Member: Bruce E. McInnis

Car: 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

Bruce E. McInnis's '68 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

I am preparing for retirement and my better half, Pattie Jean, was telling me I needed a hobby ... besides her. So, I happened to find the exact car I wanted. Now, I am accused of being out with the ‘redhead’ ... the matador red Chevelle.

I graduated from Nanaimo District Secondary school in 1968 and had a ’57 Chevy Bel-Air 283 convertible which I sold for $600.00 so I could go to the University of Victoria. It was there I spotted a 1968 Chevelle BB 4 spd a local dealer, but I resisted and continued at university. But now I have it ... my dream car for retirement on Vancouver Island. However, at the same time I found the chevelle, I found a rare 1967 396 Impala sport coupe [fastback] ... a rare car with only 267 Chevrolet Impala [model 16487] and Pontiac Parisienne [model 76487] built with the L35 396-325 hp engine at the Oshawa plant for the 1967 model year. So it is likely 1 of about 175 Impalas of this configuration. The Impala is a matching number car with original interior and SS type in dash clock, tack and guages. New paint and carb only in 2001 ... a truer restoration. This car is my ‘visit the Island car’ ... where it is stored.

Back to the ‘red head’... An original matching number Chevelle Model Number 13837. Casting dates are about a 2 months time period apart. 1968 production 425,300 chevelles, with 55,309 SS 396 sport coupes, 3,595 L35, 4 spd. 359 sent to Canada. Base price 2,875 USD for 13837 model. The car is an American vehicle. June 1968 production from Framington, Massachusetts plant. Engine from Tonawanda plant, 396 cid 325 hp L35. Transmission M21 Muncie four speed close ratio. 12 bolt 3.31:1 rear end from Buffalo, New York. F 41 sport suspension.

This chevelle is original in body and interior except radio and speakers and is restored on frame. It carries the original manufacturing color of Metador Red with black stripe kit and broad bottom stripe and black interior. The 396 CID – 325 hp engine is the original block, piston and heads, etc and has not been rebuilt. However, the engine was updated and modified in 2004.

The engine was updated with Edelbrock dual plane RPM manifold, 770 cfm Holly Street Avenger carburetor, Hooker headers, Accel HEI Super coil distributor, MSD 8.5 mm Super Conductive plug wires with boots, flex 6-blade fan, Holly mechanical fuel pump, Federal Mogul roller cam, Crane Energizer roller rocker arms, Crane bronze tip fuel pump push rod, Comp value springs, Comp hydraulic roller push rods, Crane valve stem Super Locks, Edelbrock Performer-Link True Rolling timing chain, chrome valve covers, chrome air filter assembly, K&N air filter, AutoMeter tachometer, oil, and temperature gauges, Fenco water pump, Hastings harmonic damper.

USA-02 am/fm cassette player with hidden antenna, Other modifications include: Flowmaster 2.5 inch dual exhaust system,15 inch Crager SS wheels, 215 R6515 [front] and 255R7015 [rear] BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires. Hurst shifter replaces original Muncie shifter. These modifications to the engine represent the modifications typical of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s big block muscle cars. Good start but need more power!

The old radio, speakers, and engine parts [Rodchester carb, intake, fuel pump, cam, water pump, etc.] are still with me. They can be put back to original configuration at any time. The rest of the drive train is original. Original rims and wheel covers were lost when body shop went out of business.

The body is straight with a few blemishes, scratches and paint chips. Chrome has some pitting and dents. This car has very few replacement parts, even the side mirror has a screw holding it together. This is a ‘20 footer’.car!

The front seats, headliner, padded armrests and carpets have been replaced. The rest of the interior is original including the torn back seat and dash. The rear seat will be recovered in 2005 as my knee broke the seam out when I was replacing the interior window corners ... oh well ... more original parts going. The shoulder harness belts are missing the lab portion of the belt but the other portions are in their roof hangers.

It took ages to locate a front license plate bracket for the front bumper. Jason Turner, from CEP Automotive, Lethbridge donated one from their 1968 Beaumont shop car with a 502 demo engine. Most exciting find yet!

The windows are original with new weather stripping, window felts and fuzzies. Future work required includes: windshield washer switch [is worn and works intermittently]; cigarette lighter doesn’t function, valve seals, and front power disc brakes. This chevelle is mainly original with on frame restoration only. The engine and exhaust system makes this car a modified chevelle and partial restoration. It is a rare car in this configuration. I have had one vehicle appraiser say it is 1 of 18 in North America.

My car philosophy for this vehicle is ‘do it up for more power’ like I did my cars in the 60’s and 70’s. ... more muscle and high performance! Any technical errors or incorrect information? Let me know .... things have changed a lot since I was into this type of cars.

Bruce’s ’68 Chevelle build sheet is as follows:


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