The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 or Stingray is considered a sacred car to millions of gearheads. Nearly everyone wants to get their hands on one of these sports cars at least once in their life. As it turns out, some will even go to any means necessary to make it happen.
A 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 was stolen and returned to its rightful owner nearly 37 years later. This stolen car story is one for the books, and the specs on these Stingrays are nothing to joke about.
A car enthusiast’s worst nightmare
1968 Chevy Corvette C3 Stingray | Getty Images
In 1969, Alan Poster experienced a car enthusiast’s worst nightmare. He lived in New York when his most prized possession, a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, was stolen. To make matters even worse, Poster had just gone through a lengthy divorce and paid around $6000 to keep the car in his possession. Poster went years without knowing what became of his Chevy Corvette and was plagued with dread anytime someone mentioned that type of vehicle.
After years of unknowns, luck finally turned in Poster’s favor. Around 37 years after Poster’s beloved Chevrolet Corvette had been stolen, an “owner” of a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 tried to ship their vehicle from Long Beach, California, to Sweden. U.S. Customs had to complete a routine car check for the car to be shipped to Sweden.
As it turns out, the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 had never been retitled, and a routine check quickly traced the car back to Alan Poster. Happier than ever, Poster was reunited with his Chevy Convertible and decided to nickname his “new” ride “Reunion Blues.”
How does the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 stack up?
While anyone would be upset about a stolen vehicle, losing a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 could make a grown man cry. The Chevrolet Corvette C3, also commonly referred to as a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, is the third generation of the Chevrolet Corvette.
Chevrolet produced this sports car model from 1967 until 1982. The 1968 model offered a bold new redesign as Chevy shifted toward a convertible-like feel, creating the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette with removable T-tops and a removable back window. This design of a flow-through roof had never been seen on an American sports car before.
Taking a deeper look at the car’s specs, with the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3, customers could choose between five different trims from only two V8s. The base sports 300 hp from its 327 cubic inch block, and the next level up had 350 hp. In addition, Chevrolet’s Corvette lineup continued with three power levels for the 427, starting with 390 hp and 560 for the L88. Each engine used an iron block and high-performance camshafts.
Everybody wants to get their hands on a sports car
It seems like nearly everyone wants to get their hands on a flashy sports car like the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette. Unfortunately, not everyone uses the best measures to make their dreams a reality. Many car enthusiasts have had to go through the same struggle as Alan Poster because of this. While some haven’t been so lucky, other car owners have been able to recover their stolen vehicles.
Like Alan Poster’s story, Ron Reolfi purchased a 1968 Chevy Camaro in the 1980s. At the time, he was a college student at the University of Akron. Reolfi spent a year fixing up his Camaro before the car mysteriously vanished. It took 33 years, but Reolfi’s Chevy Camaro was eventually recovered and returned to him.
Some stories don’t have quite as happy of an ending, like the stolen 1979 Porsche 924 that was found upside down at the bottom of a cliff over 27 years after it had been stolen. Luckily, the world also provides the occasional happy ending, like the stories of Poster and Reolfi.
Keyword: A Stolen 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Was Found 37 Years Later Right Before Being Shipped to Sweden