1968 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE MODEL: MALIBU 2 DOOR SPORT COUPE

ENGINE: 302 CUBIC INCHES      CARBURATOR: EDELBROCK 600

TRANSMISSION: POWER GLIDE

FACTORY A/C

     Bob Rosenberg is only the second owner of this 1968 Chevelle Sport Coupe.  He bought the car in 1971 shortly after mustering out of the Air Force where he was a Crew Chief on B-52’s from ’66-‘70 at the height of the Viet Nam War.  As a proud owner, he has cared for his Chevelle for over 45 years; not many can say that.  A stock production car painted ermine white with a vinyl roof has changed a lot over the years. Driven as a family car for years with his daughter using it for school, and his wife Donna for work, Bob eventually rebuilt the 307 cubic inch engine adding a polished high rise intake manifold, RV cam, an Edelbrock 4 BBL carburetor and continued on with a brake booster, drop spindles, deep red paint, Cragar wheels, new interior, steering wheel and dual exhaust.

      Searching for a SS 396 model when found, Bob figured he would be better off with the 307 engine because it would save on speeding tickets. Originally the stock 307 cubic inch engine in 1968 had 200 hp but now with all the work it’s closer to 280-290 hp.  Not a big block 396 in horsepower, but still a ‘Ticket Getter’.  This Chevelle was produced at the California Fremont plant that also made the Pontiac Le Mans, GTO; El Camino Oldsmobile Cutlass, 442 and GMC C/K series trucks.  Tesla now owns the production facility. Base asking price for the Chevelle in 1968 was $2663. Even though the Malibu Sports Coupe V8 models were the bulk of the production in ’68 (180,000 to 230,000 units*) they are still a sought after Classic.

  “ There were 1968 SS427 Chevelle models sold on Indian Reservation's territory to bypass the GM rules that prevented a car from having more than 1 H.P. per 10 pounds of weight limit (exception was the Corvette).” (Source:  Wikipedia)

     As with many Hot Rodders Bob got his inspiration from his father. Swapping engines in cars and trucks as a youth has carried him to do a lot of his own work. Winning over 30 awards/trophies through the years and continues to enter local car shows.  Next car show?… a road trip to Klamath Falls, Oregon for  the Kruise of  Klamath in June.   Getting there will be half the fun in this ride.

* Numbers vary depending on model styles included.