Barn finds are cool – not only because of the classic and often rare cars to find, but also with the interesting stories the cars have. In the case of this 1968 Chevy Corvette C3, the story that began with the purchase of a dream car ends after a run-in with the authorities.
Corvette barn discovery made by Wreckage Life on YouTube, who was invited to watch the relocation of an old sports car in northern Alabama. This isn’t the first time these folks have seen the classic C3; they showed the coupe five years ago. According to the Channel, the building that housed the car was in danger of being demolished and had to remove the dilapidated vehicle.
While the 1968 Corvette 427 is a special car in its own right, this particular red convertible has a story to tell that relates to why it ended up in storage.
According to the story obtained by Wreckage Lifepossibly from the owner Mike otherwise known as “Big Block Mike”, the story begins in 1974.
As a high school teenager with Corvette fever, Mike worked part time at an S&H Green Stamp store near a dealer specializing in selling Corvettes. After negotiations and $2,900, Mike bought a C3 Convertible, equipped with a big block 7.0 liter V8.
Used for both fun and transportation, Big Block Mike earned major street credit at the time, mainly because he had the fastest car in town. The notoriety went to the police, which led to a car chase that went horribly wrong for law enforcement (allegedly).
Mike has to hide and hide the car from the cops, which isn’t easy since it’s a very well-known car in town with a mismatched black rear quarter panel from a mechanical accident. This led to Big Block Mike keeping the ‘Vette in the garage and being stuck there for over four decades.
Restoration of the 1968 Corvette 427 is currently underway, so there’s a good chance we’ll see Mike back behind the wheel of his famous ride.
