There was a time when one could secure a plain jane American sedan and load it up with a humongo engine and go street racing. It was the act of building a “sleeper” and a stripped-down Chevrolet Biscayne or Bel Air like this 1968 example was just what the hot rod doctor ordered. This example is not quite there but the potential certainly is, so let’s investigate. This Chevy is located in Mooresville, Indiana and is available, here on craigslist for $14,500. Thanks to Pat L. for this tip!
Chevrolet’s bread and butter model for ’68 was the Impala, offered in six different body styles – it was Chevrolet’s moneymaker. The Bel Air, a top-rung model in ’57, was pushed to second place in ’58, and then third in ’65 with the arrival of the Caprice. By ’68, the Bel Air was available as a two or four-door sedan and a station wagon – it was the “budget-conscious” trim line and only exceeded in that capacity by the basement dwelling Biscayne – a model most often associated with fleets like police cars or taxi-cabs. The interesting thing is that many features and/or options that were available on the top-dog Caprice could also be had on the Bel Air or Biscayne.
Take engines for example, in ’68 they spread the range from a 155 gross HP in-line six, all the way to a 425 HP 427 CI beast known as RPO L72. And other than the requirement of a V8 for the Caprice and Impala convertible/custom, they could be mixed and matched, across trim lines, to one’s heart’s content. Most buyers, though, had a tendency to go with the standard powerplant which was the new-for-’68 200 gross HP, 307 CI V8, just as we have in our subject car. The seller states, “Would not be afraid to drive this car anywhere” so he’s pretty confident of this 307 engine’s reliability. And that’s good to know, but it’s not going to cut it in a sleeper. The transmission is listed as an automatic so, if original, it’s a two-speed Powerglide. Interestingly, the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 was available behind a 307 engine in ’68 but only if that lashup was ensconced in a Caprice or an Impala, but nothing less. A nice upgrade, in this case, is front disc brakes which this car probably didn’t originally possess, though I believe they were an option.
The exterior, besides being big and white, is plainly adorned but looks to be in reasonably nice shape and free, for now, from rust. And I can tell you from experience, this vintage Chevy B-body will rust if the climactic conditions are proper. Good to know is that the trunk and floors are claimed to be solid. The driver’s side quarter has some funky surface rust going on around the beltline but it doesn’t appear to be serious. As is always the case, the Torque-Thrust wheels do wonders for this average-looking sedan.
Inside is a notch up from a taxicab environment (that belongs to the Biscayne), it’s plain, functional, and to the point. It also, other than a split in the driver’s side backrest and one in the dash pad, looks to be pretty liveable. It’s a stock environment except for the addition of under dash engine gauges. Auxiliary gauges were available as an option in ’68, but in standard form, Chevrolet was sticking to the derisively entitled “idiot lights” for engine communication.
So, a sleeper? Hardly! Potential? You bet, ditch the sad-sack 307-‘glide combination, and go for broke with a rat under the hood and a T-400 automatic backing it up. That weak link 8.2″ ten bolt rear axle will need to get the bum’s rush too but all of that can be easily accomplished though not inexpensively. And all of that on top of a $14,500 price of entry may limit one’s aspirations for this Bel Air a bit, don’t you think?
First thing to go would be those Torq-Thrusts. They’re just played out. I’d go with some steelies and caps. A rat would be fun in this car but if going for a sleeper appearance you better have a really muffled exhaust behind it or anyone with ears is gonna know your running something potent.
To me, this is an ideal car to modify and have some fun with. It won’t ever be particularly valuable in stock form, so why not? I would upgrade the suspension and drop the front for a nice rake, add a set of oversized American Racing Torq-Thrust M wheels, install a 502 crate engine hooked to a 6-speed manual, and leave the body and interior stock, with one exception: a hidden-headlight system from a 1968 Caprice.
This would have been bottom-of-the-line lot fodder in 1968.
No dealer would put a Biscayne on the lot. It only shaved ~$100 off the Bel Air, and was pretty much fleet order only.
No dealer would put a F/S 6-cylinder on the lot. Too gutless; nobody would buy it.
No dealer would put a 3-on-the-tree on the lot. It wouldn’t sell.
So aside from the occasional “bait-and-switch” car, anything less than a Bel-Air V-8 automatic 2-door sedan would never have been ordered for dealer inventory. This car is as low-equipped as you’d find on a lot in 1968.
Now THAT’S a rear wing!
These early 307’s were on a recall for camshafts that wore the lobes down, This particular one would be a lot nicer & desirable with a nice sedate 454 in it with a 6 speed stick . Too calm with a 307.
Nice body style. Good price. Lots of possibilities with a car like this.
Back in 1968 our Washington state patrol used these cars but were 4 doors . Had 427’s in them . Knew one guy who bought one at surplus and took it drag racing with no modifications .I always liked this style
I always liked the 67 body the best and the body styles were very similar with the biggest change being to the tailights. The dash design was definitely better. The black 67 factory order special I bought used with the 375 horse 396 was a beast. The dash design was especially well thought out by GM regarding the tach and gauge arrangement compared to the same dash in 68.
I like it as is. I prefer a stick but this would be a nice cruiser for the price. Hopefully it goes to a nice home.
Earlier this week a 66 big block, and now this 68 Belair. I LOVE these cars!
I Had a 67 2dr sedan maine state police interceptor when i had my learners permit in 73. had 396ci, 400 turbo, 12bolt, 140mph speedometer. Only had it for about a week….Sadly, one too many uncontrolled burnouts, sideways in the road, overcorrected, into a stonewall and tree….all done. sold the motor and tranny. rest went to the junkyard. Had to beg my older brother, who had a license, to tell my parents he was with me at the time. told um I reached down to pick something up off the floor an when I looked up I was in the ditch and lost control…..he held that over my head for a lonnnng time lol
@ sakingsbury20@yahoo.com……
Totally makes my point re. the ultimate idiocy of friggin’ burnouts! Pointless, inane, drivetrain-abusive…supreme stupidity! Unnecessary & preventable loss of a unique vehicle.
ummm it was 1973, I was a junior in high school, it was a state of ME. auction vehicle for $450 that had close to 100k on the odometer….these type of cars were everywhere in the 70’s…….unfortunately I guess I didn’t have the foresight that you must of acquired when you were 17
Nice cruiser with the currant powertrain, as long as the camshaft is good. I don’t think I would change a thing until I had to…then have some real fun with her!