| v8 : 375 hp : 1968 |
| The Swingin' Sixties, the Muscle Car Decade, saw a new generation of American cars rightfully cherished today as the most outrageous and fun means of transportation in automobile history: Pony Cars! A few, like MoPar's Hemi-powered monsters, achieved fame through their prowess on the nation's drag strips, others, like Ford's '65-'66 Shelby Mustang Fastback, as potent road racers. However, when it comes to the most popular Pony Car of all time, there's but one worthy contender for the throne, uniquely personifying the Heartbeat of America: a first-generation Chevrolet Camaro, featuring a big block engine and four-on-the-floor. |
At a time when Hemi Cuda convertibles fetch a million dollars (and more) and Shelby Mustangs hit the magic six-digits, it's safe to predict that big block Camaros will achieve stratospheric values in due course.
However, it's of utmost importance to find the right car, and none will fit the bill better than a proverbial Southern California survivor. One that has never been exposed to inclement weather, one that never needed rust repair, one that never suffered from body damage. A car that features every desirable factory option: the biggest engine, the manual 4-speed tranny, Rally Sport Package (RS) and Super Sport Package (SS), the most striking color combination. We're talking about the proverbial needle in the haystack here.
Built at the General's Van Nuys, California assembly plant during the second week of June, 1968 (see cowl tag above) and sold new locally at Fillmore Chevrolet, this Camaro has never left the Golden State.
Looming large under the hood: an original 396 big block, engine casting # 3935440, correct for the late-1968 build date of the car.
235,147 Camaros were built in 1968. A scant 4,575 were fitted with the L78 Super Sport package that included the 375-hp Turbo Jet 396 cubic inch V-8 engine, a $500 option. We think it was the bargain of the Century! Only a percentage of those few were additionally ordered with "Rally Sport" trim (Z22). The "RS" package added the distinct grille with vacuum-operated headlight covers, among other items.
Surveying the Le Mans Blue exterior (factory code: U-U), Factory Rally wheels feature correct caps and trim rings, are shod with very nice GOODYEAR Eagle ST radials. Turning our attention to the inviting, medium blue interior, we immediately notice the woodgrain sports styled (N34) steering wheel, a rarely seen option on a '68.
Special instrumentation package (U17) includes the Tic-Toc-Tach , a combination clock and tachometer. Note the 6,000rpm redline. Four additional gauges, all of them beautifully preserved, are mounted on the center console.
Special hood scoops, a "SS" exclusive, 2? inch duals, Fitted by the factory with a stout 12-bolt posi rear containing ?-mile gearing,
(from eBay posted by Californiaclassix)
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