Side markers, Astro Ventilation and no more vent windows: the mid-generation refresh.
The second-year Camaro kept the 1967 body but is easy to tell apart: side-marker lamps on the fenders and quarters, and one-piece door glass where the vent windows used to be. Production rose to 235,147.
The Z/28 went from near-secret to a regular, orderable package, and volume jumped from 602 to 7,199. Rally Sport (40,977) and the SS package carried on as the appearance and performance packages, and one car could have both.
The table lists three production figures for 1968. It opens with Total production, 235,147, followed by Sport Coupe (214,707) and Convertible (20,440).
| Record | Count | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Total production | 235,147 | The 1968 kit's White Book page gives 235,147; GM's later 1967–77 table counts 235,151 |
| Sport Coupe | 214,707 | |
| Convertible | 20,440 |
The 1968 table lists 10 engines, from the 230 cu in inline-6 to the 396 cu in V8. The highest power rating shown is 375 hp (gross), for the 396 cu in V8.
| Code | Engine | Power | Torque | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BF/BH/BA/BD | 230 cu in inline-6 | 140 hp (gross) at 4,400 rpm | 220 lb-ft (gross) at 1,600 rpm | |
| CQ/CR/CM/CN | 250 cu in inline-6 | 155 hp (gross) at 4,200 rpm | 235 lb-ft (gross) at 1,600 rpm | |
| MO | 302 cu in V8 | 290 hp (gross) at 5,800 rpm | — | Z28; power peak per CRG report; torque not specified. |
| ME/MI/MA | 327 cu in V8 | 210 hp (gross) at 4,600 rpm | 320 lb-ft (gross) at 2,400 rpm | |
| EE/EN/EA | 327 cu in V8 | 275 hp (gross) at 4,800 rpm | 355 lb-ft (gross) at 3,200 rpm | L30 |
| MU/MF/MS | 350 cu in V8 | 295 hp (gross) at 4,800 rpm | 380 lb-ft (gross) at 3,200 rpm | L48 |
| MY/MW | 396 cu in V8 | 325 hp (gross) at 4,800 rpm | 410 lb-ft (gross) at 3,200 rpm | L35 |
| MR/MX | 396 cu in V8 | 350 hp (gross) at 5,200 rpm | 415 lb-ft (gross) at 3,400 rpm | L34 |
| MQ | 396 cu in V8 | 375 hp (gross) at 5,600 rpm | 415 lb-ft (gross) at 3,600 rpm | L78 |
| MT | 396 cu in V8 | 375 hp (gross) at 5,600 rpm | 415 lb-ft (gross) at 3,600 rpm | L89, aluminum heads |
The 1968 list has 43 options, packages and special editions. Every entry shows a price, and 3 show how many were built.
| Code | Description | Price | Built | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12337 | Sport Coupe, 6-cylinder (230, 140 hp) | $2,588.00 | — | Base price |
| 12367 | Convertible, 6-cylinder | $2,802.00 | — | Base price |
| 12437 | Sport Coupe, V8 (327, 210 hp) | $2,694.00 | — | Base price |
| 12467 | Convertible, V8 | $2,908.00 | — | Base price |
| Z22 | Rally Sport — vacuum-operated headlight covers | $105.35 | 40,977 | |
| L48 | Camaro SS with 295 hp 350 | $210.65 | 30,695 | SS total, all engines: the sum of the kit's five SS engine counts. GM's model-year production table lists 27,844; the reason for the gap is not stated |
| L35 | Camaro SS with 325 hp 396 | $263.30 | — | Power brakes required |
| L34 | Camaro SS with 350 hp 396 | $368.65 | — | Power brakes required |
| L78 | Camaro SS with 375 hp 396 | $500.30 | — | Power brakes required |
| L78/L89 | Camaro SS with 375 hp 396 and aluminum heads | $868.95 | — | Power brakes required |
| Z28 | Special Performance Package — 302 V8, Sport Coupe only | $400.25 | 7,199 | Required 4-speed and power front disc brakes |
| Z87 | Custom interior | $110.60 | — | |
| Z23 | Special interior | $17.95 | — | |
| Z21 | Style trim | $31.60 / $42.15 | — | Convertible / Sport Coupe |
| L22 | Engine, 155 hp 250 six | $26.35 | — | |
| L30 | Engine, 275 hp 327 V8 | $92.70 | — | |
| M35 | Powerglide | $184.35 six / $194.85 V8 | — | |
| M40 | Turbo Hydra-Matic | $237.00 | — | |
| M20 | 4-speed wide-range | $184.35 | — | |
| M21 | 4-speed close-ratio | $184.35 | — | |
| M22 | Heavy-duty 4-speed close-ratio | $310.70 | — | |
| MB1 | Torque-Drive (six only) | $68.65 | — | |
| G80 | Positraction rear axle | $42.15 | — | |
| C60 | Four-Season air conditioning | $360.20 | — | Not with 375 hp or 302 engines |
| J50 | Power brakes | $42.15 | — | |
| J50/J52 | Power brakes with front discs | $100.10 | — | |
| N40 | Power steering | $84.30 | — | |
| C06 | Power convertible top | $52.70 | — | |
| A31 | Power windows | $100.10 | — | |
| D80 | Auxiliary panel and valance (spoiler) | $32.65 | — | |
| D55 | Console | $50.60 | — | |
| U17 | Special instrumentation — V8 with console | $94.80 | — | |
| K30 | Speed and Cruise Control | $52.70 | — | |
| N33 | Comfortilt steering wheel | $42.15 | — | |
| U57 | Stereo tape system | $133.80 | — | |
| U63 / U69 | AM radio / AM-FM radio | $61.10 / $133.80 | — | |
| C08 | Vinyl roof, Sport Coupe | $73.75 | — | |
| ZJ7 | Rally wheels | $31.60 | — | |
| PA2 | Mag-spoke wheel covers | $73.75 | — | |
| G31 | Special rear springs | $20.05 | — | |
| F41 | Special purpose front and rear suspension | $10.55 | — | |
| PY5 | F70-14 belted red-stripe tires | $91.45 | — | |
| A67 | Folding rear seat | $42.15 | — |
This table has 19 exterior colors for 1968, each with its paint code. They include Tuxedo Black, Ermine White and Grotto Blue.
