1) Parked across the streetcar tracks.
2) Unique Ontario 4-letter 3-number plate format (enough combinations to last 200+ years based on current issuance).
3) Optional Caprice-only hidden headlight grille on an Impala.
Not only is it Ontario registered, it is a relatively new registration, and judging from the clothing, the photo is from last summer. The tracks must be in the neighbourhood of Howard Park Av and the High Park loop.
As far as the car, it is in great shape. Perhaps the wheels are an inch or two larger than stock. But they need to move it soon, because there is a streetcar coming. Ding ding!
Must agree regarding the headlights. I have a convertible version of this car, almost the same color, and the shop manual states that the hide away headlights are a Caprice only option.
Also, was in the freight railroad biz for a long time and the train generally doesn’t stop, at least not quickly, in street running operations when the tracks are blocked. Maybe different for a trolley/streetcar.
This is a ’68 Impala, of course. While the hidden headlights may have been listed as available with the Impala SS in some early sales literature, I don’t think it ever made it to production. It was strictly a Caprice feature.
I think that’s true. My Dad had a Grecian Green ‘68 Impala Custom Coupe, and was happy his did not have this option. Neither of us was a fan of this Caprice feature. Some cars looked great with ‘em, but the ‘68 Chev… not so much. (In our opinions of course… no disrespect intended to those who like them on this car).
The GM heritage center Chevrolet document for the 1968 models shows the Caprice (16600) as the only model with optional hidden headlights. The old car brochures for Chevrolets also show the Caprice as the only model that offered them as an option.
How strict was GM about option availability in situations like this where a trim item was supposed to be available only on some models, even though it would fit on any of them? Could I order hidden headlamps on my ’68 Bel Air if I insisted on it? I know occasionally I would see an officially unavailable color combination for example.
How strict was GM regarding option availability? My guess is back then, exceptions could be made, though I think the window for those exceptions was rapidly closing. I recall reading an article about s ’67 Country Squire factory outfitted with buckets and a console, a one- off special request, honored by Ford.
Try that today, it can be done, but only at the dealer level. I had a customer come into the dealership in 2015 wanting to buy his father a new truck. They had a very specific request. A Silverado, crew cab, with a 6’6″ bed, so dad could lay his 6 foot long mason’s level lengthwise, as the much more popular 5’8″ bed was too short to do so. It also had to be top of the line High Country trim. They decide upon ‘ocean blue’, but High Country trim only comes with an exclusive brown leather. They felt it didn’t go very well with the outside’s blue and it was a deal breaker, but I reminded them High Country was only available with that interior. These guys were definitely buyers, so I discovered dad would “settle” for a comparatively equipped LTZ trim model, with a more palatable interior color. The manager located exactly what they wanted, and could have it in no more than two days. They had wanted immediate delivery, relented, but then insisted upon color-keyed bumpers, an exclusive High Country feature. I had to state those were not available on a LTZ, only chrome.. At this point the son (moneybags) says he’s had enough, I’m just frustrating him, says dad really wants a Ford, and they leave. I get royally chewed out for not bringing this last request to the manager’s attention; “We could of painted the bumpers in our top notch body shop, you idiot!” (edited for family viewing) Only a few weeks later, all Silverados became available with color-keyed bumpers as part of a sport package. To be honest, the dad was okay, the kid was a jerk. I was curious about “moneybags”, so I googled him. Turned out to be Billy Horschell, top earner of over $10 million on the PGA tour that year. I was an idiot. My follow up call revealed he bought dad a Ford F-150 Platinum the following day.
Sometime later this was followed by a guy who bought a new Malibu LT out of stock. However, he didn’t like “slab-side” look the car had without side protection strips he saw on some other Malibus, they however were only available as part of the “technology package”, which this car was not equipped with, and he wanted this car. Having learned my lesson with the Silverado, I quickly called parts, and then the body shop. He was more than happy to pay an additional $400, and wait two days for delivery.
Car sold. Happy customer. Lesson learned..:
Could I order hidden headlamps on my ’68 Bel Air if I insisted on it?
No. I did some research on this before posting it. There were only two Impalas built by the factory with the hidden headlights, and both were for Chevrolet big-wigs. None other. Some have been converted though.
2 guesses: the Caprice grille on the Impala hardtop and what looks to be a non-1968 color. This looks like either 1969 LeMans Blue or 1967 Marina Blue. Big Chevys did not offer a similar shade in 68, at least not according to paintref.com.
There are pictures of a number of ’68 Impala SS cars with the hidden headlights on the internet. Here’s just one. Hard to say whether the lights were a special-order option or a latter-day modification.
Judging by the way the guy in the blue shirt is glaring at the back end of the car, whatever’s wrong must be happening there. Perhaps the car’s owner backed over the gentleman’s prize Vespa and fled.
“I always thought the ’68-’70 Impala’s were sturdier and better screwed together than the ’65-’67’s.”
I have owned a ’66, ’68 and ’69. Not much difference in build quality/workmanship, though the ’69 was a bit sloppy. The biggest difference I have noticed is that the ’66 was a simpler car.
