1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Series

The Chevrolet Chevelle was built along three generations from 1964 through 1978. Built atop the company's A-body 115-inch platform, the Chevelle was offered as a coupe, sedan, convertible, and station wagon, and were among the most successful nameplates within Chevy's lineup. Its size was similar to Ford's Fairlane and was positioned between the small Chevy II and the full-sized Chevy models. During its first year, sales topped 338,286 units.

The Chevrolet lineup included the low-priced Chevy II, and entry-level Biscayne wearing a new body for 1967. The Bel Air was the middle-priced Chevrolet, followed by the Impala in a variety of body styles including a convertible, station wagon, sedans, and hardtops. The Caprice was slightly more expensive than the Impala, with additional interior and exterior trim and accouterments. The Nova was a more deluxe version of the Chevy II, and the Nova Super Sport brought high-performance in a compact package. The Camaro was the company's pony car offering, available in both hardtop coupe and convertible configuration.

The Chevelle nameplate was applied to the Chevelle 300, Chevelle 300 Deluxe, and Chevelle SS-396. Considered a 'senior compact,' the Chevelle 300 had received a new body for 1966, so only minor exterior changes were applied to the 1967 models. In the front was a new anodized aluminum grille with Chevelle badging, bumper-mounted parking and directional signals, with additional brightwork around the windshield and rear window. There were bright ventipane frames and back-up lights in the rear bumper. Chevelle lettering was located on the deck cove, and the single-unit taillights were highlighted by bright bezels. interiors were finished in cloth and vinyl and standard features included a cigarette lighter, glove compartment lock, front door armrests, foam-cushioned front seat, padded sun visors, black rubber floor covering, day and night rearview mirror, center dome light, parking brake and brake system warning light, and four-way hazard flasher system. Body styles on the 300 and 300 Deluxe included a 2- and 4-door sedan. The Deluxe also had a six-passenger station wagon.

The Chevelle 300 Deluxe models had additional exterior brightwork that included body sill moldings, rear cove lower-trim moldings on the sedans, a rear cove or tailgate center emblem, and Chevelle 300 Deluxe rear fender nameplates. Interiors had color-keyed vinyl-coated rubber, automatic interior light switches on the door jambs, rear armrests with built-in ashtrays, and cloth and vinyl interiors. The station wagons were all-vinyl. The Deluxe versions listed for approximately $75 more than its non-deluxe counterparts.

The Malibu was a top-of-the-line Chevelle option from 1964 to 1972, with better equipped and more lavish interiors than the lesser Chevelle 300 and 300 Deluxe models. Additional bodyside trim and brightwork including around the rear quarter moldings, roof drip cap moldings, and window reveal moldings (on station wagons). Other distinguishable features included full wheel covers, single-unit taillights with black-accented bezels, Malibu rear fender nameplate, black-accented rear cove outline panel, and a tailgate molding on station wagons. The interiors received a walnut-finish for the instrument panel, a unique steering wheel, illuminated heater control panel, electric clock, bright bases on the front armrests, color-keyed carpeting, courtesy lights on the convertible, bright accents on the vinyl sidewall and door panel trim, and a foam-cushioned rear seat. Body styles on the Malibu included a sedan, two- and four-door hardtop, convertible, and station wagon.

The Chevelle SS-396 had a black-accented grille with SS-396 badging, wheelhouse brightwork, gray-accented body sill moldings, simulated air intakes on a domed hood, black-painted rear cove panels with SS-396 center medallion, specific full wheel covers, color-keyed bodyside accent stripes, Super Sport fender emblems, and Red Stripe tires. The interiors were all-vinyl, with a black-accent upper panel on the instrument board. To add additional sporty flair, Chevy offered the SS-396 with optional bucket seats. While the Chevelle 300, Deluxe, and Malibu were available with either a six- or eight-cylinder engine, the Chevelle SS-396 was solely powered by V8s.

The base engine was an overhead-valve, inline six-cylinder unit with a 2e0 cubic-inch displacement, hydraulic valve lifters, Rochester one-barrel carburetor, seven main bearings, and developed 140 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. The base eight-cylinder was a 263 CID unit with 9.25:1 compression, five main bearings, Rochester two-barrel carburetor, and 195 horsepower at 4,800 RPM. The SS-396 had a 396 CID V8 with 10.25:1 compression, a Rochester Quadra-Jet four-barrel carburetor, five main bearings, and developed 325 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. RPO L22 was the ordering code for the $26 optional 250 CID six with 155 hp. RPO L30 added the 327 CID V8 with 275 horsepower. RPO L79 was also a 327 CID V8 but with 325 horsepower. RPO L34 was a 396 CID V8 with 350 horsepower and was a $105 option on the SS-396 only. The 375-horsepower 396-cubic-inch V8 was dropped from the options list until late in the model year and returned with 612 being sold. Additional performance options included the Posi-Traction rear axle, bucket seats, disc brakes, sport-styled steering wheel, and special instrumentation. A new safety feature for 1967 included a collapsible steering column. Options included Superlift air shock absorbers, Strato-ease headrests, and special instrumentation.

Chevelles with the six-cylinder engine or the 283 V8 came standard with a three-speed manual with a column shift or optional overdrive. Chevelle SS-396s came with a heavy-duty three-speed manual with floor shift controls. All Chevelles, except the SS396, could be purchased with the Powerglide two-speed automatic. A four-speed manual was optional on all V8s. A Turbo-Hydra-Matic three-speed was available with the 396 CID V8s.

The six-cylinder Chevrolet 300 outsold the V8s, with approximately 19,900 sixes and 4,800 V8s. Approximately 26,300 were Chevelle 300 Deluxe models, and 63,006 were Chevelle SS-396. The Malibu's accounted for approximately 227,800 passenger car production.

1968 would bring about a complete restyling and the addition of a new nomad station wagon the Chevelle 300 line. Two wheelbases were available with the coupes resting on the shorter (112-inch) and four-doors being longer(116-inch) (1967 Chevelles all rested on a 115-inch platform). Exterior styling incorporated a new long-hood and short-deck profile with a high rear-quarter 'kick-up', tapered front fenders, and a rounded beltline.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020