RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

I found this one not even five miles from home. I was sitting in traffic and spotted it way off on the hillside. After about 20 minutes of trying dead end roads and alleyways, I figured out exactly which road on that hillside led to it. I was hoping it would be a '69 Yenko, but it turned out to be a '68 SS396. Still looks like it was a cool car in it's day. Not much left of her now. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

That's about as buried as they get. All that was missing was the tombstone.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

A true SS396 car for sure, but no signs of engine or trans at all. Originally a 4 speed car, with at least one bad repaint. Dig the hand scheened tow hooks, installed through the bumper with a hot wrench. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

I spoke with the owner's mother, a very elderly lady who agreed to allow me to snap some pics. She said it hadn't been driven in 15 years or so. My guess is it's been a lot longer than that. Inspection sticker expires July 31, 1975. I wasn't even born yet.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Pretty rough for sure.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Radiator had literally fallen through the core support. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Looks like the rare "strike" interior, like LV's Harrell '68, only bench version, and completely devastated. Not much left of the floors.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Door panel.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

72,775 clicks on the clock.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Original color shows, nice jamb work. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Looks to have been an original rally wheel car, 3 still remaining.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

The lone Cragar S/S. They hold up nice outdoors. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

A good candidate for some retro fit cowl screens.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

What's left of the trans tunnell.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

SS trim still intact in the interior. Looks like some of Belair's finest growin' in there.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Cool (but sad) pics! Man, the Rust Belt is rough on sheetmetal.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Cool old Steel Town speed shop decal. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

A close up of those tow bars and the installation. Belair, I hope you aren't putting the ones on your '69 COPO like this.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

And there she'll sit until she becomes part of the Earth. Makes you think twice about the value and rarity of "survivor" cars. Glad LV's Harrell '68 wasn't stored like this.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Kid,

Were there any signs of a motor/trans/rear? I love the pictures thanks! It sure would be some project bringing one of these cars back from the dead! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif Its tough seeing em like that!

-Dan

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

[ QUOTE ]
A true SS396 car for sure, but no signs of engine or trans at all.

[/ QUOTE ] The rear was there, but you'd need a shovel to get it out. Sad indeed. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

I can hear the owner now.
"It's not for sale,I'm Gonna Fix her up one of these days!". https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Hey Kid great pictures. Thanks for fighting the weeds to get them. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Yeah I'll be lucky if I didn't catch some incurable disease from crawling around that thing. I checked the trunk for a dealer emblem or any indication of where it was sold...nothing...then the glovebox only to find about 200 creepy crawly critters. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif I think I'll go wash again. All part of the experience though...still bummin' it wasn't a '69 Yenko car. Maybe next time.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

i'll bet it was a L78 car with those tow tabs. great pics!!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Even if it was a Yenko it needed to stay where it was ! I hope you left the vegetation alone https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

[ QUOTE ]
Man, the Rust Belt is rough on sheetmetal.

[/ QUOTE ] You can say that again. Dig the driver's side fender. Only the stainless trim was keeping it glued together.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Hey, Kid. I bet if you went back and pulled the interior, you would find the build sheet. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

I wonder why Chevelles didn't get the SS396 emblem on the horn shroud? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif I know I've seen them, are they SS396 '68 Camaro only, as to destinguish themselves from SS350's...or were they a big car part? Any thoughts?

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

I'll bet its a Phase 3 though.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Fender bottoms are pretty hurtin' too. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/crazy.gif Looks like they've already been subject to some mud work.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Maybe SS396 on the dash spear was enough?

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Note no badging at all on the "strike" door panels. I questioned this about LV's Harrell '68 when I first saw it. I guess DH lucked out when the cars came in with those door panels, no SS396's to have to get rid of.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

COOL pics, Erik! I bet it was an eerie feeling when you first walked up on it, full of pent up anticipation.

SS

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Those lug nuts could use a squirt of WD-30..

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

[ QUOTE ]
I bet it was an eerie feeling when you first walked up on it, full of pent up anticipation.

[/ QUOTE ] It was a combination of that, and fear of tramping down on a rattler while wearing only flip flops. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

The banjos playing in the background probably didn't help either... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Toothless guys sitting on the nearby porches probably had an impact also.

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Kid did they tell ya "you had a purdy mouth?" https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: RIP '68 Chevelle SS396
 

Deliverance remarks aside...this car isn't as far into the sticks as you might think. It's just well hidden. Like I said, I saw it while sitting in traffic, i.e. myself and other "city folk" on their way home from work. If you've never been to Pittsburgh you might not understand, but it's really a city nestled in the midst of a lot of little suburbs. I happened to be driving through one of them when my eye spotted what looked to be a '68-9 Chevelle tucked away up under a pine tree way off on a hillside in the distance. A little side street/back alley detour and voila, there she sat. This car is no more than 15 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, not in West Virginia or the deep woods as the pics may lead you to believe. The first house I stopped at was actually a neighbor of the owner, who seemed to be thrilled that I stopped and showed interest in the car, explaining that it hadn't moved in decades, and hinted at his contempt for the owner for allowing such an eyesore to sit in the adjacent yard for what seemed to be an eternity. Yes, there were houses situated closely enough around this car for me to have to guess which one might belong to it's owner. It even had electricty and a working doorbell when I approached it. I guess my point is, these kinds of finds can be lurking where you'd least expect it. This car is in plain view to the trained eye, but somehow has avoided rescue for many years. I didn't get a chance to speak with the owner, but you can bet he's a bit of an introvert, and I doubt he has much interest in selling or the car would have probably been grabbed up while there was still something left to it. I just think you should never say never, and when I haul an L-78 and an M22 out of his rickety tool shed in a few weeks...then we'll see who's squealin' like a pig! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif Hey, stranger things have happened.