad it didn't have a red interior....
For me it was to good of deal to pass up, even with the black interior.
I agree with you about the 6 with 3 on the floor, the 2nd gear on those 3 speeds have so much range and torque.

I would say - "There are definitely not many (Camaros) left that are unmolested". But between Mustangs and Camaros of the 60's that I run across, it seems like more of the hardtops got modified suped up and beat down versus the convertibles. The convertibles if stored well, seems like they were not as likely to get hot rodded. Just an observation.
The thing with those 6 cylinders is the motors would last forever. But many coupe/convertible have been swapped out for V8's by now.

[TimL68]

I'm at a tossup on the color, car has had one repaint about 10 years ago. Original color is Cordovan Maroon with white top and red interior. Last owner had a newer generation white and black with red interior, he painted this one to match. He also said that he thought the Maroon and red didn't go together well. I came across a coupe for sale with the same color combo and I kind of like it but white has grown on me too.

May considering going back to original if I paint her again in my remaining lifespan :-)

[HustleRussell]

One thing I've learned is rare doesn't equal desirable. I own a 69 ss with rare MC1 3 speed transmission that nobody is interested in.