The Chevrolet Biscayne was in production from 1958 to 1972. And, except for that first year, it was the entry-level full-size car (the Del Ray had that honor in ’58). These were sparsely equipped cars often purchased for fleet use, and even carpeting was optional. The seller has a ’68 Biscayne 4-door sedan that’s said to be one of two built with an L72 427 cubic inch V8 with a 4-speed manual transmission. Looking like a sleeper with dog dish hub caps, this bruiser of a Chevy is in Graham, Washington, and is available here on eBay. The current bid is $5,200 with a reserve somewhere north of that.
Most Biscaynes built across the car’s 15-year run probably came with either an inline-6 engine or a small-block V8. So, imagine the salesman’s surprise when this vehicle’s original owner wandered into the dealership in 1968 and purchased this exact car. According to the seller, only two such people went this route, so they must have had something totally different in mind than 99% of the rest of the Biscayne buyers. And the fact that it was ordered with 4-doors instead of two suggests going racing wasn’t the goal.
Considering the rarity of this Chevy, the details provided are few. The 425-horsepower L72 V8 is said to be numbers-matching. So, someone didn’t take a Plain Jane 6-banger and initiate a metamorphosis. While the indicated mileage is 67,000, the engine has been rebuilt and brought back to stock specifications. It has stainless steel valves and a clutch, and the exhaust is said to be new.
We’re told the gloss black paint is original, and it is good, though the seller’s photos are far from the best. The gauge package is from the factory and is said to work as it should. The interior is ship-shape, though the black carpeting looks to be fading, and it might be a replacement candidate. If this is only one of two Biscaynes built like this one, how high could the bidding go?
In short…… What an ANIMAL!! Somebody, knew somebody, somewhere, in order to get this. Love it!!!! I’m with you Russ. I want to see the bidding on this rare beast. And its numbers matching which will help.
already up to $9950 with days to go, won’t be cheap!
It may be an old police car, the wheels are the giveaway. I read, in ’68, GM offered the L72/427, 4 speed for high speed pursuit, but some would have had the 140mph speedo, and sure basic enough to be one. I think this was a cop car some trooper enjoyed, although they didn’t think of it that way, just a tool in law enforcement. Not much could beat it. As one would imagine, cop car or not, 4 speed/427 Biscaynes are extremely rare, in the hundreds they say, and quite a find.
The wheels are Chevy Rally’s, the code by the valve stem would need to be checked to find out what they originally came on.
The seller doesn’t try to make the claim it was a former police car, even though that might drive interest and the price higher.
I’d be scared of rust, the firewall under the trim tag is scary looking. It probably wouldn’t be isolated to that one spot. Even so, if this is what it claims to be, it’s a unicorn and will be restored.
Steve R
This thing is a beast! I would drive this Chevy and would not even care it was a 4 door with radio delete. I wonder if there is documentation on this car being ordered this way with a manual trans, and from those times a lot could be ordered the way you wanted it.
That would be one hilarious fun car to drive. Wish I could own it.
After looking at the pictures and love the dash with those guages, I never seen one like it. I believe this car, it was for moonshine, back in the day. No power steering power brakes air conditioning. No radio and all black. All business this had to be running moonshine, back in the hills. This were probably outrun most of the police cars back then easy!! 😂 Also I had to laugh when i saw the tie down cables for the engine to stay put when the hammer was down! It’s going to be hard to put a price on something so different so rare. One number that’s been floating around my head was $50,000. Well good luck to the seller. 🇺🇸🐻l
Four doors for the family, big-block 4-gear for Pop.
The 60s were a great time to be a new car buyer.
Yeah buddy! Now THAT’S what I’m talkin about! Would love to have this car. Only 2 things holding me back: lack of cash and, I don’t think my SIL would enjoy driving this bruiser without
power steering or power brakes.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, it really bites to be legally blind and unable to have the kind
of car you REALLY want. Moon
runner? Maybe. Cop car? Could be some kind of experimental
unit GM built to test the waters when it came to offering law enforcement an option when it came to what kind of car to order
for their rank and file. Or, some
wacked out executive who ordered this car to give the kids in
the pony cars quite a shock when
they saw nothing but tail lights when this thing ran off and left them like they were still waiting to launch of the line. Or…it could’ve been ordered by a little
old lady that wanted to rule the
drag strip! Angel, could
That he you?
This is the find of the ages, ok so there is work to do but it’s a beyond wild car. Never saw a complete instrumentation like this and radio delete. I’m just surprised that GM let such a heavy powerhouse go out without mandatory power brakes with disc’s in front and power steering. Total sleeper
Fleet taxis and police cars in NYC with 15 inch wheels came with those rims too.
I don’t know about 68 but I do know in 67 the NY state police ordered some BelAires with 427 4spds. I remember seeing one sitting behind a Plymouth dealer I worked for in 1972. I also knew someone that took a 427 out of an old state police car and put it in a 65 Chevy step side pickup.
Yep, if this had gone up for sale in the 1970s or 1980s, the overwhelming odds are that is what would have happened with this car. Someone would have pirated the engine, transmission, and rear for some other sportier car.
Sedans were not cool back then. I remember I had a chance to pick up a black unmarked ’78 Plymouth Gran Fury with a 440. It was said to be a former North or South Carolina highway patrol car and was rust free 700 bucks back in 1987, and I foolishly did not buy it. I still kick myself to this very day.
This is the optimum big iron machine. I’m not sure if those wheels were available in ’68, but the whole package is rare badas_. I’ve seen them all, but not this one.
The red background on the 427 fender callout makes me think this car is authentic. Probably a former cop car. I also notice no power brakes. More research needs to be done to authenticate it.
Its like the two 66 Hemi Coronet four door sedans, Big Daddy Don Garlits owns one of them and said he wouldn’t take a million dollars for it. The other one is also still around