1968 Corvette Keys

[Mark Milchuk]

My 1968 Corvette Project Car did not come with the original keys.

I have found the following blank 1968 GM NOS Keys.
Please Click on link to see the picture:

Could someone verify that these are the keys that came
with a new 1968 Corvette.

Thanks,
Mark

[Jim T.]

Re: 1968 Corvette Keys

Mark the keys look like the original type keys that I have for my original owner 68. The key on the left with the imprinted C is for the ignition and doors. The round headed key with D imprinted is for the spare tire lock and the center storage compartment.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1968 Corvette Keys

That's what you're looking for--last year of the short/stubby style with keyway encoding that began in '67. Keyways rotated with the year, so '67 would have been 'A' 'B' with '68 having 'C' and 'D' codes. A locksmith can cut them to match your existing locks and your door lock barrels (if original) should still have the factory original code sequence stamped on the outside (that's presuming the cylinders haven't been re-coded over the years)....

[Roger Legge]

Re: 1968 Corvette Keys

My '68 keys have numbers stamped in the 'knock out' tabs. Are these the code sequences?

Roger

[Jack H.]

Re: 1968 Corvette Keys

Well, sire, that's how/where factory original key sets were marked. With the introduction of keyway encoding + a 5th lock tumbler (key cut) to increase the number of coding permutations in 1967, the table based key codes remained 4-digit sequences stamped into the 'knock out' section of the keys (typically 1/16th inch font) but instead of being 4-numeric digits, the sequence changed to 3-numerics and 1-alpha in the coding.

Whether the sequence on your keys is the original sequence for the car from the factory AND whether it still agrees with how the lock cylinders are coded (tumbler/wafer installion and key cut sequence appropriate to operate the locks on your car) is something a locksmith would have to verify....

[Roger Legge]

Re: 1968 Corvette Keys

Yep, they're both four characters and both are numeric, alpha, numeric, numeric.

Roger

[Peter L.]

Re: 1968 Keys-Don't Forget the Flip Side

Mark - The original '68 Briggs & Stratton/GM octagon/round headed keys with the C & D keyway were used in '68. The picture have the appropriate GM logo on the side of the key head you show, and the flip side of the original keys should have the Briggs and Stratton logo. Currently, there are keys with the "correct" key head available with the GM logo on both sides of the head and others available with the Briggs & Stratton logo on both sides. In addition, it is interesting to note that the size of the hole in the "KNOCK OUT" appears to have been changed from 9/64" dia to 3/32" dia sometime during the '68 production year. "Original" '67 and earlier keys had the 9/64" dia hole. Pete

[John D.]

Re: 1968 Keys-Don't Forget the Flip Side

Peter:

I think I am now confused. A correct key should have the GM logo on one side of the key and Briggs and Stratton on the reverse with a 9/64 inch hole? Early production 1968.

Thanks for your advice, John

[Peter L.]

Re: 1968 Keys-Don't Forget the Flip Side

John - That's the configutation I'd expect to see for original '68 keys. But as with other items when we start researching them, we find additional info that will either confirm or cause a change in the initial theory as to when running undocumented changes occurred. Pete