All About the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. The 1968 Camaro Review.

The 1968 Camaro looked very similar to the 1967 externally. Small body changes included the addition of side marker lights (due to a new gov­ernment mandate), a pointier front grille, and divided rear taillights. Due to the 1968's new Astro Ventilation fresh-air-inlet system, gone were the side window windwings.

Engine offerings for 1968 were nearly identical to those of 1967, with the exception of the RPO L89 option that fitted aluminum cylinder heads to the RPO L78 396 big-block V8. Due to the high cost of the L89 option ($868.95), only 272 1968 Camaro's were fitted with this performance upgrade.

The 1968 Camaro's suspension was much im­proved, thanks to the new five-leaf rear springs that worked with repositioned rear shocks. The new rear suspension not only delivered improved handling, but virtually eliminated wheelhop.

Inside, the 1968 Camaro was similar but incorporated a new center console, newly styled door panels, and circular Astro Ventilation vents on the outer edges of the dash. Although the 1968 had new seat covers, the big news was the availability of trendy-looking houndstooth seat fabric.

In late 1968, John Z. DeLorean became general manager of Chevrolet Motor Division, taking over from Elliott M. "Pete" Estes.

It was a good year for the redesigned Camaro as production of 235,147 Camaro's was realized in the model year. (Note: Industry trade journals also printed the figure 235,151, but 235,147 seems to be more accurate; also note that other figures, such as production by factory and production by type of engine, do not add up to either of these figures). The total represented 2.8% of total U.S. industry production and compared to 220,906 cars and 2.9% of industry in 1967. According to automotive trade journals of the day, the total included 50,937 6-cylinder (I-6) cars and 184,178 V8 engine-powered Camaro's, although this adds up to only 235,115 cars. Industry trade journals reported that 184,735 Camaro's were built at the Norwood, Ohio, plant and 49,064 Camaro's were made at a factory in Van Nuys (Los Angeles), California. In addition, the trade journals showed 1,248 Camaro's "produced" at an assembly plant in Bloomfield, New Jersey. According to Camaro Brand Manager Scott Settlemire's sources, these 1,248 cars were actually units produced at the Norwood factory and shipped to a site near Bloomfield (possibly Little Ferry), where they were "knocked down" for shipment overseas. This means that the total number of cars built in Norwood, Ohio, was actually 185,983.

The 1968 Camaro Z28 was road tested by 3 major magazines with varying results. "Road & Track" magazine (June 1968) recorded a 3.4-second 0 to 30-mph time, a 6.9-second 0 to 60-mph time, a 15-second 0 to 100-mph time and a 14.90-second quarter mile at 100 mph. "Car Life" magazine (July 1968) recorded a 3.5-second 0 to 30-mph time, a 7.4-second 0 to 60-mph time, a 14.2-second 0 to 100-mph time and a 14.85-second quarter mile at 101.40 mph. "Car and Driver" magazine (June 1968) recorded a 2.2-second 0 to 30-mph time, a 5.3-second 0 to 60-mph time, a 12.3-second 0 to 100-mph time and a 13.77-second quarter mile at 107.39 mph. The "Car and Driver" car was specially prepped by the factory, but beat out a Mustang with similar modifications. A single 1968 Camaro Z28 convertible was specially built for Chevrolet general manager Elliott "Pete" Estes.

Of the Camaro's built in the model-year, 56.4% had automatic transmission, 20.2% had a 4-speed manual transmission, 21.7% were equipped with an I-6 (Inline 6-cylinder) engine, and 78.3% were equipped with a V8 engine.

82% had an AM radio, 3.1% had an AM/FM radio, 1.8% had a factory tape deck, 15.3% had air conditioning, 2.3% had a tilt steering wheel, 49.0% had power steering, 10.2% had power drum brakes, 8.6% had disc brakes, 1.4% had power side windows, 97.9% had front bucket seats, 32.8% had a vinyl roof, 85.3% had white sidewall tires, 25.8% had a tinted windshield (only), 27.8% had all tinted glass, 21.7% had dual exhausts, 15.6% had a limited-slip differential, 62.9% had wheel covers and 0.1% had cruise control.

Camaro sales for calendar-year 1968 came to a new high of 213,980 units (2.50% of the industry) compared to 205,816 (2.7% of the industry) in 1967.

A total of 209,822 new Camaro's were registered in the 1968 calendar year compared to 204,862 in the 1967 calendar year and 41,100 in the 1966 calendar year.

Chevrolet boasted that the 1968 Camaro SS (Super Sport) was dedicated to the "fun crowd." The sales catalog said it was "a husky performer and looks it." Big engines, a beefed-up suspension and special equipment features made this model-option stand out.

The prices of the RPO Z27 SS package varied according to engine. With the L48 V8 the dealer paid $152 and got $210.65 at retail. With the L35 V8 engine the dealer cost was $190 and the retail price was $263.30. With the L34 V8 the dealer cost was $266 and the retail price was $368.65. The L78 version of the SS wholesaled for $361 and retailed for $500.30. The L78/L89 V8 version with aluminum cylinder heads retailed for $868.95 (dealer cost unknown).

