General Motors’ successful quartet of mid-size cars was treated to a full redesign in 1968. Their popularity would continue for another five years until the era of the Colonnade models emerged. The seller’s 1968 Chevy Chevelle appears to be a nice Malibu that’s been upgraded to a Super Sport with a 454 V8 since the seller makes no mention of it being a real SS. Located in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, this sharp hot rod is available here on craigslist for $44,000. Mitchell G. has once again brought us a heckuva tip!
Chevrolet built 200,000 Malibu Sport Coupes in 1968. Add to that another 55,000 SS 396 Sport Coupes (the SS was in its last year as a standalone model, reverting to option status in 1969). We suspect this was an ordinary Malibu that was short on factory extras, as it was produced as a heater/delete and radio/delete car. Whatever drivetrain was present is long gone, replaced by a souped-up 454 cubic-inch V8 (first offered by Chevy in 1970). It’s supported by aluminum heads, a Holley carburetor, an HEI distributor, Hooker Headers, and an M22 Muncie 4-speed tranny.
We’re told the Chevy runs well and “sounds even better.” Some of the suspension components have been renewed, and the fuel tank is fresh. The Chevy left the factory with Mariner Blue paint, which has been reapplied with some snowflake added in the mixture. Both bumpers are new, yet the seller only rates the exterior appearance of the car as an 8 on a scale of 10.
The black interior looks mighty tidy with bucket seats and a console. The Cragar wheels offer that ‘70s muscle car look, and the tires are wider than what would have been stock. The owner is a senior citizen, so you should expect that it’s been enjoyed rather than molested. Is this a fair price for an SS tribute with non-correct key hardware?
Looks pretty correct to me. Nice car.
No radio, heater, or A/C. Drag race and night cruiser.
Side chrome missing. 69 wheel well chrome added. Passenger side mirror not original. Not that ”correct”. Still looks pretty solid.
Not a clone as there wasn’t an SS 454 in 68 to copy.
Too bad that a 396 couldn’t have been sourced…or even a 427…still, a nice car!
The VIN would tell us immediately if this was an original SS car or not, the first 3 digits of the VIN would be 138 for a true SS. This car also is an original or converted heater delete car, and it appears to have been ordered without a radio. It would be interesting to trace it’s history.
I think it had a radio from the factory, if you look at the photo of the top of the passenger front fender you can see the stub of an antenna. A factory radio delete car would never have had a hole drilled in that location.
Steve R
Thank you Dixon. A “souped up” 454 and a rock 🪨 crusher 4sp = smiles 😃🏁
Nice looking car. Being its owned by an older individual, I am kind of surprised it doesnt have a retrofitted air conditioner.
The seller makes no claims about this being an SS-optioned Chevelle. The images showing SS callouts only imply this car as being an SS. Whether it was or not depends on the VIN. Infer what you wish. Today it’s just a used-to-be maybe.
The trailing lower corners of the doors tell a better story. On the passenger-side the door skin edges are clearly visible where they are crimped to the door’s frame. In The same location of the driver’s door looks much different. How much more body filler is there on this NJ car?
No such ‘factory’ color as ‘Mariner Blue’ in ’68.
I assume they meant Marina blue. Never heard of adding snow flakes to the paint, perhaps metal flake. Beautiful car
Full disclosure: I am a bow tie type of fella through and through, but I have never been fond of the ’68/’69 Chevelles. I just don’t find the body styling very attractive, particularly when compared to any other model year. That being said, this is a very cool car that appears to be very well put together, and I will bet good money that it is an absolute gas to drive. Because of my personal feelings about the styling, I think that it is overpriced, but for the majority of folks that find them appealing, it is a solid deal.
Yeah you can’t clone something that never existed. I don’t think you can even call it a what if car because the 454 was still years away.
Yes you are correct about a “138” vin which determines the car was built as a super sport… 1968 was the last year this factory designation was done. I noticed there is no barrel tachometer between the large dash gauges, the small “chevelle “ panel would be cut out to hold the tachometer. Good car for someone looking to getting to cruise nights without spending a fortune on an ss chevelle.
Seems like the tach would provide better readout on the steering column Imho