Why This Car Is Special

The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible sits at an interesting crossroads in muscle car history. It was Chevrolet's second model year in the pony car segment, and by 1968 the factory had worked out the early kinks from the 1967 launch. The SS package — Super Sport — was a dedicated option group that added specific hood ornamentation, SS badging, a blacked-out grille with "SS" identification, and upgraded suspension tuning. It was not a trim level in the traditional sense but rather RPO Z27, a factory performance package that buyers could stack on top of other options. In 1968, Chevrolet produced just over 235,000 first-generation Camaros total across all body styles and configurations. Of those, convertibles represented a significantly smaller share of production compared to the sport coupe, which makes any 1968 Camaro SS convertible a less common find today.

The VIN on this car confirms it was built at the Norwood, Ohio assembly plant, one of two plants producing Camaros in 1968. The body style code identifies it as a convertible, and the engine code points to a V8 application — details that align precisely with what you see in front of you.

This particular 1968 Camaro SS has been built as a driver-quality custom that leans into the SS identity with period-correct ornamentation while adding modern mechanical upgrades that make it genuinely usable on today's roads. It is red over ivory, a color combination that works especially well on the convertible body. The underside photos tell you something important: the floor and framerails have been coated and are solid, with no visible rot or patchwork — a meaningful detail on any 56-year-old convertible, where body flex and moisture intrusion are the first places problems appear.

Features List

• 350 cubic inch V8
• 700R4 four-speed overdrive automatic transmission
• Front disc brakes
• Dual exhaust
• Power white convertible top with glass rear window
• Correct 1968 SS hood ornamentation
• White racing stripes
• SS steering wheel
• Center console with floor shifter
• Front bucket seats
• Chrome valve covers
• Chrome performance air cleaner
• 18-inch Torq-Thrust style wheels
• 225/45ZR18 performance tires
• 10-bolt rear end
• X-frame brace
• Ivory vinyl interior

Mechanical

The engine bay is occupied by a 350 cubic inch small-block V8, dressed with chrome valve covers and a chrome performance air cleaner. The 350 was one of the core SS engine offerings in 1968 — factory-rated at 295 horsepower in its standard two-barrel form and 295 to 350 horsepower depending on carburetor and state of tune in four-barrel configuration. This example presents with a healthy small-block that has been detailed for show without hiding its working-car character. The engine paint, chrome dress-up pieces, and yellow plug wires are period-style touches that fit the car well without looking over-built.

Backing the 350 is a 700R4 four-speed overdrive automatic. This is a significant and practical upgrade over the original Turbo-Hydramatic 350 or 400 that would have been installed at the factory. The 700R4 adds a true overdrive fourth gear, which drops engine RPM considerably at highway speeds compared to the original three-speed units. For anyone planning to drive this car regularly — which is the right intention for a car like this — the 700R4 makes long-distance travel far more comfortable. The floor-mounted shifter in the center console connects cleanly to the transmission and operates through a proper gate with a dedicated indicator.

Stopping power comes from front disc brakes, a meaningful safety upgrade over the factory four-wheel drum setup that came standard on most 1968 Camaros. The SS package did include front disc brakes as an available option in 1968, so this car maintains a correct look while delivering better stopping performance. The rear axle is a 10-bolt unit, which is the standard Camaro rear end for this generation. A dual exhaust system runs the length of the car and exits cleanly at the rear — visible in the underside photos, which also confirm the coated floorpan and X-frame brace that adds structural rigidity in place of the factory convertible's standard bracing. That brace is an important detail; first-generation Camaro convertibles without additional chassis reinforcement can develop cowl shake over time, and the X-brace addresses that directly.

The 18-inch Torq-Thrust style wheels wearing 225/45ZR18 performance-rated tires are a common and well-executed upgrade on first-gen Camaros. The Torq-Thrust design, originally produced by American Racing, has been associated with muscle cars of this era since the 1960s and reads as period-appropriate without being a reproduction factory wheel. The wider, lower-profile tire improves grip and gives the car a planted stance.

Interior

Step inside the 1968 Camaro SS Convertible and the ivory vinyl interior is the first thing that registers. The front bucket seats are covered in clean ivory vinyl with a horizontal-stitch pattern across the seat bottoms and backs — consistent in color and showing no cracking or significant wear in the photos. The rear seat is equally well-presented, using the same ivory vinyl with matching stitch detail. First-generation Camaro convertible rear seats are relatively tight quarters, but they are usable for passengers and they photograph well with the top down.

The dashboard is finished in the factory black with the characteristic five-gauge instrument cluster that the SS package used to distinguish itself from base Camaro trim. Gauges are housed in individual round pods, and the cluster shows the period-correct layout with auxiliary gauges flanking the main instruments. The SS steering wheel is a three-spoke design with a chrome center medallion carrying the SS badge — a detail that period buyers specifically ordered to set the car apart from the standard wheel.

The center console runs the length of the cabin between the bucket seats and houses the floor shifter for the 700R4. The console top and sides are finished in a dark material that contrasts well against the ivory seats. A woodgrain applique panel on the console is a correct styling detail for 1968 Camaro interiors equipped with this option. The door panels are ivory vinyl with a "Camaro" script badge in the upper section and a chrome accent strip running along the mid-panel — both consistent with the 1968 Camaro interior design. The overall cabin presents as a solid, attractive interior that is ready to be used.

The convertible top is white power-operated and includes a glass rear window — an upgrade over the original plastic rear window that came on most 1968 Camaro convertibles. Glass rear windows resist fogging and scratching that plagued the plastic units over time, and they are a practical improvement that does not change the car's appearance in any meaningful way.

Exterior

The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible wears red paint that shows well across all the body panels. The first-generation Camaro body — designed under GM's David Holls with input from the entire studio — has aged particularly well, and the convertible variant shows off the long hood and short deck proportions that defined the segment. White racing stripes run over the hood and rear deck, which is a factory-available stripe treatment for the 1968 Camaro SS and reads correctly on a red car.

The hood carries correct 1968 SS ornamentation — four simulated vents near the leading edge of the hood that were specific to the SS package and are one of the visual identifiers that separate an SS-equipped car from a base Camaro. These are in place and correct in appearance. The front grille carries SS badging consistent with the Super Sport package, and the rear panel shows the characteristic twin-element taillamp design with an SS emblem centered between them.

The 18-inch Torq-Thrust style wheels fill the wheel openings well against the lowered-profile tires and give the car a proportional, purposeful stance. The convertible top mechanism and boot area are visible in the photos and appear to be in serviceable condition. With the top down, the red bodywork, white stripes, and ivory interior work together as a well-considered color combination that suits the open-air character of the car.

Conclusion

The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible has remained one of the most consistently sought-after configurations in the first-generation Camaro lineup. Convertibles are rarer than coupes, the SS package adds visual and mechanical substance, and the 350 small-block is a reliable, parts-available engine that any competent shop can service anywhere in the country. This example adds the 700R4 overdrive transmission and front disc brakes — two changes that make the car substantially more practical for regular driving — while keeping the exterior and interior presentation true to the SS character with correct ornamentation, correct badging, and a well-executed ivory interior.

The underside photos show a car that has been taken care of from the bottom up, which is the right place to start your evaluation of any classic. The floorpan is solid, the chassis brace is in place, and the dual exhaust exits cleanly. This is a car built to be driven and shown, not trailered.

If you would like to schedule a time to walk through this 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible in person, give Skyway Classics a call at 941-254-6608. We are located in Sarasota, Florida and welcome serious buyers from anywhere in the country.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.