By 1968, Chevrolet's full-size performance cars had evolved into something considerably more sophisticated than the stripped-down muscle cars of only a few years earlier. This 1968 Chevrolet Impala SS 396 Convertible demonstrates that perfectly: big-block power, bucket seats and a console combined with an unusually generous list of factory comfort and convenience options.
Finished in its original factory color combination, this is a very nice, honest driver-quality example distinguished by something increasingly difficult to find on a 58-year-old full-size Chevrolet: all of its original factory sheet metal remains intact.
Under the hood is the car's numbers-matching L35 396 cubic-inch V8, factory rated at 325 horsepower. The engine carries assembly stamp T0321IV along with partial VIN 18E19871, tying the engine to this automobile. Power is delivered through a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission and 12-bolt rear axle.
But the drivetrain is only part of what makes this Impala interesting.
This car was ordered with an exceptional collection of factory equipment, including air conditioning, power windows, power steering, power brakes and a power convertible top. Inside are the SS bucket seats, center console and Chevrolet's distinctive horseshoe-style automatic shifter. It is exactly the sort of specification that makes a full-size Chevrolet convertible such an enjoyable road car: a 396 under the hood without sacrificing the equipment that makes you want to spend an afternoon behind the wheel.
The interior has recently been refreshed while retaining the character of the original cabin. Both front and rear seat upholstery have been replaced in the correct original color and 1968 SS-style pattern, new carpeting has been installed, and the original interior trim was carefully cleaned and detailed rather than indiscriminately replaced.
Its body is particularly noteworthy. The car retains all of its original factory sheet metal, an important distinction on a full-size convertible of this age. Rather than being reconstructed from replacement panels, the fundamental body Chevrolet assembled in 1968 remains with the car today.
A few carefully chosen modifications give the Impala a more assertive stance without changing its fundamental character. 17" Chip Foose wheels replace the original wheel treatment, while new springs and shocks at all four corners lower the car approximately two inches. The result suits the long, low proportions of the '68 Impala particularly well without turning the car into a modern restomod.
For someone looking for a full-size Chevrolet that combines numbers-matching big-block power, SS equipment, factory air conditioning, power accessories, original sheet metal and open-air driving, this Impala checks an unusually large number of boxes.
Technical Specifications
Vehicle
Engine
Transmission & Driveline
Factory Equipment
Body & Exterior
Interior
Suspension
Historical Overview
The Impala occupied the top of Chevrolet's full-size passenger-car hierarchy for much of the 1960s, but the Super Sport transformed the big Chevrolet into something with a decidedly different personality.
By 1968, buyers could combine Chevrolet's big-block performance with the equipment and refinement expected of a flagship full-size automobile. The result was a different interpretation of the muscle-car formula. Rather than minimizing size and equipment in pursuit of straight-line performance, the Impala SS offered considerable horsepower in a substantial, comfortable automobile capable of carrying four adults—and, in convertible form, doing it with the top down.
The 396 cubic-inch Mark IV big-block was central to that identity. In L35 specification, its factory-rated 325 horsepower provided substantial torque and effortless performance while remaining well suited to street use. Paired with Chevrolet's heavy-duty Turbo-Hydramatic automatic, it created an especially effective combination for a well-equipped full-size convertible.
This particular Impala takes that concept considerably further through its factory equipment. Air conditioning, power windows, power steering, power brakes, power top, bucket seats and center console make it a remarkably complete example of what Chevrolet could offer a performance-minded buyer who wasn't interested in giving up amenities.
Today, its numbers-matching L35 396 and all-original sheet metal are arguably even more significant. Full-size Chevrolets were used as everyday transportation, exposed to weather, repaired when necessary and rarely preserved with the same intensity as Corvettes and other purpose-built collector cars.
That makes an SS 396 convertible retaining its original body structure and original engine particularly appealing.
It isn't the most delicate or exotic way to experience Chevrolet performance from the 1960s.
It may be one of the most enjoyable.
