Ask the Car People.SM


1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy

24 messages,  Last post on Feb 01, 2013 at 10:40 AM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum.

What is this discussion about? Coupe, Convertible, Truck, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 1 of 3

#1 of 24 1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy by uplanderguy

Nov 28, 2009 (4:30 am)

Has anyone ever seen a '68 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe? I vaguely remember seeing a medium green with black vinyl top specimen around our town, years back. They are not listed in the '68 Chevelle brochure, nor the '68 Chevrolet Showroom Album. A Sport Sedan edition is shown, however, with frilly-cloth Caprice-style interior, in those pieces of literature. The car I remember had a vinyl notchback front seat with center armrest. I'd love to see anything put out by Chevy that documents its existence.
 
Bill

#2 of 24 Re: 1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy [uplanderguy] by andre1969

Nov 28, 2009 (6:05 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 28, 2009 4:30 am)
My old car book only lists the Concours name as being used on the '67-72 Chevell wagon, and then again in '76-77 as the top trim level for the Nova. However, I vaguely remember seeing Chevelle coupes and sedans with a Concours badge.
 
I googled it, and there were plenty of hits. In fact, here's one being restored, that even has a pic of that front seat you mention!
 
I'm guessing that it was an option package, rather than a separate trim level. I know that's a fine hair to split, but often with a separate trim level, they'll change the VIN #, but for an option package they won't, so it's harder to track down how many were made.

#3 of 24 Re: 1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy [andre1969] by uplanderguy

Nov 29, 2009 (5:26 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Nov 28, 2009 6:05 am)
None of the "Chevy expert" coffee table books I've ever looked at even mention a Chevelle Concours coupe.
 
I posted a similar query on the AACA forum a year or more ago, and a fellow from out west sent me a couple pics of his Mom's light yellow with black vinyl top '68 Concours Coupe owned since new (no radio...strange!). His pics weren't great though...one of the dash, one of the exterior of the car from the front, and one from the back.
 
The sole coupe I remember years back had wheel opening moldings (other Chevelles didn't have these), had a big "Concours" front fender nameplate, and notchback front seat. Didn't say "Malibu" anyplace.
 
The seat trim resembled that of an Olds Cutlass Supreme.
 
I recall reading in a newsstand mag a year or so ago, about a '68 Chevelle SS that had bucket seats that looked to be right out a same-year Buick GS, that supposedly the interior supplier for Malibu trim had a fire so depending on the assembly plant, Cutlass or GS upholstery was used in 'upper' Chevelles. Mostly these were western-assembled cars, supposedly, that had the non-Malibu interior.
 
Wonder if the Concours coupe model/package was a last-minute, unintended consequence of a trim supplier company's fire?
 
Again, I have never seen a single piece of factory, or book, documentation on this model.
 
Bill

#4 of 24 same here by ghulet

Dec 02, 2009 (6:19 am)

....but I definitely remember as a kid seeing a Concours four-door hardtop, which even then seemed strange, considering they used the moniker on the upper-level station wagon.
 
OK, I just consulted my go-to old car book (Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-75) and it states, in the 1968 Malibu section ".....Interior trim varied by body style and there was also a very special Concours four-door hardtop. It came with all-vinyl seating; lockable glove box with light; extra-thick foam cushioned seats; color-keyed wall to wall carpeting; black-accented wheel openings; black trimmed lower-body accents; ribbed bright metal rear deck lid latch panel plate; Concours signature scripts; chrome wheel lip moldings; special oval steering wheel with horn tabs and wood-grained dash panel inlays. It was called the Concours sport sedan and had a lot of extra appeal."
 
They mention 'regular' Malibu interior choices, then add that Concours Sport Sedan's special Custom fabric choice in Gold, Blue, Black or Grey-Green (which I assume were similar to the metallic-like brocade-ish Caprice cloth interiors.
 
This same catalog makes no mention of a Concours two-door, though.
 
For 1969, the section adds, "Some collectors look for are the Malibu four-door hardtop (Sports Sedan) with the RPO Z16 Concours package". No mention is made of the option for 1970 or later.

#5 of 24 a few links by ghulet

Dec 02, 2009 (6:44 am)

This is, allegedly, a '68 Concours coupe (maybe you could special order them through the dealer?):
 
http://www.noneckschevelle.com/images/html/WildBill1968ChevelleConcours.htm
 
Here's some sales info from '68:
 
http://www.chevelles.com/years/68/concours.html

#6 of 24 correction.... by ghulet

Dec 02, 2009 (9:44 am)

....I should have known RPO Z16 was wrong (that was the ultra-rare '65 SS396 Chevelle). It should read RPO ZJ6.

#7 of 24 Re: 1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy [uplanderguy] by zlounge

Jan 23, 2010 (5:56 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 28, 2009 4:30 am)
I have a 1969 4 door concourse that sports the orginal 350 300hp auto with a 12 bolt rear. it has cloth interior with carpet on the bottom of the doors. I was told it was called a Concours SportZJ6 only 156 were made with 350 4 bbl 300hp.I have more info if any one is interested in this car.

#8 of 24 Re: 1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy [zlounge] by uplanderguy

Jan 24, 2010 (3:49 am)

Replying to: zlounge (Jan 23, 2010 5:56 am)
Is yours light blue with a white vinyl top? If so, I've seen pictures of it on the 'net but can't remember from where. I know it's a 350 from the front fender badging. Nice car!
 
I have seen Concours Sport Sedans, like yours, although they are rare...but the '68-only coupes are almost like a 'phantom'--I can't even find anything about them in the brochures of the day but have seen a few on the internet and the one in person years ago. Again, it seems like they came about as a result of a fire in an upholstery plant that did Malibu interiors; hence the Buick GS/Old Cutlass Supreme interiors (vinyl notchback front seats) used.
 
Bill

#9 of 24 Re: 1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy [uplanderguy] by ghulet

Jan 25, 2010 (7:44 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 24, 2010 3:49 am)
strange you said that, I saw probably the same (69 sedan, LeMans blue, if I had a guess) for sale. Neat car, and it had power locks (though not windows), which weren't listed in the ad (first year those were available on Chevelles).

#10 of 24 Re: 1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy [uplanderguy] by 68chevelle

Jan 31, 2010 (4:10 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 28, 2009 4:30 am)
We have one! We bought it 2 years ago and are working on restoring it. We are having trouble finding any kind of documentation about it's existence too.
 
We also have a 1968 Chevelle Malib. The 1968 Chevelle Concours has a lot of pieces that are substantially different like the notchback front seat with a center armrest that you mentioned. The door panels are also different than a standard Chevelle.

Messages Page 1 of 3

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement