Frame Up Restored Camaro Rally Sport 327 V8 275 HP

Chevy never built an SS-327 Camaro of any kind, but a lot of enthusiasts swear that they've seen one. This gorgeous, fully loaded, numbers-matching '68 RS might just be the reason why. You've never seen a Camaro like this one before.

There was a factory 327 cubic-inch Camaro model with technical specifications and performance very similar to that of the SS-350, sporting equipment that some believed applied only to the SS or Z28. It used the RPO L30 327 with 275 horsepower, and when combined with certain other options, created a unique performance machine which, when just looking at its specifications and equipment, could easily be mistaken for a factory SS-327. There were even advertising campaigns at the time that depict a 327 coupe with an SS stripe and actually called it an SS! No wonder people might be confused.

So let's put the confusion aside: this is not a mythical SS-327 and it's not being passed off as one. It is, in fact, a much rarer piece than an SS-350 and is loaded with a slew of great options, and painted in a very unique color scheme. Better yet, this RS is a completely restored, 100% matching-numbers piece with a ton of documentation.

Let's start with the options, since they are what make this car so incredibly special:

A01 Soft Ray glass
A31 Power windows
C08 White vinyl roof
C50 Rear defroster
C80 Air conditioning
C80 Positraction
D55 Console
D80 Front and Rear spoilers
D96 Striping
J52 Power front disc brakes
K02 Temperature controlled fan
K76 61-amp generator
L30 327/275hp Turbo Fire V8
M35 Powerglide automatic transmission
N10 Gardner dual exhaust
N30 Deluxe steering wheel
N33 Tilt steering column
N40 Power steering
U17 Full console gauges
U35 Clock
U69 AM/FM radio
V01 Heavy duty radiator
ZJ7 Rallye wheels
LL Teal Blue paint

It appears that someone took a Camaro RS and dressed it up like a Cadillac. Seriously, when was the last time you saw an early Camaro with factory power windows, air conditioning, and a rear defroster?

Then there's the color: RPO LL Teal Blue with a matching teal interior and white vinyl top. The color is sophisticated and subtle, and really glows with the white top and SS-style stripe on the nose (which is how the factory delivered it). It matches this cars grown-up options list and suggests that the original buyer wasn't a street fighter, but rather someone who appreciated the Camaros virtues and wasn't willing to give up any luxury to get his performance.

This car was subject to a no-expense-spared rotisserie restoration several years ago and remains in flawless, show-winning condition. It is 100% numbers-matching, and all the exterior sheetmetal is original to the car as well. The body gaps are perfect (almost impossible to do on these early cars!), and the base coat/clear coat paint sparkles in the sunlight. The white vinyl top is better than new without as much as a wrinkle or fingerprint on it. All the chrome and stainless has been restored to better-than-new condition, just like the rest of the car.

Mechanically, the matching-numbers drive-train was restored with the rest of the car, including the L30 275-horsepower 327, which was rebuilt to stock specifications and topped with the correct Rochester 4-barrel carburetor. All the correct hoses, clamps, clips, and markings are present in the engine compartment. The original M35 Powerglide automatic was also rebuilt and reinstalled behind the engine, spinning the original rear end. The car currently shows a total of 35,601 miles, and very few of those have been accumulated since restoration.

Underneath, it's as clean as up top, with glossy original floors that aren't hidden by a layer of undercoating this car has never been rusty or damaged. The parts all have the correct factory finishes on them, from the A-arms to the rear leaf springs, and there are new shocks and bushings all around. It rolls on a great-looking set of 14-inch Rallye wheels sporting recent 205/70/14 Cooper Cobra radials.

The interior is a real treat. First, the color is a perfect complement to the paint and looks so much more sophisticated than the more commonly found white upholstery in these cars. Like I said, I bet someone had a Cadillac in the garage next to this little Camaro. The horseshoe shifter for the Powerglide is part of a fully restored console that features the upscale simulated wood trim. Everything is new in the interior, from the carpets to the door panels to the headliner, and ready to show or drive. The AM/FM radio works perfectly and there's a fresh heater core in the dash.

This car also comes with a ton of documentation that includes professional appraisals and thousands of dollars' worth of receipts for parts and work during the restoration. There's also an original 1968 Chevrolet color guide and a copy of an original 1968 Camaro identification and specification guide from General Motors that should provide several hours of fascinating reading.

Rare cars are our favorite here. When they're both rare and stacked with options, we like them even better. And if they're matching numbers like this one is, they go to the top of the list. Take this one home or to a show and enjoy listening to people discuss your mythical “SS-327.”