You are looking at a REAL 1968 Chevelle 138 Super Sport L78 396/375hp 4 speed with 66K original miles that was built right here in Atlanta! This is the only 68 L78 in the registry that is built in Atlanta. Who knows how many of these L78 Chevelle's can be found that have most original body panels and 66K original miles? This Chevelle has lived its whole life in the south and was babied for sure. The car has a matching numbers engine trans and rear. 396 375hp solid lifter big block with a M22 4 speed transmission and a 4.10 posi traction rear. Awesome looking, running and driving car. There have been a few changes along the way. Starting with a color change from code NN Maroon to slick Black with Red 70 stripes that really sets it off. Has correct code Black bench seat interior that is in excellent condition. There has been a serpentine belt and pulley system added with a couple chrome pieces added under the hood along with MSD coil. Options include L78 engine, M22 4 speed transmission, 4.10 posi traction rear, power steering, power disc brakes on front and rally wheels. This Chevelle gets attention everywhere it goes. Ready to show and go! Take her to the car shows or take her to the strip for a fast run! Great piece of American Muscle Car History to own!
Call 770-427-VETT
1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
T he Chevelle burst out of the gate for 1968 with modernized long-hood/ short-deck nearly fastback styling, riding on a shorter 112-inch wheelbase. Though some of its dimensions were shared with or similar to its siblingsthe GM A-bodies from Buick, Olds, and Pontiaceach division did a masterful job of instilling its own character in its intermediate offerings.
Of course, the Chevelle SS 396 was brimming with image, thanks to taut lines augmented by a black-accented grille, lower body, and tail panel; "SS 396" emblems inside and out; and a "twin-domed" hood.
The interior was more plush than the previous year with additional padding in key areas and a complete redesign. Engines, drivetrain, and the basic suspension layout carried over, but that wasn't a bad thing, as the 396 engines offered various levels of power to match diverse drivers' desires.
Under the single-snorkel chromed-top air cleaner and rocker covers, the standard L35 325-hp 396 engine featured a Quadrajet carburetor bolted to a cast-iron intake manifold; deep-breathing canted-valve oval-port heads with 2.065/1.72 valves; hydraulic-lifter 286/286-degrees advertised duration camshaft; cast pistons; forged-steel rods; cast nodular-iron crankshaft; a two-bolt main block; breaker-point ignition; cast-iron exhaust manifolds; and dual exhaust. The compression ratio was 10.25:1.
To extract 350-hp from the optional L34 396 engine, a hydraulic-lifter cam with 300/300-degrees advertised duration and more lift was specified, as was an open-element air cleaner. A forged-steel crank was also employed.
The extra-cost L78 396 earned its 375-hp rating by employing a Holley carburetor; large-port aluminum intake manifold; upgraded cylinder heads with upsized rectangular intake ports and bigger 2.19 intake valves; solid-lifter 316/302-degrees advertised duration cam with higher lift; forged crank, rods, and pistons; 11:1 compression ratio; and four-bolt mains. Neither A/C nor an automatic transmission were available with this engine.
A heavy-duty three-speed manual transmission with an 11-inch clutch was standard, but the M-20 wide-ratio and M-21 close-ratio Muncie four-speeds, with a shifter handle adorned with their name, were optional. And the famed M-22 could be ordered with the 375-hp engine. The extra-cost Turbo 400 three-speed automatic, and the Powerglide two-speed could still be had with the 325-hp and 350-hp engines.
Out back was the 8.875-inch ring gear 12-bolt rear axle with available Positraction and gear ratios from 2.73:1 to 4.88:1 depending upon engine and transmission choice.
The short/long arm front suspension featured a 0.937-inch anti-roll bar, and relay-type steering linkage with a recirculating ball/nut gear steering box was employed. A four-link rear layout was augmented with frame reinforcements. At the four corners were HD coil springs (front 320 ppi/rear 130 ppi) and shocks, 9.5-inch drum brakes, and F70 x 14 tires on 14- by 6-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. Eleven-inch power front disc brakes were optional.
For 1968, the Chevelle SS 396 started at $2,899 for the sport coupe and $3,102 for the convertible. Possibly to keep the base price down, Strato bucket seats were optional instead of standard. There was no shortage of extra-cost items, however. Highlights include: Special Instrumentation featuring a unique vertical tachometer as well as an ammeter, gauges for temperature and oil pressure, and a clock; console; A/C; power steering, windows, and brakes; tinted glass; head restraints; Light Monitoring System; speed-warning indicator; Cruise-Master speed control; Sports-styled steering wheel (woodgrained plastic rim); Comfortilt steering wheel; AM and AM/FM radios; rear seat speaker; rear antenna (N/A with AM/FM); AM/FM stereo; stereo tape system; F40 Special suspension; Superlift air-adjustable rear shocks; Rally wheels; various wheel covers; vinyl roof cover; and special body-side accent stripes.
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