I shot this unassuming four-door Chevy Caprice at the same lot as the Ranchero Squire from the other day. Until Paul and Tom burst my bubble (thanks for the catch, guys!), I thought that I’d actually captured a pretty rare find: A 1965 Impala with Caprice Custom Sedan trim (RPO Z18) and an optional vinyl roof.
In my very quick searching online, I missed the fact that the grill was revised in ’68 and that side marker lamps were added. So, rather than this being a Significant Car, it’s really “only” an old Chevy Caprice… [ED: actually, the ’67-’68s had all-new sheet metal, and every year got a new front and rear end]
That said, the Impala / Caprice story is fascinating, and as I’m trying to catch up on this week’s CCs after tent camping in Yellowstone for a couple days, it sounds like we’ve heard a lot about it so far. As for how our subject car came to be, let’s just say that in 1965, the completely redesigned Impala was offered with a Caprice Custom Sedan option, which essentially created a luxury version of the Impala SS.
Special tufted seat upholstery was among the features of the Caprice (still present in 1968 as we see here), as well as extra wood-look trim on the dashboard and door panels.
Wide chrome sill-trim pieces, special wheel covers with Caprice logo set into a black background, and fender skirts identified a Caprice from the outside. The overall effect was very Cadillac-like.
The other trim change added Caprice badging. Based on the success of the Caprice package, Chevrolet introduced a new and separate Caprice model series the following year, which was the genesis of this vehicle.
This particular ’68 has a 327 (5.4-liter) small-block V8 and a column shifter. Can anyone tell from the interior photo if this car has a Powerglide or manual transmission?
I’m super glad I took the time to walk over and shoot this car too, even if it didn’t turn out to be something that special. I ended up learning some interesting history behind what I’ve always considered to be one of Chevy’s “ho-hum” grandma cars.
I’m assuming it was a PowerGlide. The TH350 was finally standard equipment in full-size Chevies in ’69. It was an option before, depending on the engine.
The first year of full-size Chevies without a discernable year-to-year change was 1975-76 although I’m probably wrong on some minor detail. I think the round headlights of the ’75 were carried over on some ’76’s and the higher-end models got the rectangular ones.
From ’65-’71 they clean-sheeted the body every two years. Then the ’71 body ran to 1976 before the downsized models came out for ’77.
Hidden headlights were a Caprice option in 1968 and 1969. Also note the car had a decidedly more premium look than the still-upscale-for-Chevy Impala. That started to change with the ’71 models and by the early 80’s Impala was relegated to Biscayne status before its late 80’s demise and 1994 resurrection as the Impala SS.
The 71-76 cars are sometimes confusing as the Impala would wear the previous year Caprice styling.
Not true. In ’69, last year of the 327 which was 2BBL only, it was paired with a Powerglide. My dad had that combo in his ’69 Townsman wagon.
I don’t know which automatic transmisson came with it, but that 2bbl version of the 327 was kind of an anomaly, offered (in fullsize cars) only in ’69.
Up to that point, IINM, the 327 had been available only as a 4bbl, with the smaller 283 (through ’67) or 307 (introduced in ’68) serving the “base V8” 2bbl function. This was true of most Chevy lines. The one major exception was the Camaro, which for some reason did not offer the 283/307, instead offering a 2bbl version of the 327 in its place. In 1967-68, the 2bbl was unique to Camaros.
For 1969, the 350 replaced the 327 for all 4bbl applications [*], but the 2bbl offered in the Camaro remained a 327. In addition, the full-size cars adopted a lineup similar to the Camaro, dropping the 307 and replacing it with a 2bbl 327. I believe that the horespower ratings for the 2bbl 327 weren’t the same in the Camaro and the fullsize cars, but I don’t know what was different about the two. These were the only instances of the 327 being available in 1969. It had otherwise been replaced by the 350.
1969 was the last year for the 2bbl 327. For 1970, the Camaro adopted an engine lineup similar to other models, offering the 307 for the first time. The full-size cars went to a lineup where the 350 was the smallest V8 available.
[*] Chevy had actually begun phasing in the 350 a few years earlier for certain high-performance 4bbl applications. The Camaro SS used the 350 from the time it was introduced in 1967, and the Nova SS and Corvette followed suit in 1968. All other models offering a 4bbl 327 (non-SS Nova, non-SS Camaro, Chevelle, fullsize, trucks) kept the 327 through ’68, then switched to the 350 for ’69. As described above, the 2bbl 327 offered in Camaros (1967-69) and full-size cars (1969 only) remained a 327 for ’69, then was dropped.