My Hidden Headlights Part 1 post links to this video that calls an identical looking car an Impala SS. They raise the hood, maybe you can check out which engine it is.
I’ve never owned an Impala. I was 11years old for 11months of 1968. But I immediately spotted the headlights. And while they may have been announced or even offered as options on the Impala, every red-blooded American kid knew they were Caprice only.
Was ’68 the high point for hidden headlights? Our ’68 LTD Country Squire had them, and when the rubber stops disappeared, they closed with a loud BANG! Only to slowly open as the system lost vacuum. To Ford’s credit, at least they defaulted to the open position…
It looks like an SS from here. Cheech & Chong sure drove up the prices of 1964 Impala’s after their first movie. The one in Saturday Night Fever,sure took a beating by the final reel. Making the movie, the kids in the neighborhood, told the director, they usually buy Cadillac’s.
1) Parked across the streetcar tracks.
2) Unique Ontario 4-letter 3-number plate format (enough combinations to last 200+ years based on current issuance).
3) Optional Caprice-only hidden headlight grille on an Impala.
My first thought was it’s an Ontario car in British Columbia, but Westminster Chapel is in Toronto, not in New Westminster.
And yeah, streetcar tracks. You don’t want to mess with the TTC.
I don’t see much wrong with the car, I’d be happy to drive around in that 🙂
Not only is it Ontario registered, it is a relatively new registration, and judging from the clothing, the photo is from last summer. The tracks must be in the neighbourhood of Howard Park Av and the High Park loop.
As far as the car, it is in great shape. Perhaps the wheels are an inch or two larger than stock. But they need to move it soon, because there is a streetcar coming. Ding ding!
Not just parked across the streetcar tracks, but blocking half the street.
I’m the OP to Cohort.
Car was shot on Roncesvalles Ave. that was closed to a street festival. So, it’s irrelevant that it’s blocked street car tracks.
A bit further down the street there were some classic Eastern Bloc vehicles, – Fiat Polski, Fiat Polonez, Zuk pickup, FSO Syrena etc.
Also a local brewery had an old Ford Econoline Heavy Duty on display.
Is that the SteamWhistle van? That’s a sweet looking vehicle.
Here in Dundas we have Shawn and Ed’s Studebaker pickup. I should do a CC on that…
I figured it had to be something like that, was going to guess a car show on a line with weekday service only.
Must agree regarding the headlights. I have a convertible version of this car, almost the same color, and the shop manual states that the hide away headlights are a Caprice only option.
Also, was in the freight railroad biz for a long time and the train generally doesn’t stop, at least not quickly, in street running operations when the tracks are blocked. Maybe different for a trolley/streetcar.
Was the covered-headlight front end on 1968 Chevies only for the station wagons?
Only available on Caprices.
To me, I find this picture simply beautiful! Wish I could have a car like this.
Found this in a Home Depot Parking lot in Scottsdale, AZ Jan 2018
This is a ’68 Impala, of course. While the hidden headlights may have been listed as available with the Impala SS in some early sales literature, I don’t think it ever made it to production. It was strictly a Caprice feature.
I heard the hidden headlights was also available with the Impala Custom Coupe, new for 1968.
I think that’s true. My Dad had a Grecian Green ‘68 Impala Custom Coupe, and was happy his did not have this option. Neither of us was a fan of this Caprice feature. Some cars looked great with ‘em, but the ‘68 Chev… not so much. (In our opinions of course… no disrespect intended to those who like them on this car).
The GM heritage center Chevrolet document for the 1968 models shows the Caprice (16600) as the only model with optional hidden headlights. The old car brochures for Chevrolets also show the Caprice as the only model that offered them as an option.
How strict was GM about option availability in situations like this where a trim item was supposed to be available only on some models, even though it would fit on any of them? Could I order hidden headlamps on my ’68 Bel Air if I insisted on it? I know occasionally I would see an officially unavailable color combination for example.
How strict was GM regarding option availability? My guess is back then, exceptions could be made, though I think the window for those exceptions was rapidly closing. I recall reading an article about s ’67 Country Squire factory outfitted with buckets and a console, a one- off special request, honored by Ford.
Try that today, it can be done, but only at the dealer level. I had a customer come into the dealership in 2015 wanting to buy his father a new truck. They had a very specific request. A Silverado, crew cab, with a 6’6″ bed, so dad could lay his 6 foot long mason’s level lengthwise, as the much more popular 5’8″ bed was too short to do so. It also had to be top of the line High Country trim. They decide upon ‘ocean blue’, but High Country trim only comes with an exclusive brown leather. They felt it didn’t go very well with the outside’s blue and it was a deal breaker, but I reminded them High Country was only available with that interior. These guys were definitely buyers, so I discovered dad would “settle” for a comparatively equipped LTZ trim model, with a more palatable interior color. The manager located exactly what they wanted, and could have it in no more than two days. They had wanted immediate delivery, relented, but then insisted upon color-keyed bumpers, an exclusive High Country feature. I had to state those were not available on a LTZ, only chrome.. At this point the son (moneybags) says he’s had enough, I’m just frustrating him, says dad really wants a Ford, and they leave. I get royally chewed out for not bringing this last request to the manager’s attention; “We could of painted the bumpers in our top notch body shop, you idiot!” (edited for family viewing) Only a few weeks later, all Silverados became available with color-keyed bumpers as part of a sport package. To be honest, the dad was okay, the kid was a jerk. I was curious about “moneybags”, so I googled him. Turned out to be Billy Horschell, top earner of over $10 million on the PGA tour that year. I was an idiot. My follow up call revealed he bought dad a Ford F-150 Platinum the following day.
