Hi Jason:
Just my take in 78 would some one switch factory 396 badges for ss396 maybe. Would they switch if they installed a 427 in the 396 car I think we all did that.Those badges were nothing back then, get the car running and go racing was the focus. I knew this car we parted since 76 and raced against it many times from 77 on. It had the ss396 emblems in 76 for sure.Unfortunately we did not realise at the time there was only 600 and some of these 68 nova's made but at the same time she was real bad.
To make it more interesting it was gold inside also but I don't know where it was produced or what time of the year.
That did not matter at the time.
Good Luck with your search
Joe