1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS – L78 / L89

General Motors was pushed into the pony car wars by the success of the Ford Mustang.  They arrived late but responded with two cars that would become icons of American muscle cars, the Pontiac Firebird and the Chevrolet Camaro.

The Camaro was intended to be marketed as a 4 seat Corvette and hence a wide array of performance options and drive train choices.  It was the fourth new line of cars that was introduced from 1959 on.  The Corvair, Chevy II, Chevelle and Camaro were all designed to fill a specific niche in the marketplace.  The Camaro was described as a “go as well as show machine.”

The 1968 Camaro carried over the styling clues of the 1967 models.  Very little changes were made in terms of sheet metal and luxury options.  The introductory model had sold well and there was no need to embark on a full styling exercise.  The biggest change was the front ¼ windows being replaced by Astro Ventilation.

What had really changed was the addition of high performance options that included the L89 option and auxiliary hardware.

Super Sport models carried on the long tradition of Chevy performance and the SS options include a potent 350 cid engine and a companion 396 in various stages of tune.

This Camaro SS-396 was sold in Canada and includes General Motors of Canada documentation.  It is a real SS and a real numbers matching L78 car.  Many cars purport to be numbers matching or date code correct but very few can lay claim to all major component pieces being numbers matching.  This is that car.

It was shipped to Canada from Norwood, Ohio on December 19, 1967 and was sold new by Lefty Automobiles in Rockland, Ontario. The car was shipped with the following options:

·        D55 – Front Compartment Floor Console,

·        G80 – Rear Axle Positraction,

·        H05 – Rear Axle - 4.10 ratio,

·        L78 – Engine: 396 Cu. In. – Special Hi Performance - 375 H.P. – V8,

·        M22 – 4-speed H.D. Transmission – Close Ratio,

·        U17 – Front Compartment Console Instrument Cluster,

·        U63 - Radio – Pushbutton – AM

·        U73 – Manual Antenna

·        V48 – Engine Coolant – Increased Protec (Antifreeze)

The restoration for this car started with a rust and damage free body that retains its original sheet metal including ¼ panels.  There are no filler or patch panels.  The underside of the car has been finished and detailed fully.  The body was completely stripped, sealed and painted to the original paint color, Tripoli Turquoise (code K).

It comes with its original mint interior including carpet, glass and bright work.  The interior is RPO Code 712, Black Deluxe Interior. The gauges, wiring harness door hinges etc. have all been correctly restored to the highest standard.   This is a rotisserie restoration and beautifully presented car.

The 396, M22 Rock Crusher and 12 bolt rear end are original to the car and numbers matching.  The mechanical components of the car have been professionally rebuilt and include brakes, suspension, drive train, etc.  The motor has been balanced and is still on a break in regimen.

The icing on the cake with this car is the installation of date code correct L89 heads that have enjoyed a professional rebuild.  Included with the car are the original cast iron heads that are also fully rebuilt.  This is not an L89 clone but it is a high output muscle car that has had a performance upgrade, just as it would have been done at the delivering dealer.

This car has been fully detailed and restored correctly including tower hose clamps, a Delco style battery, and all the right emblems.  It looks just like it rolled off the show room floor on its Firestone Wide Oval F70 – 14 Red Line tires.  NOS and OEM parts highlight the restoration.

In the day a 1968 Camaro with the L78 option and a 4 speed ran 113.39 MPH with an ET of 12.474 in the ¼ mile.  This squarely put the car as the third fastest muscle car ever. 

This is a low option car that remains true to that high performance legacy.  With the exception of the radio, all the options are about GO!

It has been finished as it arrived from the factory with coke bottle style hub caps, red line tires, no spoilers.  It’s all business, plain Jane C.O.P.O. style.

For the classic car enthusiast that is looking for a documented, correctly restored, no story car, this is the one.  We have seen many Camaros and very few would surpass this car. 

It is a treat to drive with smooth power.  It stops and goes as if new.  The paint is striking and the car never fails to attract a crowd. 

$72,000.00

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