| Code | Color |
|---|---|
| A | Tuxedo Black |
| C | Ermine White |
| D | Grotto Blue |
| E | Fathom Blue |
| F | Island Teal |
| G | Ash Gold |
| H | Grecian Green |
| J | Rallye Green |
| K | Tripoli Turquoise |
| L | Teal Blue |
| N | Cordovan Maroon |
| O | Corvette Bronze |
| P | Seafrost Green |
| R | Matador Red |
| T | Palomino Ivory |
| U | LeMans Blue |
| V | Sequoia Green |
| Y | Butternut Yellow |
| Z | British Green |
This table has 19 interior trims for 1968, each with its trim code.
The Chevrolet brochure (GM kit PDF p. 12) describes all-vinyl bucket interiors for Sport Coupe and convertible and fabric-and-Black-vinyl Custom Interior for Sport Coupe only. The factory options page, printed Camaro p. 5 (PDF p. 21), specifies AL4 Strato-back as a full-width front seat with separate backrests and a fold-down center armrest, Sport Coupe only with standard or Z87 trim; it is unavailable with the optional console. D55 console is for Strato-bucket front seats. Z23 Special Interior Group and Z87 Custom Interior are different packages. Existing numeric-code labels and Ivory/Parchment history remain attributed to CRG research; the brochure does not print those numeric assignments. CRG places 711/716 later than 730 and reports the retained Norwood terminology; no exact build cutoff or individual originality is established. The brochure color page is not used as a complete late-year code catalog.
| Code | Trim | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 711 | Ivory/Black custom buckets (later production; 730 was the early Parchment/Black) | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 712 | Black standard buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 713 | Black standard bench | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory option AL4 Strato-back is Sport Coupe only, with standard or Z87 trim, and is unavailable with the optional center console. |
| 714 | Black custom buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 715 | Black custom bench | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory option AL4 Strato-back is Sport Coupe only, with standard or Z87 trim, and is unavailable with the optional center console. |
| 716 | Ivory Houndstooth buckets (called "Dalmation White Trim" on late-1968 Norwood documents) | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature limits fabric-and-Black-vinyl Custom Interior to Sport Coupe bucket seats; it is not a convertible fabric-seat listing. |
| 717 | Blue standard buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 718 | Blue standard bench | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory option AL4 Strato-back is Sport Coupe only, with standard or Z87 trim, and is unavailable with the optional center console. |
| 719 | Blue custom buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 720 | Blue custom bench | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory option AL4 Strato-back is Sport Coupe only, with standard or Z87 trim, and is unavailable with the optional center console. |
| 721 | Gold custom buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 722 | Gold standard buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 723 | Gold standard bench | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory option AL4 Strato-back is Sport Coupe only, with standard or Z87 trim, and is unavailable with the optional center console. |
| 724 | Red standard buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 725 | Red custom buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 726 | Turquoise custom buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 727 | Turquoise custom bench | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory option AL4 Strato-back is Sport Coupe only, with standard or Z87 trim, and is unavailable with the optional center console. |
| 730 | Parchment/Black custom buckets (early production, a brighter white) | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature offers all-vinyl bucket interiors in Sport Coupe and convertible, with material/color and trim choices separately restricted. |
| 749 | Black Houndstooth buckets | This numeric trim code comes from CRG research. The Chevrolet brochure describes the material and body styles but does not print the code. Factory literature limits fabric-and-Black-vinyl Custom Interior to Sport Coupe bucket seats; it is not a convertible fabric-seat listing. |
This table gives nine specifications for 1968, among them wheelbase (108.0 in) and overall length (184.6 in).