Actually, the 307 replaced the 327 2-barrel as the base V8 in the Camaro in mid-1969. Early ’69s got the 327/210 as the entry V8 as did the 67-68 Camaros. The 2-barrel 327 that was the base V8 in full-sized cars in 69 was rated at 235 horsepower, and only offered in the B-body cars as the 307 was also the base V8 in Chevelles, Chevy IIs and pickup trucks. The 350 V8 was now offered in both 2- and 4-barrel form in Chevelles and Chevy IIs while big cars and Camaros got two 4-barrel versions, a low-compression regular-fuel option with 255 horsepower or the Ultra High Compression 300 horsepower option, which was also the standard Corvette, Camaro SS and Nova SS engine. The 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic was now available with any engine in most 1969 Chevrolets including sixes with the intro of the Turbo 350 for the smaller engines and continued use of the Turbo 400 for the larger mills (the Turbo 400 was also offered with the 327 in 67-68 full-sized cars and ’68 Corvettes) – real progress from previous years when the 2-speed Powerglide was the only automatic offered with the most popular small block V8 options. Although the Turbo-Hydramatic had overtaken the Powerglide in production by 1970, the PG remained on the option list of 4-cylinder Vegas, 6-cylinder Novas and Chevelles, Novas and Camaros with the 307 V8
through the 1973 model year.
The ’69 Impala Custom Coupe (350) I used to have actually had the powerglide.
Things did get a little weird in ’75 in the Big Chevy Styling Department. The ’75 Impala front stying was nearly identical to the ’74 Caprice while the ’75 Caprice got the ugly “rounded” front end.
The ’76 Impala got the ugly rounded front end from the ’75 caprice. The ’76 Caprice had the rounded front end but had square headlamps.
In 1967 and 1968, a 327 could be paired with the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 in an Impala or Caprice – as could the 396 and 427 V8s. Powerglide was also available with the 327 in both years along with the 283 in 1967 and 307 in 1968. For 1969, the new Turbo-Hydramatic 350 debuted in most Chevrolet models – on the big cars, it and the Powerglide were available with any 327 or 350 V8, while the 396 and 427 got the Turbo-Hydramatic 400 as the only automatic option. From 1962 to 1967, all 327s in full-sized Chevrolets were four-barrel “Ultra High Compression engines that required premium fuel (250/300 for 62-65, 275 for 66-67), so the 283 was the only V8 that could use cheaper regular fuel. For 1968, the 283 was replaced by the 307, also a two-barrel regular fuel engine, and a low-compression four-barrel 327 was introduced as a one-year-only option for ’68 – rated at the same 250 horsepower as the base 62-65 model (the high-compression 275-horse 327 was still on the option list for this year too). In 1969, the 307 was replaced by a two-barrel 327 rated at 235 horsepower while the 350 was a new option this year in low-compression 255 or high-performance 300 horsepower versions – both with four-barrel carbs, along with a two-barrel 396 with 265 hp and two 427 four-barrel options of 335 and 390 horsepower.
I have a 1968 caprice with power seats and windows,400 turbo trans and 327 engine.love this car one day I hope to put it on the road again.
A friend of my mother had a 68 Caprice. It was a sort of pewter silver color in and out with a black vinyl roof. I do not remember the engine, but believe that it was a PG. It also had power windows and air.
I got to spend a day with it, as I made some pocket money in high school by detailing cars. I was actually very impressed with the quality of the interior of that car. It was more like a Cadillac interior than any Chevy I had ever seen. The tufted, patterned seat upholstery looked like the kind of thing Caddies had used, at least a few years earlier. Also, the quality of the door panel upholstery and trim was very impressive. The wood trim on the doors was probably plastic, but it sure made you look and wonder.
The interior of that car was actually nicer than a 67 Cad Calais that I had spent some time in – it too had vinyl seat bolsters, and even crank windows.
The 68 Caprice was a handsome car, and certainly gave the LTD a run for its money that year. Actually, I thought that the LTD upped its game more after 1968 than the Caprice did. But this 68 would make me think about it if I were buying a new car of that class that year. As much as I would like a Plymouth VIP from 68, I suspect that it was not as nice inside as this Chevy.
I can also tell you that the THM tranny was optional with the 327 engine and above in 67 Caprices. My bet is that this car is so equipped, and it is possible that it was standard on a 68 Caprice 327. I will leave that one to some of the more Chevy-centric folks.
Wasn’t “detailing” then called wash & wax?
