Vehicle Description
You already know we're fans of the bold and beautiful here at
Streetside Classics, and this strikingly handsome 1968 Chevrolet
Chevelle SS396 certainly qualifies. It's a real code 138 SS with
upgraded A/C, sparkling Island Teal paint, and choice options like
power steering and power front disc brakes. And with a unique color
combination and and off-the-charts curb appeal, it's a heck of a
looker, too. If you're tired of being ordinary, this beautifully
restored Chevelle SS is the antidote.
Island Teal isn't a color you see all that often on a muscle-car
era Chevelle, and that's a shame because it looks downright
fantastic when spread across the A-Body platform. If you're like
us, you're starting to grow a bit weary of all the black and red,
and even though those classic colors still get the heartrate up,
it's refreshing to see a monster like this wearing a light blue
tuxedo. A black vinyl top was added for contrast and to tone things
down a bit, giving this Chevelle an air of sophistication in the
process. 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 of the rank-and-file Chevelle
SS's. 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
and wants to leave a mark. It's also for the person who appreciates
quality, as the restoration got the bodywork into top driver-grade
shape and covered it in modern paint, so it has a shine that
nothing from five decades ago could ever touch. It's not perfect,
but it's no slouch either as strong driver-quality hauler that
really turn heads, and a weekend spent with a clay bar and buffer
could easily kick things back up a notch. During the build 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 slick 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.
Open the Chevelle's big doors and you'll find a cabin that's been
well-cared for since the day it was restored. Black vinyl covers
the bench seats fore and aft, plush matching carpets line the
floors and are further protected with a set of thick, rubber floor
mats, and the set of super-clean SS door panels at the flanks are
fresh reproductions. A stock-style dash is topped with a crack-free
pad, while inside there's a set of factory-style gauges that keep
an eye on the big block's revs. A 3-spoke SS steering wheel feels
very sporty in the hands of the driver, although the column-shifter
that joins it on the column allows for set-it-and-forget gear
selection for the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission below.
Options are sparse, but you do get a Vintage Air A/C unit with
controls mounted in the center stack and vents attached below, and
the retro-style AM/FM/AUX stereo just below it plays tunes through
the upgraded speakers in the kick panels. The back seat looks like
it's been rarely used but has enough room for 3 willing passengers,
and the cavernous trunk is stock and covered in matching black
carpets - proudly showing off solid panels and sheetmetal
underneath that tell the story of this car's easy life.
As a real SS, the base motor was a 396 cubic inch V8 rated at 325
horsepower, but you already knew that. This particular Chevelle
carries 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 ED suffix code
motor with a casting number that decodes to a real-deal 1968 396
V8. The engine bay is very clean, featuring a nicely detailed block
coated in Chevy Orange engine enamel, black '396' valve covers and
a matching open-element air cleaner complete with '396' badging.
The big block sparks to life immediately thanks to an HEI ignition
and modern alternator, is fed through a big Holley 4-barrel
carburetor atop a Bowtie aluminum intake, and breathes easy through
a set of ceramic-coated long-tube headers at the flanks. A
front-runner kit powers all the accessories, including that new
compressor from the Vintage Air A/C system, and a big aluminum
radiator up front keeps the whole show nice and cool. A TH350
3-speed automatic delivers the performance to the heavy-duty
12-bolt rear end out back, and the soundtrack through the
Flowmaster dual exhaust system is downright erotic when the motor
is at full bore. The undercarriage is super-solid and was nicely
detailed with satin black paint, and with power steering and power
front disc brakes this Chevelle is delight to drive. Flashy Ralley
wheels kick things up a notch and they're wrapped in sporty
235/60/15 front and 245/60/15 rear white-letter tires that fill the
fenders perfectly.
A great-looking car that runs superbly and has a unique street
presence - isn't that what makes for an outstanding hobby car? Call
today!