Sometime later this was followed by a guy who bought a new Malibu LT out of stock. However, he didn’t like “slab-side” look the car had without side protection strips he saw on some other Malibus, they however were only available as part of the “technology package”, which this car was not equipped with, and he wanted this car. Having learned my lesson with the Silverado, I quickly called parts, and then the body shop. He was more than happy to pay an additional $400, and wait two days for delivery.
Car sold. Happy customer. Lesson learned..:
Could I order hidden headlamps on my ’68 Bel Air if I insisted on it?
No. I did some research on this before posting it. There were only two Impalas built by the factory with the hidden headlights, and both were for Chevrolet big-wigs. None other. Some have been converted though.
2 guesses: the Caprice grille on the Impala hardtop and what looks to be a non-1968 color. This looks like either 1969 LeMans Blue or 1967 Marina Blue. Big Chevys did not offer a similar shade in 68, at least not according to paintref.com.
The Caprice grill on an Impala was my first impression. And wheels and tires are not stock.
No windshield wipers (unless they were “hidden” on this model).
And indeed, ’68 was the first year of hidden wipers on the full-size Chevies.
There are pictures of a number of ’68 Impala SS cars with the hidden headlights on the internet. Here’s just one. Hard to say whether the lights were a special-order option or a latter-day modification.
The OP looks like a ’68 Impala modded with the Caprice hidden headlight option.
The ’68 SS’s grille / hidden headlights use a horizontal brightwork with blackout theme whereas the Caprice uses an egg-crate design.
The already mentioned Streetcar Tracks, non-stock wheels & Caprice hidden headlights.
Plus – the front bumper valance looks blue not argent silver.
Perhaps there was some sort of car show or other public event where the street was closed off, and they were the last ones to leave?
Judging by the way the guy in the blue shirt is glaring at the back end of the car, whatever’s wrong must be happening there. Perhaps the car’s owner backed over the gentleman’s prize Vespa and fled.
Without looking at all the other comments, the one thing I immediately noticed are the hidden headligths.
The 4 alpha 3 numeric license plate sequence seems lopsided and asymmetrical. Also, no cubic inch call out above the side parking light.
I always thought the ’68-’70 Impala’s were sturdier and better screwed together than the ’65-’67’s.
You may be thinking of the side marker lights/call-outs for 1969, which were a different, free-standing design with just the numbers above the lights.
The call-outs for 1968 weren’t above the lights, but next to them, contained in the same bezel.
It says “307”, as you can see on another picture on the Cohort. I’m the OP.
“I always thought the ’68-’70 Impala’s were sturdier and better screwed together than the ’65-’67’s.”
I have owned a ’66, ’68 and ’69. Not much difference in build quality/workmanship, though the ’69 was a bit sloppy. The biggest difference I have noticed is that the ’66 was a simpler car.
Ummm no 28 inch rims?
That would be on a ’71-’76 🙂 .
I don’t know, the year I see most commonly done up that way is a ‘64.
A: It’s not parked in my garage.
Your garage? Tell me more…
But yeah, that’d be really nice
dude, even my garage is fully street
My Hidden Headlights Part 1 post links to this video that calls an identical looking car an Impala SS. They raise the hood, maybe you can check out which engine it is.
Not sure, but I think the trim on the open door looks like Caprice not Impala.
Only Caprices could be ordered with the hidden headlights; no Impalas.
I’ve never owned an Impala. I was 11years old for 11months of 1968. But I immediately spotted the headlights. And while they may have been announced or even offered as options on the Impala, every red-blooded American kid knew they were Caprice only.
Was ’68 the high point for hidden headlights? Our ’68 LTD Country Squire had them, and when the rubber stops disappeared, they closed with a loud BANG! Only to slowly open as the system lost vacuum. To Ford’s credit, at least they defaulted to the open position…
Those aftermarket wheels. Chevy’s OEM hub and trim rings were much more appealing, in my view.
Anyone could have added hidden lights to an Impala in the past 50 years. Yes, hard to believe, but it’s Golden Anniv of 1968 MY!
Also, seemed like Ford Motor Co offered hidden lights more than their cross town rivals. LTD/Marquis/Continental
It looks like an SS from here. Cheech & Chong sure drove up the prices of 1964 Impala’s after their first movie. The one in Saturday Night Fever,sure took a beating by the final reel. Making the movie, the kids in the neighborhood, told the director, they usually buy Cadillac’s.