Hi,


Did the '68 Chevelle Malibu Convertible have a "Deluxe" interior option. The reason I am asking is that I am in the process of looking for interior door latch mechanisms for a '68 Chevelle Malibu Convertible. This item would be the mechanism that the interior door handle attaches to. I have found several places that carry them but the listings usually have "fits standard interior" or "excludes deluxe interior".

From the research I have done, I cannot find anywhere that states that the Malibu came with a "Deluxe" interior. Can I purchase the latch mechanisms for a "standard" interior without worry that they will not fit?

Thanks for any help.

chevellestuff.net/1968/index

chevellestuff.net/1968/exterior-interior

Dyno steered you right. I will add that although there was a "deluxe" interior for a Malibu, it was the Concours option and was not offered on the convertible (or at all in Canada). Also another possibility is that it is a Baltimore car built around April that may have come with either a Cutlass interior or a variation of the Buick Skylark interior.

Maybe I am mis-reading it and the vendors are stating the difference between, say a 300 Deluxe vs. Malibu. That also could be what they mean.

If I'm reading this correctly, Jody is looking for just the latch mechanisms. It shouldn't make any difference if the interior is "standard" or "Deluxe". The actual mechanisms are the same inside the doors.

Correct?

Thanks everyone for the info.

I added a picture of the item I am looking for. I should have added it to my original post to avoid confusion.

If I am reading the trim tag correctly, it is a Baltimore car with the Buick bench seat.

The following is off the trim tag:

04A 183668 140248 4
ST 68 13667 BAL 02810 Body
TR 765-158 G2 Paint (G2 may be GG) it's hard to read.

Thanks again for the info.

Attached Thumbnails

 

I think they're referring to the scuff guard or plate behind the arm rest. It makes it necessary for the door handle stud to be longer, Monte Carlos have the same issue where a standard mechanism is too short. It's the plate shown below.

Thanks BlackhawkMC,

I will have to check to see if we have the scuff plate on our Malibu.

Thanks again.

It's been a few weeks but I was able to verify that we do have the scuff plates on the door panels.

Now the next question: Does anybody know where I can buy the mechanisms with the longer door handle stud? It seems every where I look it is the short door handle stud. I sent e-mails to several suppliers and didn't get any responses.

Thanks again.

When I was looking for some years ago for my Malibu, you had to find good used. The 68 ones are slightly different from 69-72, and nobody reproduces them.

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Call "all american classics" in vancouver wa. they have several 68s in their yard in various states of teardown, I'm sure one of them will have had the longer studs.

Just a quick update. I did find a set of used door opening mechanisms on ebay. They are from a 1969 Buick Wildcat coupe. The only difference is that the bolt holes are bigger on the ones I purchased on ebay, but I think I can get by that. It's a shame that someone does not make an aftermarket version for restoration purposes.

Thanks again to everyone who helped with this venture.

Jody

@JVincenzes ; a bit late but hope this helps someone in the same situation.. The "standard" version is for armrests with no backplate and the "Deluxe" is for armrests with the backplate. Nobody had the deluxe available when I rebuilt mine earlier this year.

If you already have the Deluxe mechanism (longer shaft) and just need a rebuild, you can buy the standard door mechanism and swap the shafts.