Instrument Panel - Group 10.xxx

• The instrument panel was revised for the 1967 Chevelle to incorporate a collapsible steering column and hazard warning flashers. This change also necessitated moving the windshield wiper switch 1/2" to the right resulting in a different dash strip than the 1966 model.

• All models featured oil pressure, temperature, generator, parking brake, and brake system warning lights. Also standard were color-keyed turn signal and shift lever knobs, bright control knobs for headlamp and wiper switches, color-keyed instrument pad, glove compartment lock, and cigarette lighter. The high beam indicator lamp was moved to the speedometer cluster.

• On the Malibu, Concours, and SS 396 the heater control panel was illuminated, an electric clock and glove compartment light was standard. Both the electric clock and glove compartment lamp were optional on the 300 and 300 Deluxe.

• The upper dash panel on the Chevelle 300 Deluxe is silver-accented, the Malibu and Concours received a walnut finished panel, and the SS396 panel was black-accented. The base Chevelle 300 had no additional panel. A note of controversy. I've personally seen a few SS396 Chevelles (with verified 138xx VIN) from both Baltimore and Atlanta that have the Malibu/Concours style wood grain panel. My last SS396 Chevelle from Atlanta is one of those and I purchased it in 1986.  Numerous owners I've talked to say they did not change this panel. Whether someone, sometime changed the black-accented SS panel to the wood grain cannot be determined due to some having multiple owners. I know when I was rebuilding my SS396 from 1986-1988 I searched high and low for a wood grain dash strip but there were none in reproduction and no used ones that were acceptable.

• Exploded view

Below are three examples of SS396 Chevelles with wood-grained dash panels. Factory substitutes/errors or simply numerous owners replacing the black-accented strip with a Malibu piece? The debate continues...

May ~ Baltimore

December ~ Atlanta

June ~ Atlanta
This is my SS396 when I purchased it in September of 1986 with the wood-grained dash strip.

Dash Pad

The 1966 dash pad extended past the radio speaker grille and almost to the base of the windshield stopping just short of the defroster vents while the 1967 dash pad stopped short of beginning of the speaker grille. Compare this to a 1967 Chevelle dash pad below.

Also note the total width of the dash pad between the two years on the side of the dash pad.

1966

1967

The dash color depended on the exterior color. Both Chevelles below have identical #731 Bright Blue Imitation Leather interior; first Chevelle is painted Deepwater Blue (E) while the second Chevelle is painted Marina Blue (F).

Gear Selector Indicator

The transmission type, and whether it was column shifted or floor shifted, dictated what instrument cluster face was installed and which gear selector indicator, if any, was included.

Column shifted Powerglide gear indicator - Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Low

Column shifted Turbo Hydramatic 400 gear indicator - Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Low₂, Low₁

All manual transmissions and floor shifted automatic transmissions received this cluster face that was devoid of any shift pattern. Above dash is the standard SS396 dash (note high beam indicator) while the SS396 dash below has the optional special instrumentation.

Indicator Lamps, Wiper Switch, and Ignition Bezel

The various indicator lamps on the Chevelle (when Special Instrumentation was not ordered) included an oil pressure indicator light and engine water temperature light in the left lamp pod and a generator indicator light and brake system warning light in the right lamp pod. The headlight beam indicator light is located in the cluster. This dash happens to be a Malibu but all series used the same basic warning lamp arrangement.

When the Special Instrumentation was ordered (RPO U14), the high beam HEADLIGHT BEAM indicator reverted back to the left lamp pod in place of the OIL || TEMP lamps and the BRAKE lamp took over the entire right lamp pod since the GEN lamp was no longer needed.

These are examples of the aftermarket gauges installation. The high beam indicator lamp still present showing this is not an original gauge-optioned dash assembly. These aftermarket gauges are a great way to add factory-styled units to your dash but be wary if someone tells you they are original when you see the high beam indicator lamp present. Note the example above the right warning lamps pod is still a dual lamp unit (GEN||BRAKE) but only the BRAKE half is used where a factory-installed gauge option changed this particular lamp pod to a BRAKE only lamp and would cover the entire area.

Note differences in windshield wiper knobs between 1966 (above) and 1967 (below). The 1966 has a protruding button for the washer while the 1967 is flatter.

