1968 RS/SS 396

[mmurphy77]

In 1968 my father bought a brand new Silver RS/SS 396 4-speed. Sadly it was stolen out of our driveway 2 weeks later (while we were home!!) and never heard from again. I have been checking from time to time for it and thought I would try here. It was stolen in Greater Boston in 1968 (the selling dealer and/or employee was thought to be the thief though never proven). Here is the vin#: 124378N402043. Thank you for any info.

[Ed Bertrand]

Mike, I moved your thread to the General Discussion area since the orphans section is for loose documentation and VIN-stamped drivetrain components only.

I checked the database and your car isn't in there, but I've added it so we'll keep an eye out. I also checked the NICB to see if it's on the stolen list, but it's not there either. It may be because it was so long ago. I don't know how many years they keep the cars in their database.

Do you know which engine the car originally had (L35, L34, L78, L89)? Any pictures? I know you only had it a few weeks, but it's always cool to see original pictures when cars were new!

Ed

[mmurphy77]

I appreciate it Ed. My dad swears it was an L78 but you know how selective memory goes sometimes. He doesn't have any pictures but it was Silver with a Black Vinyl top and Black header stripe. I was 5 years old and all I remember about the car was my dad showing me how the hide-away lights worked and how upset he was when it was stolen. I'm sure the car was stripped to a million pieces before the end of that week, that's why I posted it in the 'orphan' section. Thanks for checking for me. He took the insurance money and bought a Vedero Green '68 GTO convertible, RAII 4-speed (that I have pictures of, LOL).

[william]

Speaking of selective memory, silver was not an optional color in '68. Maybe Ash Gold?

[qwertyme77]

Speaking of selective memory, silver was not an optional color in '68. Maybe Ash Gold?

seafoam green metallic was kinda silvery looking. I had a 68 327 2bbl car with a/c and black vinyl top back in the day. the green was extreelmly subtle color-wise. I didn't even know it until i looked the color code up.

[mmurphy77]

He definately remembers Silver so it was either 'Special Paint' or whatever would look the most like Silver.

[mmurphy77]

Spoke with my Dad today and says it wasn't a bright Silver it was more of a Green/Gray so we assume Seafoam Green must have been the actual color. Tough to remember all the details on something you haven't seen in 43 years I suppose.

[Ed Bertrand]

back in 74 I purchased a beautiful Seafrost Green 68. It's a very subtle green and depending on the lighting conditions, it can look green, or silver with a hint of green to it, so that's probably what it was. HERE'S a few examples.

Ed

[mmurphy77]

Thanks Ed! He says that's it exactly (except for the Hurst wheels of course).

[paulsstuff]

My first car bought in 1976 was a '68 Camaro coupe. It was Cortez Silver. It had the original paint when I got it and the original dealer invoice also stated silver, as well as the ownership that was from day 1. As it wasn't an available color would it be one of the special paint colors available at the time?

[william]

My first car bought in 1976 was a '68 Camaro coupe. It was Cortez Silver. It had the original paint when I got it and the original dealer invoice also stated silver, as well as the ownership that was from day 1. As it wasn't an available color would it be one of the special paint colors available at the time?

"Special Paint" back in the '60s was rare was nearly always an existing RPO color from another GM car line. GM used lacquer; Ford and Chrysler used enamel. The equipment and processes are quite different so enamel was not an option.

The January 1973 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated has a story about a special paint '68 Z/28. The color mentioned is 1966 Cadillac Starlight Silver. Maybe yours was the same color.

[paulsstuff]

I think you are right. I googled the color and saw a Vette in that silver. Does look like my first Camaro. It was a six-cylinder base coupe, originally owned by a woman who worked at GM in Oshawa.