1968 Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevelle was Chevrolet’s entry into the “intermediate” segment, and was manufactured from 1964 through 1977. The 1964-’65 cars were very similar, likewise with the 1966-’67 models. 1968-’72 Chevelles are close in size and shape, and many parts over this 5 model year run are interchangeable. Although some of the sheet metal and trim changed over the years, 1973-’77 Chevelles are typically grouped into one “generation”. The 1977 model year spelt the end of the Chevelle nameplate, and the mid-size Chevrolet would continue on as Malibu.
The 1968 Chevelle was redesigned from the wheel base to the roofline. The new body style featured a curvilinear design with long hood and fastback styling to a short deck. The nose featured a forward leading edge on the top accented by side trim that angles down toward the front wheel opening. A slight peak in the middle of the grille and the hooded headlight buckets gave the car a sinister look. The dual headlights frame the grille and sit comfortably between the bumper and hood.
New ride and handling features for 1968 come in the form of “Full Coil Suspension” and one inch wider tires on all models. The 1968 Chevelle also sported two different wheelbase ratios. A sporty 112” wheelbase for coupes and convertibles, and 116” wheelbase for sedans and wagons was new for 1968.
Standard 6-cylinder versions were bumped up to 140 horsepower, and can be optioned up to 375 horsepower V8 (L-78 option available only through certain dealers). The 360hp SS396 was detuned to 350hp due to a new GM rule governing the horsepower allowances for all cars other than Corvette.
The entry level 300 model had a b-pillar where the other models were hardtops. The 1968 and 1969 models are very similar in design with minor trim changes. The most significant change is the horizontal bar between the quad headlights and the tail lights change from ‘68’s featured short rectangular taillight fitting in the trim, where the ‘69’s are taller and roll up the quarter panels beside the trunk door edge.
New Federal safety-mandated equipment included side marker lights, as well as shoulder belts for outboard front seat occupants on cars built after December 2,1967. About 465,000 1968 Chevelles were produced.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1968 Chevelle 300
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Nomad Wagon
- Engine Options
- 230 cubic inch 140 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 250 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 307 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
- 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 325 horsepower V8 (optional)
1968 Chevelle 300 Deluxe
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Coupe
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 4 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Custom Nomad Wagon
- Engine Options
- 230 cubic inch 140 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 250 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 307 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
- 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 325 horsepower V8 (optional)
1968 Chevelle Malibu
- Body Styles
- 4 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Sport Sedan
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 2 Door Convertible
- 4 Door Wagon
- Engine Options
- 230 cubic inch 140 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 250 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 307 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
- 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 275 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 325 horsepower V8 (optional)
1968 Chevelle Malibu Concours Sport Sedan
- Engine Options
- 230 cubic inch 140 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 250 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 307 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
- 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 275 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 325 horsepower V8 (optional)
1968 Chevelle Concours Estate Wagon
- Engine Options
- 230 cubic inch 140 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 250 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 307 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
- 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 275 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 325 horsepower V8 (optional)
1968 Chevelle SS396 (Super Sport)
- Body Styles
- 2 door sport coupe
- 2 door convertible
- Engine Options
- 396 cubic inch 325 horsepower V8 (base)
- 396 cubic inch 350 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 396 cubic inch 375 horsepower V8 (optional)
1968 Chevelle VIN Decoder:
First Character: Division of General Motors
Second and Third Character: Series Designation *
- 31 ~ Chevelle 300, Nomad, 6-cylinder
- 32 ~ Chevelle 300, Nomad, 8-cylinder
- 33 ~ 300 Deluxe, Nomad, 6-cylinder
- 34 ~ 300 Deluxe, Nomad, 8-cylinder
- 35 ~ Malibu, 6-cylinder
- 36 ~ Malibu, 8-cylinder
- 37 ~ Concours station wagon, 6-cylinder
- 38 ~ SS396 and Concours station wagon, 8-cylinder
Fourth and Fifth Character: Body Style/Model
- 27 ~ 2-door coupe **
- 35 ~ 4-door station wagon, 2 seat
- 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe **
- 39 ~ 4-door sport sedan
- 45 ~ 4-door station wagon, 3-seat
- 67 ~ 2-door convertible
- 69 ~ 4-door sedan
- 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup
Sixth Character: Year of Production
Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
- A ~ Atlanta, Georgia
- B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
- G ~ Framingham, Massachusetts
- Z ~ Fremont, California
- K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
- 1 ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1968 Chevelle was 100001 at all U.S. Chevelle assembly plants. Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 13435 station wagon followed a 13667 Malibu convertible, the sequence number would be one unit higher for the wagon. It's also entirely possible to have the same sequence number from all five 1968 U.S. assembly plants with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code.
Production exceeded 100,000 units for the Baltimore plant sometime in May, and the Kansas City plant sometime in April so the VIN sequence for those respective time frames to the end of production would be 2nnnnn for each plant.
* The El Camino is not a separate series nameplate but rather a body style in both the 300 Deluxe (33/34) and Malibu (35/36) series although it's often listed as such. The base (33/34) El Camino Deluxe is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with 300 Deluxe trim where the (35/36) El Camino Custom is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with Malibu trim and the (38) SS396 El Camino is a sedan pickup body style with SS series trim. The SS396 series Chevelles sport coupe, convertible, and pickup (13837, 13867, and 13880) were the only three models to come standard with the 396 V8 engine. The 396 V8 engine could NOT be ordered in any other series or body style other than the SS396 sport coupe, convertible, or pickup.
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