The wiper knob on the 1967 dash is moved approximately 1/2-inch to the right to facilitate collapsible steering column and hazard warning flashers that became standard on the 1967 model year. The 1966 switches measure approximately 2 13/16-inches from headlamp-to-wiper while the 1967 switches measure approximately 3 3/8-inches.

A little difficult to discern here but the ignition bezel on the 1966 has 4 grooves where the 1967 has three. Note the spacing between the grooves.

1966 Chevelle ignition bezel.

1967 Chevelle ignition bezel.

Tire Pressure Chart and Glove Box Liner

Although the AIM shows the placement of the tire pressure chart in the center depression, many found their way to one of the other two areas. Note the letter "A" in the bowtie, the 1966 tire pressure sticker did not have this letter "A" in the bowtie. The part number for the tire pressure chart varied, 3903991 was the revised number as of 9-22-66 when it replaced 3901998, 3901999, and 3903401. 

Differences in glove box liners between non-air conditioned above and air conditioned are apparent in the (air conditioning-equipped) Chevelle glove box liner below.

Ignition Strip

Chevelle 300
The base Chevelle 300 is devoid of any add-on dash strip and the area is simply painted the same color as the dash itself. Steering wheel is 3-spoke model but lacks any chrome trim.

Chevelle 300 Deluxe
Note silver-accented dash strip w/centered AC outlet, no radio and no bright plate above glove compartment. This 300 Deluxe is also equipped with the optional steering wheel that is standard equipment on the Malibu, Concours, and SS396.

The base El Camino (13380-480) dash is the same style and material as the Chevelle 300 Deluxe.

Malibu
The Malibu and Custom El Camino series substituted a wood-grain appliqué dash strip. The silver knob/button on the right side of the steering column for the, now standard equipment, hazard warning lamp switch. Note this is the 'long' version of the hazard warning flasher knob and is found on a September-built Malibu. This long knob was used through the third week of December of 1966, then randomly with the shorter version through May of 1967 as supplies were being exhausted. After May all should have been equipped with the short version.

Another early style hazard warning flasher knob on a Baltimore-built Chevelle in early January, 1967.

SS396
The SS396 series received a black, crinkle finish dash strip. The standard steering wheel on the Malibu and SS396 series were the same except for the horn button.

To my knowledge the only dash strip currently being reproduced is the black, crinkle finish SS unit. Swapping to the SS-type dash strip into a non-SS car can be done if you have the correct switches and bezels for the SS-type strip. Bezels from the Malibu/Concours wood-grain dash will not work.

Malibu glove box bezel vs. Super Sport glove box bezel

Malibu
Note bright radio bezel trim and above the glove compartment with Malibu script. The Custom El Camino shown below received the same Malibu script and dash treatment.

Malibu script nameplate on Custom El Camino
Since the Custom El Camino was based off the Malibu model, the Malibu script above the glove box was retained.

 
SS396
Note the Super Sport plate compared to the Malibu script plate in the above photo. The tissue dispenser was a dealer installed accessory.

Some go to extremes to customize their dash.

Instrument Cluster

The Chevelle instrument panel cluster. 

• The 300, 300 Deluxe, as well as Malibu and SS396 instrument cluster when ordered with the center console only contained the fuel gauge and speedometer/odometer.

• The Malibu, SS396, and Concours series received a clock as standard equipment that would be located in the right pod. 

• The clock (RPO U35 - $15.80) was an extra cost option on the Chevelle 300 and 300 Deluxe.

• When the Special Instrumentation (RPO U14) option was ordered (only available on V8 Sport Coupes and Convertibles) the clock was moved to the floor if a console was not ordered.

• If bucket seats and console were ordered, the clock was installed in the console and the right instrument pod was blank unless the special instrumentation package was ordered. Bucket seats and console were only available on Sport Coupes and Convertibles.

The standard left-to-right swing fuel gauge pod was replaced with a vertical swing fuel gauge and ammeter. The clock in the right gauge pod was replaced with a mechanical oil pressure gauge and electric water temperature gauge. To accommodate the tachometer, the left blinker lamp was placed inside the tachometer itself since it blocked the standard lamp location. This tachometer has come to be affectionately called the 'blinker tach.'  The oil temperature and generator-brake tell-tale lamps are replaced with "BRIGHT" and "BRAKE" lamps respectively.

Cigarette lighter and headlamp switch placements on the 1967 Chevelle instrument panel

Assembly of dash trim and w/s wiper knob