[3macs1]

From what I have seen I think the 68 Nova emblems apprear to have taken the same path the 68 ss427 Impala emblem did. On the 427's there was actually three styles and many different opinions of their origin. I have also seen all three 396 emblems on Nova's with original owners swaring they are original to the car.The most common belief on the 68 427 emblems was the early cars were fitted with the foil back ground emblem that said SS427, with later produced cars having the plainer common 427 chrome emblem with the black background.Then there was a red foil 427 emblem that was definately standard on canadian built cars but have also shown up on many US cars reciently.
The 396 probally followed a similiar pattern ss396 foils on early cars, the canadian cars had a foil silver back ground with a white trimmed 396 but did not say SS, then finally the standard 396 chrome with the black back ground. I have seen all three on 68 nova's.
The dates for each or perhaps the different plants used different ones is still a mistery only that three were produced and factory installed for sure.The original canadian cars seemed to be the only one consistant and used one style for 396 and 427.
Good Luck finding a usable set of the ss 396. When they do come up used they go in the 500 plus range.Somewhere buried I have one but cannot lay my hand on it right now.
Hope this may help some. Wilma may have more to say on this also.