Wash, wax, vacuum, whitewalls, chrome, vinyl roof, interior scrub, windows – but yeah. An average car would take me an entire day to go over really well. They looked good when I got done. Wish I had that kind of time to spend on my own cars now.
How I hate the name “Caprice”. Sounds like “carapace”…
That said, it was a better buy than a similar Cadillac of that era.
A neighbor bought a new 1968 Impala sports sedan and I was mildly horrified when he wanted me to wash & wax it for him. Why? I think some sort of new safety regs were in effect because all the polished aluminum trim bordering the headliner and A pillar were now interior-color plastic. That hurt.
Although it was the same body as the ’67 models, it seemed more bloated. Also, I didn’t care for the tail lights in the bumper.
All in all though, once all windows were lowered, driving one was special, as I can attest with dad’s 1960 & 1966 models.
In ’68, a Caprice with a 327 could be had with four different transmissions:
1) 3-speed standard (presumably on the column)
2) 4-speed standard (floor only)
3) Powerglide
4) Turbo Hydramatic (TH350)
I’d say pretty strong chance that this car has either 3) or 4).
Choices numbers 1 and 2 are probably rarer than a Hemi Cuda. Put together, no less. Nobody spent the money on a Caprice and shifted for themselves.
One of the things that I always get a chuckle out of from antique car buffs if that they’re willing to spend incredible amounts of time discussing option combinations that may have been available according to The Book, but were never, ever ordered by anybody. Least of all, a dealer.
I remember one…back in 1975…a midnight blue ’66 Caprice 2-door whose 327 needed a rebuild, I think it was rapping, but otherwise the car in nice condition. Coulda had it for $250 but for me in those days it might as well have been $25,000.
Poor choices in regard to my post-high-school employment left me in a financial hole that would take decades to erase.
“Coulda had it for $250 but for me in those days it might as well have been $25,000.”
Exactly. Now you know why I couldn’t keep my avatar, and I’ve regretted it for the last 39 years…
As an aside, I find it so comical to see gearheads rant about the diminishing availability of manual transmission when they are almost impossible to move off car lots.
Love manuals so much? Go buy one. Seems not much has changed since 1968.
I’m pretty sure the THM350 wasn’t available until ’69. The ’68 Impala Custom I used to have was equipped with the 327-4 barrel (250hp) engine & THM400 transmission. I’ve seen a few ’68 small block Chevies with the THM400, tons with the PG, but none with THM350.
Correct. Looking at the option chart, the TurboHydramatic was listed as just that, with no # suffix. A little more digging proves that yes, it would have been a TH400 if it was so equipped.
Lazy research on my part, and thanks for the correction!
My parents had a ’68 Impala SS, white with black vinyl top, with the 327 and automatic (which auto, I don’t know; I was a little younger than the car). This was the last new car they bought as a couple, and the car my mom drove when I was a kid (until they got a Torino wagon when I was about 7, which was a POS for the most part). That grille and those “327” badges bring back memories!
The 76 Impala got the previous year Caprice swept back headlights look. And the 76 Caprice got square headlights, so they stood out somewhat.
But by the early 80’s, hard to tell the years apart. I know ’86 was last year for non-composite haedlights, but the 87-90’s are near identical.
I’d bet a beer this thing has a powerglide. The TH 350 did not appear until ’69. You could get a TH 400 with a 327/275 hp in certain applications such as station wagons but it was not common. I harvested dozens of late ’60s Chevys for engines, transmissions, power steering boxes etc. and I never saw a pre ’69 small block car with anything but a powerglide or, rarely, a 3 speed manual.
I always loved those front sidemarker lights with the engine call-out. Chevy was so good at doing that in those days. Those bigger engine call-outs like 396 or 427 always made me stop and look at the car a little closer…….
Me too.
Back in the day,there was a very unique Caprice 4-door hardtop in my hometown. It was a special order from local Bennett Chevrolet by the family that owned the local Coca-Cola bottling company. As such, it was loaded like no other Caprice that I have seen from that era. Hold on as I list the options: power windows, seat, steering, brakes, trunk release, Comfortron, cruise control, speed reminder, tilt wheel, am/fm with multiplex and 8 track tape, bench seat with strato bucket backs, tach, special gauge package, fiber optic monitoring system, rally wheels, hide-away headlights, vinyl side body trim, front and rear bumper protection group and I’m sure some other things that I am forgetting. It appeared that the original buyer, Mr. Carnes, simply said: I want every extra cost item I can get. The car was a beautiful gold color initially, but by 1978, had suffered at the hands of a subsequent owner who had it painted (very cheaply) in white. I used to see the car around town and marvel at the options I could pick out on it. Then, one day – it was gone.