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 108.0 in | |
| Overall length | 184.6 in | |
| Overall width | 72.3 in | |
| Overall height | 50.9 in | |
| Track, front / rear | 59.6 / 59.5 in | AMA, issued October 15, 1967. Sales brochure gives 59.0 / 58.9 in; no explanation or configuration split is stated. |
| Standard tire | 7.35 x 14 | Red-stripe wide-oval tires with SS |
| Fuel tank | 18 gal | |
| Curb weight, six | 2,940 lb coupe / 3,240 lb convertible | |
| Curb weight, V8 | 3,095 lb coupe / 3,385 lb convertible |
What to check on a 1968 Camaro: VIN, cowl tag, engine pad, year cues and packages.
| Item | What to look for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| VIN | 123/437/67 8N/L 100001-up | Characters: 1 Chevrolet, 2 Camaro, 3 six-cylinder or 4 V8, body 37 coupe or 67 convertible, year, plant N Norwood or L Van Nuys, sequence |
| Cowl tag | Fisher Body plate on the firewall beside the brake booster | Build date, body style, trim and paint codes |
| Engine pad | Stamped ahead of the passenger-side cylinder head | Plant, assembly date and application suffix (see engine table) |
| Year cues | Side-marker lamps front and rear; one-piece door glass (Astro Ventilation) | Quickest distinction from a 1967 |
| Packages | RS (concealed headlamps), SS, Z/28 could overlap | Badges alone do not confirm a package; check the engine-pad suffix |
Decode a specific car with the VIN decoder, the cowl tag decoder and the engine and drivetrain stamp decoder.
The year the Z/28 became a car a dealer could actually sell, and the year it won Chevrolet the Trans-Am manufacturers' title.
Chevrolet's brochure called the Camaro "the hugger," and the 1968 changes were refinements rather than a new car. The grille gained satin-silver horizontal bars over a deep-set black background for a wider look, with new rectangular parking lamps set into it. The taillamps now carried integral backup lights. Side-marker lamps appeared front and rear on every car.
The biggest visible change was the side glass. The front vent windows of 1967 were gone, replaced by single curved side windows. To make up for the lost vent panes, Chevrolet introduced Astro Ventilation: two adjustable vent ports in the instrument panel fed outside air to the cabin, and sport coupes got pressure-relief valves to keep the air moving. Inside there was new door styling with bright metal insets and shielded handles, a new steering wheel and a new instrument cluster. Front shoulder belts became standard on the sport coupe.
The Camaro kept its 108-inch wheelbase. Chevrolet's sales brochure gives a 59.0-inch front and 58.9-inch rear track, while the AMA sheet issued October 15, 1967 lists 59.6 and 59.5 inches. Neither source explains the difference; these are separately reported figures, not an established equipment split. Underneath it was still a unitized body with a separate rubber-mounted front frame section. Chevrolet galvanized key members and used inner fenders to shield the outer panels from road salt.
The rear suspension is where 1968 moved on. The brochure lists single-leaf Mono-Plate rear springs as standard and multi-leaf springs with its extra-cost V8s. For the 275-hp L30 327, the multi-leaf upgrade applies only with a four-speed manual; the equipment matrix also lists it with the 295-hp L48 350 and 325-hp L35 396. The rear shocks were bias-mounted for better control. Standard drum brakes gave 168.9 square inches of lining area, with a dual master cylinder and a warning light on the dash. Front disc brakes were optional.
A six-cylinder Sport Coupe listed at $2,588 and a V8 coupe at $2,694. The convertible added about $214 to either. Standard engines were the 140-hp Turbo-Thrift 230 six and the 210-hp Turbo-Fire 327 V8. The extra-cost list ran through a 155-hp 250 six, a 275-hp four-barrel 327, the 295-hp 350 that came with the SS, and the 325-hp Turbo-Jet 396 with its "porcupine" canted-valve heads. The specification sheets also list a 350-hp 396, and the 375-hp L78 396 topped the range.
A column-shifted three-speed was standard. SS buyers could take a special close-ratio floor-shift three-speed, and a four-speed was available with every engine. Powerglide was offered with everything except the 325-hp 396. The three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic was reserved for that big-block alone.
Chevrolet's dealer sheet titled "The Z-28, a definition" describes a Sport Coupe with a package of built-in modifications. At its center was a 302-cubic-inch V8 made from a 327 block and a 283 crankshaft. It had an 800-cfm Holley, mechanical lifters, an aluminum intake and a special camshaft. It was rated at 290 hp, and the sheet adds that it was "actually much stronger than that." Buyers had to order the close-ratio Muncie four-speed and power front disc brakes. The standard axle was 3.73:1, with ratios from 3.55 to 4.88 available. The car rode on 15 x 6 steel wheels with red-stripe 7.35 x 15 tires. Chevrolet also released a dual-four-barrel cross-ram intake with two 600-cfm Holleys as a service-parts conversion.
On track the results came quickly. Mark Donohue won 10 of 13 Trans-Am races in Roger Penske's Camaro, and Chevrolet took the manufacturers' title. The full story is on the racing page, and the most famous one-off, the 1968 Z/28 convertible, is covered with the rare cars.
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