Here are some links to scans of a couple older articles on the '65 Chevelle L79 (same car appears in both articles).

http://heartland.chevelles.net/SIAuto/

http://heartland.chevelles.net/GMEnthusiast/

**EDIT** Just to be clear, these articles were published in 1990 and 1996 in old car enthusiast magazines. They were not published contemporary to the cars themselves being new.

I found the articles very interesting :thumbsup:

Cool stuff Rich. Lots of info there.

Great articles, Rich.

I found a paragraph in the first link a bit odd though considering this was a June, 1966 publication. If they're referring to the 1966 model year, the 396 was introduced in the late summer of 1965 (have August & September trim tags), not late winter of 1965. I also wasn't aware the L78 in the 66 model year got a convertible frame - or are they referring to the Z16 of 1965 assembled in March and April of 65?

Dale,
Not being a guru of these Chevelles and such-----I do recall an article way back that mentioned the 65 Z-16 getting the convertible frames.
(I have not read the posted articles yet---will do it now)

The Z16 did get convertible frames but the timeline is confusing. I guess February would be considered 'late winter' of 65 for the 396's introduction and subsequent March and April production of the Z16.

Great articles, Rich.

I found a paragraph in the first link a bit odd though considering this was a June, 1966 publication. If they're referring to the 1966 model year, the 396 was introduced in the late summer of 1965 (have August & September trim tags), not late winter of 1965. I also wasn't aware the L78 in the 66 model year got a convertible frame - or are they referring to the Z16 of 1965 assembled in March and April of 65?

The article was published in 1996, not 1966. They are referring to the Z16 which of course used a convertible frame.

The other magazine, GM Enthusiast, was published in 1990 and was referenced in the Special Interest Autos article.

Duh, I need new glasses. :clonk: Great articles. Thanks, Rich!

Rich,
I found them both very informative!!! :cool:
Frank

If anyone is interested, the Special Interests Autos magazine which has the L79 article of Jack's car can be found on ebay fairly easily. It is the May/June 1996 edition. The GM Enthusiast magazine will be harder to find, I've never seen a date on it but it says Volume 4, Number 1. The mast head page says the NEXT edition will be out June of 1990 and it's a quarterly, so it must have been out in the Spring of 1990. I remember where I bought it, but not the date!

**EDIT** Well, kick me in the head! There are two copies of this same GM Enthusiast magazine on ebay right now!

I'm gonna sticky this one for a while since we don't get all that much traffic back here and no one will see this once it slides back a page or two.

Thankyou Rich for sharing those long forgotten peices of history !!!

I remember riding around in a couple of them that plain flat hauled when asked too !!

of course I don't think they were 100% stock by then either ;)

but then MOST 327's weren't stock either ....... very few head casting could be trusted & even fewer gear ratio's & compression ratio's !!! :D

sure did seem like Granny drove some mighty QUICK grocery getters back then ;)

Real interesting articles, I ordered a 67 L79 in Sep 66 and got it in Dec 66 for $3247.26 including tax. It was Marina Blue with a black vinyl top, 325 HP, 220 low four speed, 355 gears with A/C. I'm looking at my vehicle invoice right now and the four season air cost $158 more than the 325 Hp engine, and the push button radio was optinal for $57.40. We kept the car until 1977, Didn't have the money or "vision" back then to preserve it. I lived in a small town in Texas and they still talk about that blue chevelle, use to run it a little at the track in San Antonio before I got married and we still have some 13 second scripts it turned.
The car was fast, many times they ask to look under the hood and thought for sure it was a big block they were running.
We have created another 67 look alike as above even down to the type of wheels. But this one is a 283 with factory air and power steering. It's like it came off the show room and very "traditional" no bling under the hood or inside, even down to the original AM radio. The only thing is the wheels which is what we all changed out right after we got our cars back then.
Our next step is upgrading our engine bay to a L79 look alike. We have the block and heads and Winters intake but I'm missing the valve covers and the lower carburetor plate. For the valve covers I have thought of taking a set of 67 chevrolet script valve covers and having them chromed. What are your thoughts about this in order to keep the engine bay traditional to a 67 chevelle?
sassy 67

Well, you already know what it should look like but here is a photo for inspiration.

http://heartland.chevelles.net/RCstorage/67L79restored.jpg

I don't see why chroming a pair of script valve covers wouldn't work great.

Rich, the photo you posted of the L79 engine bay is real inspiratin to do it an do it right, it sets a real high standard. I saw another thing I was missing and that is the upper double alternator bracket, the orange one. I have to outer one but not the inner one. In my eariler message I mentioned I was missing the lower carburator plate, what I ment to say I was missing the lower air cleaner plate that fits over the Holly carburator. Is there a way to identify the air cleaner plate other then the hole in the bottom? I have not seen one in a long time and would not know how to really ID one if I was to run across one.
thanks
sassy 67

Rich, the photo you posted of the L79 engine bay is real inspiratin to do it an do it right, it sets a real high standard. I saw another thing I was missing and that is the upper double alternator bracket, the orange one. I have to outer one but not the inner one. In my eariler message I mentioned I was missing the lower carburator plate, what I ment to say I was missing the lower air cleaner plate that fits over the Holly carburator. Is there a way to identify the air cleaner plate other then the hole in the bottom? I have not seen one in a long time and would not know how to really ID one if I was to run across one.
thanks
sassy 67

I don't really know the '67 stuff like I do the '65 stuff. If you like, I can e-mail you the phone number of the guy who owns the car I referenced above. He also owns a survivor car that has not been restored and a couple '67 L79 El Caminos as well as the absolutely perfect car partially pictured above. Even all the smog pump plumbing is original GM stuff on that car!

Rich, please send me his phone number. He may even remind me of some things I have forgotten to make it look original as possible.
thanks
sassy 67

Hey Guys, I'm a first timer but came to this site to find out what's "correct". I've got a '68 L79 but it is a Malibu and not an SS. My question regards the grille. Do you know if the regular Malibu had an unpainted grille and the side (trim pieces) were the same? Or, can you refer me someplace where I can get this info.

Thanks.

Rich, the photo you posted of the L79 engine bay is real inspiratin to do it an do it right, it sets a real high standard. I saw another thing I was missing and that is the upper double alternator bracket, the orange one. I have to outer one but not the inner one. In my eariler message I mentioned I was missing the lower carburator plate, what I ment to say I was missing the lower air cleaner plate that fits over the Holly carburator. Is there a way to identify the air cleaner plate other then the hole in the bottom? I have not seen one in a long time and would not know how to really ID one if I was to run across one.
thanks
sassy 67

What kinda problem will I experience if I only have the outer alt bracket?

Hey Guys, I'm a first timer but came to this site to find out what's "correct". I've got a '68 L79 but it is a Malibu and not an SS. My question regards the grille. Do you know if the regular Malibu had an unpainted grille and the side (trim pieces) were the same? Or, can you refer me someplace where I can get this info.

Thanks.

Yes, the Malibu has an unpainted grill.