Chevrolet was granted liberties that different manufacturers inside General Motors often didn’t obtain. Take this 1967 Chevelle SS 396 for example: it was accessible with a solid-lifter 396 (possibility code L78) rated at 375 horsepower. The identical engine was rated within the 1965 Corvette as 425 horsepower. Even at 375, it broke GM’s rule of not more than 10 kilos per horsepower, one thing no different GM model occurred to do.
As a consequence, the engine (which was accessible 1966-70) was not often marketed. In truth, it wasn’t even mentioned within the brochure, but Chevrolet bought 1000’s of them — in 1966, 3,099 Chevelle SS 396s and El Caminos have been constructed with the L78 and, in 1968, one other 4,751. Not unhealthy for word-of-mouth!
But in 1967, solely 612 L78s have been put in within the Chevelle SS 396 and El Camino. Why such a distinction from different years? I can’t clarify, however 1967 was an odd yr at Chevrolet: L72 427 availability for the massive vehicles disappeared, and solely six Chevy IIs have been constructed with the L79 327/350 after a number of thousand being in-built 1966. I’ve heard the L79 was cancelled for the Chevy II in order to not cannibalize Camaro gross sales however later reappeared — might the latter have been the identical for the Chevelle SS 396? NotedChevelle expert Dale McIntosh thinks this state of affairs could also be potential with the L78. “From what I’ve gathered from conversations with knowledgeable Chevelle owners, the L78 engine was dropped for 1967 for whatever reason, then reinstated around April/May but with no fanfare or advertisement. As such, only a few dealers and potential buyers even knew it was back on. Hence, only 612 were sold.”
One of these uncommon 1967 L78s is introduced right here by Muscle Car Campy. Owned by Frank Oddo, he purchased this Chevelle in 1971 after graduating from highschool, and he’s saved it ever since. Besides the uncommon L78, this SS 396 additionally was constructed with a crimson bench seat (code 747), considered one of 10,074 Chevelles constructed with this inside and, of these, you’ll be able to think about only a handful have been SS 396s as buckets appear to be the rule.
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