1968 Chevrolet Camaro Description

For 1968, the Camaro Base Coupe's standard equipment included a satin-silver horizontal bars grille with 6 vertical dividers, inset headlights and parking lights, twin-segment taillights with integral backup lights on the inboard segment, new 1-piece curved side windows, new rear side marker lights ahead of the rear bumper ends, new front side marker lights behind the front bumper ends, all-vinyl front bucket seats, an all-vinyl rear bench seat, new interior door styling with bright metal inserts, shielded door handles, a 3-spoke steering wheel with circular "Camaro" horn button, a new gauge cluster with large, round speedometer and fuel gauges and monitoring lights, Astro Ventilation with standard cowl side vents and 2 adjustable vent-ports mounted on the instrument panel, an energy-absorbing steering column, seat belts with push-button buckles for all passenger positions, shoulder belts for the driver and right front passenger with push-button buckles and a convenient storage provision on Sport Coupe models, passenger-guard door locks with deflecting lock buttons on all doors, a 4-way hazard warning flasher, a dual master cylinder brake system with a warning light and corrosion-resistant brake lines, latches on the folding seat backs, dual-speed windshield wipers, windshield washers, an outside rearview mirror, back-up lights, new side marker lights and parking lights that illuminated with the headlights, a padded instrument panel, padded sun visors, padded windshield pillars, a reduced-glare instrument panel top, reduced-glare inside windshield moldings, a reduced-glare horn button, a reduced-glare steering wheel hub, an inside day/night rearview mirror with deflecting base, directional signals with a lane-change feature, safety armrests, a thick-laminate windshield, soft low-profile window control knobs and coat hooks, energy-absorbing seat backs, yielding door and window control handles, an energy-absorbing instrument panel with smooth-contoured knobs and levers, safety wheel rims, safety door latches and hinges, a uniform shift quadrant, an energy-absorbing steering wheel, snag-resistant steering wheel hardware, fuel tank and filler pipe security, an all-welded steel unit body with separate front rubber-mounted frame section, cross-braced Sport Coupe roof supports, heavy-gauge convertible rocker panels, an independent front coil spring suspension, Mono-Leaf rear leaf springs (multi-leaf rear springs with the V8 engines), bias-mounted rear shock absorbers, Safety-Master self-adjusting brakes, a dual-chamber brake master cylinder, Rayon-reinforced front and rear brake hoses, a foot-operated parking brake, a long-life corrosion-resistant exhaust system with standard emission controls, a 12-volt electrical system with a 9-37 amp Delcotron diode-rectified generator and re-circulating ball-race steering.

In addition to, or in place of, all of the standard equipment listed above for base Camaro's, the SS 350-cid package included the same special hood with raised simulated air intakes used on 1967 SS models, a big SS emblem for the center of the grille, special hood insulation, special chassis components, a 350-cid 295-hp V8 engine, a color-keyed bumblebee-type front accent band (black with light colors and white with darker colors), SS identification below the Camaro front fender script, SS identification on the round fuel filler cap at the center of the rear body panel, red stripe or white stripe wide-oval tires and multi-leaf rear springs.

In addition to, or in place of, all of the standard equipment listed above for base Camaro's, the SS 396-cid package included unique hood with twin banks of 4 square simulated air intakes, a big SS emblem for the center of the grille, special hood insulation, special chassis components, a 396-cid V8 engine, a color-keyed bumblebee type front accent band (black with light colors and white with darker colors), SS identification below the Camaro front fender script, SS identification on the round fuel filler cap at the center of the rear body panel, red stripe or white stripe wide-oval tires, multi-leaf rear springs and a black-painted rear body panel. A dual exhaust system was included with all Camaro SS models at no additional cost.

Available 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Models:

Camaro Base Coupe

The CAMARO Base Coupe is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in 4 different variations with engines ranging from the L6, 230-cid. - V8, 3327-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $2,565us - $2,762us.

Camaro Base Convertible

The CAMARO Base Convertible is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Convertible with seating for 4. It is available in 4 different variations with engines ranging from the L6, 230-cid. - V8, 327-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $2,802us - $3,000us.

Camaro RS Rally Sport Coupe

The CAMARO RS Rally Sport Coupe is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in 4 different variations with engines ranging from the L6, 230-cid. - V8, 327-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $2,670us - $2,867us.

Camaro RS Rally Sport Convertible

The CAMARO RS Rally Sport Convertible is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Convertible with seating for 4. It is available in 4 different variations with engines ranging from the L6, 230-cid. - V8, 327-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $2,907us - $3,105us.

Camaro Z28 Coupe

The CAMARO Z28 Coupe is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in only 1 variation with a hi rev 5.0L V8, 302-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $3,834us.

Camaro Z28 RS Rally Sport Coupe

The CAMARO Z28 RS Rally Sport Coupe is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in only 1 variation with a hi rev 5.0L V8, 302-cid. It had a retail value of: $3,939us.

Camaro SS Super Sport Coupe

The CAMARO SS Super Sport Coupe is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available 5 different variations with engines ranging from the 5.7L V8, 350-cid. - 6.67L V8, 396-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $2,881us - $3,539us.

Camaro SS Super Sport Convertible

The CAMARO SS Super Sport Convertible is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Convertible with seating for 4. It is available 5 different variations with engines ranging from the 5.7L V8, 350-cid. - 6.67L V8, 396-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $3,119us - $3,777us.

Camaro SS RS Super Sport Rally Sport Coupe

The CAMARO SS RS Super Sport Rally Sport Coupe is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available 5 different variations with engines ranging from the 5.7L V8, 350-cid. - 6.67L V8, 396-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $2,986us - $3,644us.

Camaro SS RS Super Sport Rally Sport Convertible

The CAMARO SS [RS] Convertible is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Convertible with seating for 4. It is available 5 different variations with engines ranging from the 5.7L V8, 350-cid. - 6.67L V8, 396-cid. It had a retail value ranging from: $3,224us - $3,882us.

Excerpted from camarosource.ca