1968 Chevelle SS396

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Any comments/corrections/additions please send them to me and be sure to specify which year.

The 1968 Chevelle SS396 was a separate series from the 300, 300 Deluxe & Malibu series and can be readily identified by both the Fisher Body Number plate (a.k.a. trim tag, cowl tag, etc.) and the Vehicle Identification plate (VIN).

The 1968 SS396 was available in sport coupe (37), convertible (67), and pickup (80) models and the 396 cid Mark-IV engine was the base engine. The Fisher Body style numbers 13837, 13867 & 13880 and VINs beginning with 13837, 13867, & 13880 will note an SS396. As with all years of Super Sports, the VIN only depicts the base engine and does not indicate any optional engine. The base 396 engine was the (L35) 325hp engine with two optional 396 engines, the L34 350hp version and a L78 375hp version. 1968 is the ONLY year the pickup (El Camino) was offered in the SS396 series.

Contrary to popular belief bucket seats, gauges, and 4-speeds were not standard equipment. A front bench seat, no gauges (except speedometer and fuel gauge), and a 3-speed heavy duty transmission were standard with the SS396.

All SS396 Chevelles came with a 12-bolt rear end but Positraction was still an option; an open rear end was standard. However, a 12-bolt rear end, as well as Positraction, was available on non-SS396 Chevelles as well so the presence of a 12-bolt (with or without Positraction) is not an indication of a 1968 SS396 Chevelle.

Distinctive blacked out grille, Super Sport trim, a special SS396 hood with faux twin scoops, and SS396 emblems on the grille & rear cove.

Blacked-out grille and grille extensions along with SS396 badge centered in the grille. The D96 stripes shown here were optional. The lower rocker panels, below the lower belt-line trim, were blacked-out on SS396 Chevelles and lower body color on non-SS396 Chevelles. This trim extended from the headlamp area (shown above) to aft of the rear wheel well on an SS396 Chevelle. Disc brakes were still an option carried over from 1967 but rally wheels were now optional on any 1968 Chevelle.

The rear cove between the tail lamps also received the blacked-out treatment along with the centered SS396 badge.

Sometime around the end of the 1967 calendar year the front side markers changed the foil from SS396 to simply 396. This change varied from plant to plant as to the dates. A chart of some complied information is located here, if you have any information on any cars with the SS396 emblem, please let me know (be sure to include body date from trim tag, assembly plant, and body style) by contacting me here.