I also recall 2 1968 Impala models, one a 4-door sedan, the other a 2-door hardtop that were powered by a 6 cylinder engine. Both had Powerglide and that unmistakable 6 with Powerglide sound. These cars were sold by the same local dealer – Bennett Motor Company – as the Caprice I mentioned.
The 1967 and 68 Caprice models are a favorite of mine.
Mr. Bill
Hamlet, NC
Was it a 427 car? A 427 powered Caprice 4 door with all options would be an amazing find.
The 67 Impala/Caprice are my all time favorites. They lost me a bit in 68 with the lights in the rear bumper but the lines from the side still worked.
Coca Cola distributor and a “Coke Bottle” Chevy? Outstanding!
The old man and I ran across a 67 Caprice “SS” in the early 00s with a 396 that I’m still kicking myself on. The guy only wanted $2k..
The 427 was offered in full-sized Chevrolets in a single 4-barrel, 385 horsepower version in both 1967 and 1968 – at least according to the brochures and specs of the time. However, it was also possible to do a COPO (Central Office Production Order) and get the (L-72) 425-horsepower 427 4-barrel in a big car – a few Biscayne 2-door sedans were so built, and was cheaper than a nicely-equipped SS 396 Chevelle if you stuck with just the basics (big engine, 4-speed or Turbo-Hydramatic, power steering and a radio)
My neighbor across the street has a black ‘68 Impala convertible with a 327 in very nice condition. The car had a Powerglide when he bought it. He hated that transmission so much that after 6 months he had it replaced with a THM 350. He drives the car much more now (in nice weather) since the transmission swap.
Hey y’all, the dern’ hood on the car is pert-near’ big ’nuff to be my shanty’s roof.
It’s about time you showed back up. I can’t be the only crazy one here! Too much work and all..
Hidden headlights made these cars a knockout but not many exist. My favorite 1968 feature (’67 too) are those front corner parking lights that were standard on the Caprices and optional on the lesser models.
I saw a ’67 Bel Air equipped with these back in the early 80’s.
I have two 68 Caprices, one a business coupe and the other is the Sport Sedan like this one. You cannot tell from the seats what tranny the car has as both of my Caprices have bench seats. The Business Coupe has a 327 and two speed powerglide transmission, while the Sports Sedan has the TH350 three speed transmission. I also have the rare option of the hide-away headlights on the Sport Sedan. They were cool when they worked, but I am going to have to get them working again. I have never been a fan of the powerglide myself, so I bought a T-shifter and console from a 69 Camaro and plan on installing it and buckets in the business coupe. I am thinking I will probably buy a 5.3 liter engine and transmission from a Sliverado or GMC and keep the 327 badging since a 5.3 and 5.4 were so close to the same size.
This is my 68 Sports Sedan by the way.It is a long way from being done, but this was taken sometime after it sat 16 years in the woods. The business coupe is just behind it there in the background. It is rather unremarkable and plain, so no need to elaborate or post pictures of it.
I have a 1968 caprice 327 engine 400 trans with power seats and windows.love this car hope to one day put it back on the road.needs good tuneup paint job,and inside work.
I had a ’69 Caprice w Bucket-Seats and Console w 350/255 hp 3-speed auto <guess from reading here, it was a THM-400. I was originally that awful-green out and in, but someone had done a decent Brown paint job on the outside w a Black Vinyl-Top. Paid $250 for it in mid-'79, then wrapped it around a tree 4 months later. One of my favorite cars ever, wish I had one now I think those are cooler.
Had a friend w/a ’69 Camaro w/307 w/column Power-Glide, we used to race down country back-roads,,, I’d lead off the line, then he’d quickly catch-up when I was shifting into second, then we’d be neck and neck until I shifted into 3rd, after that I’d pull-away pretty quick,,,,, stopped at 100 mph .
I had another friend that drove the heck out of his mom’s ’68 BelAir w the Six and Powerglide, it was a real-dog, but got Way better mileage than my Caprice and my friends Camaro, $ 5.00 would allow him to cruise all night, where mine’d take 10-12 .
This forum was a real pleasure to read, brought back good memories. Hope I didn’t elaborate too much, but I hadn’t thought of those times in Years.
I need a 1968 caprice roof. Email me [email protected]
I think 1 of the things I like best about the ‘68 full size Chevs is that year still had the door vent windows! I like that look better than the “Astro Ventilation” ( no vent windows) look…