Jim Heatherington of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania owns the Palomino Ivory 1968 Monza at right. The '68 is virtually indistinguishable from its 1969 counterparts. Only the side marker lights at the front are different. The '68 had a clear lens with an amber bulb, and the '69 used the reverse  arrangement; an amber lens with a clear bulb. All other trim was identical across both model years. This is one of only 6,807 Monza sport coupes built in the U.S. in the 1968 model year.

The most significant mechanical changes in the 1968 model were found in the engine compartment. A 12-plate oil cooler became standard on all available engines including the 95 horsepower base engine. An improved Air Injection Reactor (A.I.R.) system sought to reduce the backfiring experienced by some owners of similarly equipped 1966 and '67 models. The system was standard on all 1968 Corvairs.

According to information from Tony Fiore's excellent Corvair reference book, The Corvair Decade, Chevrolet discovered that air-conditioning combined poorly with the A.I.R. system. With both the air injection pump and an air conditioning compressor running from the drive belt system, the parasitic power loss was considerable.

While the late model sport coupe remained in the lineup until Corvair production ceased in May of 1969, its handsome sibling, the second generation 4-door sport sedan, was not offered in 1968 or '69. A rare example of the sedan appears on the next page.