Vehicle Description
You already know we're fans of the unusual and beautiful here at
Streetside Classics, and this strikingly handsome 1968 Chevrolet
Chevelle SS396 certainly qualifies. It's a real code 138 SS with
factory A/C, sparkling Grotto Blue paint, and just 66,513 original
miles. If you're tired of being ordinary, this beautifully restored
Chevelle SS is the antidote.
A quick check of the cowl tag reveals that this car did, indeed,
come from the factory wearing this lovely shade of Code D Grotto
Blue. It also came with a Code 6 White vinyl top, but a handful of
years ago an enterprising spirit elected to delete that rather
dated veneer, opting instead for an all-blue slick top that really
pops off our webpage. Add in a set of black stripes that wrap
around the nose and run down the rockers and you have a sporty yet
elegant SS that will definitely stand out in a crowd. GM didn't
keep track of how many of each color they built, but when was the
last time you saw a Chevelle decked-out like this? Like I said,
this one is for the guy or gal who digs the unusual. It's also for
the guy who appreciates quality, as the restoration got the
bodywork into top shape and covered it in modern paint, so it has a
shine that nothing from five decades ago could ever touch. They
left well enough alone, so there's no aftermarket hood, no extra
stripes or scoops, and all the original badges are in place. And as
a real-deal SS396, the blacked-out grille and tail panel were
standard equipment. It's somewhat strange that a color so light and
soft can still make a car still look so delightfully mean, but that
exact paradox is why this Chevelle is so darn special.
This is also an original bucket seat car, although it now has black
seat covers instead of the original Parchment. And in our opinion,
the switch is a fantastic upgrade. It also means that practically
everything inside the car is newer, from the carpets to the
headliner, and it's all in very, very good condition. Simple
pleated seats are luxurious-looking and with a center console and
'staple' shifter between them, this SS is no poser machine. The
original gauges, including a factory tachometer, are in pretty good
shape as well and yes, this car was born with factory A/C, although
the system was upgraded to a full Vintage Air set-up with R134a
refrigerant that's blowing nice and cold. Other visible
modifications inside the cabin include the auxiliary temperature
gauge below the dash, and the addition of a modern Sony AM/FM/CD
stereo head unit just above it that powers great-sounding speakers
in the kick panels. Rubber floor mats over plush black carpets, a
3-spoke steering wheel, and the ever-popular 'horseshoe' shifter
are all included, making this a fantastic place to spend some
quality time. Out back, the trunk is also nicely detailed with a
correct mat and a full-sized redline spare tire and jack
assembly.
As a real SS, the base motor was a 396 cubic inch V8 rated at 325
horsepower, but you already knew that. This car carries what was
likely a date-code, period-correct replacement block in it, which
is an interesting wrinkle in its history. While the numbers
matching one is gone, it's nice to see a correct EK suffix code
motor with a casting number that decodes to a real-deal 1967 396
V8. And with such low mileage, we'd have to imagine this was some
sort of factory/dealer recall situation (which were as common in
the '60s as they are today) that resulted in this
factory-replacement engine finding it's way into this Chevelle's
engine bay a long time ago. It has been nicely detailed in Chevy
Orange with the correct chrome valve covers and reproduction decals
on the air cleaner, all of which really pop out against the satin
black firewall and inner fenders. A lot of the tittle stuff is
right, too, including tower hose clamps, correct cadmium finishes
on things like the brake booster and alternator fan, and a
reproduction dual exhaust system below that hits that '68 note
perfectly. A TH400 3-speed automatic delivers the performance to
the rear axle, and while you're under there, note that the
underside certainly plays of the part a low-mile, original car.
Flashy American Raving Torque Thrust chrome wheels kick things up a
notch and they're wrapped in sporty 225/45/18 front and 245/45/18
rear performance tires that fill the fenders perfectly.
A great-looking car that runs superbly and has a great story to
tell - isn't that what makes for an outstanding hobby car? Call
today!
