I was looking over this auction last night and thinking the bidding was surprisingly high for this car. As I was scrolling through the pics, I noticed a discrepancy. The engine is marked and painted as a 350, but appears to be a 455. The Fisher trim tag also shows the model as 68-35667, which would be a 455-powered Delmont. Take a look:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=170871406459

Notice the C heads and the rib behind the timing cover:

 

Very nice looking car.

I had 2 different '68 full-sizes and I really liked them.

I can't see enough of that motor to be sure whether it's a big block or not, but I tend to agree with you - the overhang of the edges of the air cleaner past the valve cover edges is minimal - it would cover them a little more on a small block.
That is definitely a C head, too.

I wonder why the seller thinks it's a 350, and whether it really is the original engine.

- Eric

 

I guess with all that documentation and pictures of the 350 he thought that was what was supposed to be in there. Too bad he doesnt show the numbers/letter on block above water pump as that would positively identify. I noticed too the gold paint was sprayed over the wiring plug in front....kinda sloppy. I also note the 66-67 oil fill cap and wonder if perhaps the engine is not original. Nice car otherwise.

 

You're right, Joe - I missed that.

They either put in an earlier engine, or pounded the old filler out and a new one in.

- Eric

 

I don't think that $$ is out of line for that car if its solid... but I'd sure want to have a closer look ... Spray can engine rebuild... fresh splatter paint in trunk... fresh shutz undercoating & black paint on everything underneath...

I like the illinois license plate holding the cd player to the dash. Classy.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't think $12K is out of line for a really nice Delmont convertible. But I rarely see one bid to those figures on eBay and there are an awful lot of new eBayers with 0 feedback bidding on this car in small increments. That makes me a little suspicious.
While it looks nice, you can see that the work on this car was less than meticulous. The orange peel on that paint says "quickie respray" to me. As Rambow pointed out, the underside was all covered up without much prep, too. Whoever did the interior left the square buttons off the seatbacks and the pleats off the upper door panels.
It would probably make a real nice driver, but would need a lot of what's already done redone to be show-worthy. And the bid price is getting close to what a show car would bring.

I never got a reply from the seller to my inquiry about the engine numbers.
EDIT: The seller did reply just before the auction closed, he checked the block casting # and confirmed it is a 455. He claims he was told by the previous owner that it was a 350, but didn't know how to ID it until I told him.

 

Another interesting point is from my understanding the Delmont convertible has a heavier frame and most likely came with the 455 big block. Also, for 68, wasn't the smaller block a 330, not a 350 for the Delmont? I think 350's were for Cutless'. All the way around if that sticker was accurate, it probably wasn't original.

Beautiful car. I love the burgundy/black color combo.

 

350's were the standard engine in 68 delmonts. 455s were optional and available in both 2bbl & 4bbl versions.

330 was last used in 67.