70 CHEVY HIGH PERFORMANCE II NOVEMBER 2019
BASHED BOWTIES
✶ For one final year, the 138-style code prefix was used to designate 1968 Chevelle
SS396 muscle cars. In a move that has opened the door to swarms of SS396 clones
and tributes, in 1969 Chevrolet dropped the SS396 as a stand-alone Chevelle model
and packaged the major SS396 goodies into option group Z25. For an extra $347.60,
buyers still got the 396 big-block (in one of three levels of potency), heavy-duty
suspension, high-capacity cooling, and external plumage. The big change was the
loss of style code prefix 138. Instead, any SS396 shared its 138 VIN and style code
prefix with any V-8–powered Chevelle passenger car—including hum-drum low-
performance small-blocks. So, from 1969 through 1971, SS396 and SS454 shoppers
rely mainly on paper to verify their discoveries. It is a mine field.✶ We wish we could say this 1968 Concours station wagon was packing factory 396 power. The fact is, in 1968, Chevrolet restricted the 396 exclusively to Chevelle
Super Sports—including the one-year-only El Camino SS396 muscle hauler. The 350 small-block was the hottest V-8 offered in the Concours wagon. But every
1968-’71 Concours station wagon did share one critical detail with the 1966-’68 Chevelle SS396. And it wasn’t the engine.✶ This ravaged SS396
exhibits the 3-inch
shorter wheelbase
(112 vs. 115) that was
new for 1968. Inside,
it packs a column-
shifted automatic
transmission. Luckily,
it’s the extra-cost
($237) M40, three-
speed Turbo 400. The
performance-killing
two-speed Powerglide
was still offered in
the SS396, but 1968
would be its final year.
As with 1966 and ’67,
the 396 big-block was
offered in three power levels: the 325hp L35 (45,553 built), the 350hp L34 (12,481 sold), and the 375hp L78
(4,751 sold). The fact that 45,553 of the 62,785 SS396s built in 1968 carried the base L35 396 speaks to the
undying popularity of bolt-on aftermarket speed equipment. The vast majority of L35 cars were fitted with
“day two” upgrades soon after retail delivery.✶ Nailing down exactly which big-block was
factory installed in a 1966-’71 SS is impossible
without legitimate paperwork (window sticker,
sales documents, etc.). But at least verifying SS396
muscle car status is as easy as checking the style
code (ST) for a 138 prefix. Here, the 13817 style
code proves this is an SS396 hardtop. A convertible
SS396 (only 5,429 built) would show 13867. Over
the years, SS hunters have learned to just look for
the 138. But there’s a trap, which we’ll see in a
moment.