1968 CORVETTE BUILT FOR HARLEY J EARL!!!

1968 Chevrolet Corvette CORVETTE Description

Desneux Motorsports is extremely proud to offer this super rare and beautiful ’68 Corvette Coupe with Shop Order No 16867 built for Harley J. Earl, the late GM designer. This model is believed to be the last car built and designed for Harley J Earl before he passed away in 1969.

This Corvette is offered with several special exterior and interior options as mentioned. Exterior is offered in the beautiful Polar White with special options including side inlays that weren’t available until later production in 1969, red pin striping, and painted red wheel wells that were used in earlier special order GM models including the GTO. The interior is offered in all red leather and red vinyl with special tag on center console reading “This car built especially for Harley J. Earl.”

Harley Earl was GM's first Chief of Design and was later promoted to Vice President of the company. Earl worked with GM from "its inception as the Art and Colour Section in 1927 until his retirement in 1959. He was a giant of a man both literally and figuratively as he would come to popularize and dominate the field of automotive design for decades" according to the GM Heritage Center. As the father of the Corvette, it was his styling and designs during the Motorama in the 1950s that introduced the Corvette as the world's first sports scar to the public where it would encourage a new generation of automobiles. This car was given as a gift to Earl after he retired, sent straight from GM styling as indicated by the NCRS Shipping Data Report.

GM produced several vehicles for the Earl family, including his 63' 327 that sold at Mecum in Chicago for $1.5 million in 2013as well as his wife Sue's pink 63' 327 that estimated $375000-$500,000 dollars at Mecum in Kissimmee 2015. While we realize this is not the high coveted 63' Corvette, as the asking price is considerably lower than those that sold, this car is still extremely unique and one of a kind. Knowing that it was very likely to be the last car produced for Earl before he passed in 1969, the history behind this 68' Corvette is timeless and will make for a great addition to any true collector and automotive enthusiast.

Documentation supporting the originality of this Corvette includes the special identification plate, Harley Earl tag on the center consol. Per contacting the GM Heritage Center, a contact from the Graphics Department confirmed that the identification plate looks authentic stating, “The custom name plate appears to be authentic with the cast in graphics and brushed chrome plateau. This represents an official way that name plates were produced.” The car also has the given Shop Order No 16867 (pictured on reverse side of side inlays) as well as a NCRS Shipping Data Report verifying that the car was shipped from Chevrolet Central Office (GM styling) after being manufactured in St. Louis, MO. Although there are no records indicating this is the last car built for the Earl family, as GM does not have invoices for Chevrolet vehicles built prior to 1977, it is highly likely as Mr. Earl passed away in 1969.

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This Corvette is truly a rare piece of history! The car has the 327 ci automatic v-8 engine with ONLY 69k original miles!! For any true car collector and Corvette enthusiast, this car will make for a great addition to any collection! Don’t miss your chance to own such a unique piece of history!