As a follow-up to the Malibu that didn’t look like a typical Malibu, here’s a Chevelle that sure looks like a Malibu, but it’s not. It’s a quite rare low-end 1968 Chevelle 300 Deluxe hardtop coupe. Note the lack of trim between the taillights. And the lack of the Malibu’s lower trim that went across the lower section of the door.
It may not be a Malibu, but it’s very much how so many Malibus used to look back in the day when so many young guys scraped together the bucks to buy a well-worn used one: a bit scruffy, a mild lift in the back along with bigger wheels and tires. But no big exhaust pipes hanging out back. For all we know, it could have a six under the hood, although a mild 307 V8 is probably more likely.
I shot this in traffic some years back, so only one shot.
Here it is in the brochure, along with the 300 Deluxe post coupe. The Malibu used to be the top trim version of the Chevelle, like the Impala. The 300 Deluxe was comparable to a Bel Air, and the plain 300 to a Biscayne. Of course that would change with time. There was also a 300 Deluxe sedan.
What’s a bit unusual about this 300 Deluxe I found is that it’s got an optional vinyl top. That was usually only found on the Malibu.
And the cheapest Chevelle was the true stripper, the plain 300 Coupe. But order it with the L79 325 hp 327 and the four speed, and you’ve got a pretty serious street machine for cheap. A Chevelle Road Runner. That L79 only had its hp rating reduced from 350 hp to meet GM’s no-less-than-10lbs-per-hp rule that started in 1967. And in 1969 one could also order the SS396 package with the 300 Coupes.
The dealer I worked at usually stocked a stripo in each model to advertise a low price unit in-stock. Once in the door, prospects often found the stripo so stark they ended up buying a better optioned units. A helpful salesman would show them something “nicer” for just a few extra dollars a month.
Eventually the stripo needed to move – often near the end of the model year. If a price cut didn’t do it, our sales manager would shift to the opposite tactic of trying to make the unit look less like a stripo by upgrading the appearance with a few dealer installed options. A vinyl top was one common appearance upgrade to the stripo.
My experience was working at a Ford dealer, but I think all the dealers in our area used pretty much the same sales tactics. I suspect the vinyl roof in the Chevelle was a dealer rather than factory option.
I always like lower spec models, they just seem cleaner looking. For you guys in the US there was always the option list for a bigger engine, power brakes etc. Over here in the UK that wasn’t really the case.
I think these cars transported almost as much Boone’s Farm wine and Little Kings cream ale as the distributors’ delivery trucks. 🙂
Funny how these Chevelles keep showing up here periodically. The last one was even the same shade of green mine was. Takes me back to ’85 all over again. I’m gonna go listen to some Van Halen or Scorpions or something now. Peace out.