1968 Chevelle SS

As the American people began demanding more power and speed for their vehicles during the 1960s, Chevrolet responded with the Chevelle Malibu SS. The vehicle marked Chevrolet’s entry into the world of muscle cars as they fought to stay relevant in an ever-changing market (sounds a lot like today, right?). Though the Chevelle itself was produced from 1963-1977, the SS (Super Sport) was only produced through the 1973 model year. The Super Sport option was available for $162.

In 1968, the Chevelle SS 396 model earned a reputation as being both an affordable and reliable muscle car. The model “outsold every other true high-performance machine of the day” (How Stuff Works). The base model came with a turbo-jet 396 cid engine with 325 bhp, but an upgrade brought a 350 bhp L34 engine. A three-speed manual transmission came standard, but drivers and passengers were in for a bumpy ride- the suspension wasn’t quite up to par with other muscle cars.

Buyers had two body styles to choose from- the 2 door sport coupe or the 2 door convertible for those sunny days. A variety of colors helped to make this model even more popular and certainly offered something for almost everyone. During the 1968 model year, 62,785 Chevelle SS 396 units were produced.

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1968 Chevy Chevelle

The decade of the 1960s was one of the most memorable ones on a number of different levels. There was a great deal of societal change underway with the civil rights movement going forward, and of course much of the nation was polarized over the Vietnam War. Rock and roll music was reaching its full stride and this was the soundtrack that was always present during this interesting period.

In addition, the automobile industry was making strides during the 1960s as well. The Chevrolet Chevelle was introduced for the 1963 model year and it became one of the most popular models ever offered by General Motors. Chevelles were offered in many different body styles including convertibles, coupes, sedans, station wagons and even the El Camino, a vehicle that was part truck and part car.

The 1968 Chevy Chevelle line was the first model year for the second-generation of the nameplate. At the bottom of the line was the Chevrolet Chevelle 300 and 300 Deluxe. The 300 wagons were known as Nomads, a revival of a model name that had laid dormant since the 1961 model year came to a close. The least expensive 1968 Chevelle 300 carried a price tag of $2447.

The Chevelle Malibu was the most popular 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle, and Malibu sales accounted for some 60% of all Chevelle sales. A 1968 Chevelle option was also offered for muscle car enthusiasts: 1968 SS 396 Sport Coupe. The standard engine in this vehicle was the 396 cubic inch Turbo-Jet V8 that was capable of generating 325 hp. But if that was not enough to float your boat, the 396 was also offered with 350 and 375 horsepower options.

1968 saw the introduction of a new breed of Chevelle that was well received by the public. If you have a hot 1968 SS 396 sitting in the driveway there is no doubt that passersby frequently suffer from cases of minor whiplash.

 

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