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1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy

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

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

Messages Page 2 of 3

#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.

#11 of 24 fuzzy memories by tomcatt630

May 05, 2010 (2:36 pm)

I remember seeing a few 68-69 Concours Chevelles back in the 70's in Chicago area. Were rare, but it was a "Chevelle Caprice". BTW: Some forget that Malibu was a trim level from '64-'77.
 
Can anyone guess what model in 1970 replaced the Concours?? Hint: MC

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

Apr 24, 2011 (4:55 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Nov 28, 2009 6:05 am)
Hi there,
 
I own a 68 concours c2dr ht, which I got in original condition that had been in storage since 1981. The old guy who had it on his property told me that the concours trim was only available on the wagon and sedan bodies, but due to a short strike at either the interior anufacturer or the chev plant a couple thousand 2drhts were sent to the buick plant to be finished with the concours trim. Interior is identical to a 68 gs buick and includes bench seat with folding armrest, carpeted door panels, extra padding under the carpet and additional body insulation, rear armrests with ashtray, a 'concours' insignia on the steering wheel with fleur de lis, steel headliner trim, locking glove box, and deluxe headliner and package tray. The exterior has full side trim with shorter wheel well trim that stops at the level of the side trim, as well as a black stripe painted on the wheel and side trim. full tail panel trim, same as a canadian beaumont, that was a bit wider and is not available in repro. tail light bezels are also a little wider to match the tail pan trim, also not available. badges say concours on the fender sides where normally it says chevelle. I believe all came with a vinyl top originally as well.

#13 of 24 Re: 1968 Chevelle Concours Sport Coupe...mystery Chevy [theroger] by omarman

Apr 25, 2011 (10:37 am)

Replying to: theroger (Apr 24, 2011 4:55 pm)
In Andre's post #2 there's a link to a Chevelle Concours with the black Buick interior like the one you described. The RPO ZK7 Concours option was available early in '68 for Malibu sport coupes. There was another RPO code for the Concours sedan and wagon but I forget them. I know it's not something which makes these cars valuable at auction -- just interesting stuff and I do like them.
 
Does the trim tag on your car specify Kansas? Does the TR field on the trim tag have the code 765-168 listed? Does it have black interior? I've seen trim tag codes for that same model year Chevelle Concours with the Buick bench seat and arm rest in black. There were other color combinations possible with Chevy's own interior trim. But when Fisher Body assembled them with Buick-Olds-Pontiac interior trim, it's always in black. Wonder why? Just curious if your car's interior might be a different color. Anything is possible.
 
I've also heard the stories about strikes/layoffs/parts shortages pointed out to explain the use of the black B-O-P interior trim on the 1968 Chevelle line -- not just the Concours optioned cars. But I don't know any source which has nailed down the actual reason for it. Lots of theories though.

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