Tweaked 396 V8! 1967 Chevrolet Caprice

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The Caprice was born in 1965 as a counter measure to the new Ford LTD. It was a gussied-up Impala at first before becoming a series of its own a year later. It was the most well-appointed Chevrolet that you could buy for more than 30 years. And it could be had with some big power under the hood, like this 1967 Caprice with a recently rebuilt 396 V8. Other than some upgrades in motoring hardware, this otherwise looks like a nice survivor automobile. Located in Pahrump (love that name!), Nevada, this beauty is available here on craigslist for $23,000. Thanks, Pat L., for stepping up to the plate again with another home run!

The Caprice enjoyed a 32-year run in its first reincarnation. It would return in 2011-17 as a police vehicle, imported from Holden, GM’s subsidiary in Australia. The Caprice enabled Chevy’s full-size cars to become the best-selling American autos in the mid-1960s/early 1970s, with sales peaking at more than one million units in 1965 alone. The big Chevrolets got a restyle in 1967 on the basic platform launched in ’65. While luxury was always the order of the day, the Caprice could be ordered with virtually any V8 engine the Bow Tie Brigade offered, including the 325 hp, 396 cubic inch powerhouse like the seller’s car.

While we don’t know the history of this ivory-colored Caprice 2-door, we do know that they all used the formal roofline for ’67 while the Impala was offered with just a fastback (that would change in ’68). The car has about 108,000 miles on it, we’re told the original engine was pulled 2,000 miles ago for a complete rebuild. While the seller doesn’t specify, it looks as though the 396 now has two carburetors and flow-through air induction, not something that would have been available stock. But he/she kept the original intake manifold, carb, and air cleaner and will pass those along to the buyer.

The mechanical work apparently didn’t stop there. The front suspension has been rebuilt, too, along with the brakes and a new gas tank installed, which suggests the car may have been sitting at one point. This Chevy has a TH-400 automatic transmission that shifts good with a 12-bolt rear-end which are also said to be original. The car came with factory air conditioning, but that hardware is currently not installed. The interior looks to have held up well, although the carpeting has been replaced. The Caprice is well-equipped, including tilt steering and power windows.

Chevy produced 124,500 Caprices in all body styles in 1967. We don’t know how many of those came with the L35 396 engine. By coincidence (or design), the “100 Millionth U.S.-Built GM Car” was a light blue metallic 1967 Caprice coupe, assembled on April 21, 1967 at the Janesville, Wisconsin plant.  With good tires all around, we’re told the seller’s car is one that you could drive just about anywhere. A ’67 Caprice without the 396 can be worth up to the mid-$20,000s, according to Hagerty. So, with the 396 and its recent enhancements, it looks like the seller has done his homework on the value of his wares, any maybe priced it to move quickly.

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Comments

  1. alphasudMember

    Small correction to your write up. The 396 is topped with a single 4bbl carburetor with a twin inlet cold induction kit. I’m sure that makes the engine happier during the Nevada summers. I would recommission the A/C to be a happier person in the Nevada summers.

    Like 11
  2. flmikey

    I’m sorry, but that air induction system just looks plain ridiculous…the rest of the car, however, looks just plain beautiful…speaking or ridiculous, so is the price, IMHO…

    Like 10
  3. Chris M.

    The tacky low rent ram air set up is a joke! Terrible. Otherwise a really good looking car. As mentioned find a correct air filter housing and install the A/C. Done.

    Like 5
  4. Anthony D

    I ordered a ’67 Caprice when I was 20. I couldn’t afford any options so it was a 327 with 3 on the tree. I thought I could attract more girls with the car, since my friends were all driving muscle cars. Didn’t work. Biggest mistake I ever made. Next car was a ’69 Camaro…..and that did the trick. Lesson learned.

    Like 6
  5. Bill Hall

    When I was in high school I walked by a local finance co on my way home. Sitting there is a 67 Caprice coupe fully loaded being a repo not perfect but not bad. My Dad especially being a Ford man to the core didn’t want me in a Chevy. Ended up with a POS 65 Ford convert from a relative.

    Like 0
  6. SC/RAMBLER

    The so-called rediculous ram air is similar to that used on either the earliest Hurst Olds or 442 IF I remember correctly.

    Like 0
    • Camaro guy

      That type of ram air was 1st used on 1964 Ford Fairlane thunderbolts that had the 427 FE big block engine’s built for drag racing might not be the prettiest but it worked

      Like 0

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