1968 Chevelle Substitute Interiors

 

Many have wondered why certain 1968 Chevelles came with Buick, Oldsmobile, or Pontiac substitute interiors. Many hypothesized that a riot in Memphis on March 28, 1968 during a protest march may have been the kindling and when Rev. King was killed on April 4, riots erupted across the U.S. beginning on April 5. Three cities suffered destruction and looting, Chicago, Baltimore and Kansas City.

 

These substitute interiors began to appear around late March and continued at the three plants through late June. The only 1968 Chevelle assembly plants found to date that used these substitute interiors are Baltimore, Fremont, and Kansas City and only black inferiors were affected. Since no records of substitute interiors from Atlanta or Framingham has yet to surface, it can be assumed that any Chevelle orders received at these two plants with black interiors were routed to one of the other three plants, most likely Baltimore and Kansas City since Fremont would not be al logical assembly plant for delivery to dealers in the Midwest or eastern portion of the U.S.

 

For a plant-by-plant breakdown of BOP interiors used, see my BOP page.

 

Mystery Solved - update March 14, 2017 ~ Courtesy Warren Leunig

 

Note the sales person made their own notations on which 1968 Chevelle model and series would get what interior.

 

IBM Trim card showing 765-158 interior to be used.

 

Break down the particular BOP seat per series/body style shown above:

Model	Seat Type	BOP Code (Plant where found)
13427	bench	760-217 (Pontiac - Baltimore)
13427	bench	760-910 (Oldsmobile - Fremont/Kansas City)
13480	bench	760-217 (Pontiac - Kansas City)
13637	bench	765-980 (Oldsmobile w/armrest - Baltimore Concours)
13637	bench	765-118 (Buick - Baltimore/Fremont/Kansas City)
13637	bench	765-168 (Buick w/armrest - Fremont/Kansas City Concours)
13637	bucket	766-970 (Oldsmobile - Fremont/Kansas City)
13639	bench	765-960 (Oldsmobile)
13667	bench	765-158 (Buick - Baltimore/Kansas City)
13667	bucket	766-178 (Buick - Kansas City)
13669	bench	765-118 (Buick - Kansas City)
13680	bench	765-217 (Pontiac - Fremont)
13680	bucket	766-223 (Pontiac - Baltimore/Kansas City
13837	bench	765-158 (Buick - Baltimore/Fremont/Kansas City)
13837	bucket	766-168 (Buick - Baltimore/Fremont/Kansas City) 766-178 (Buick - Kansas City)
13867	bench	765-158 (Buick - Baltimore/Fremont/Kansas City)
13880	bucket	766-223 (Pontiac - Fremont/Kansas City)

It needs to be noted the list immediately above is only what I have found and in no way represents a definitive answer; for example to date no 13880 El Camino has turned up yet with a BOP bench seat. It could very well be the same 765-158 Buick code as the sport coupe and convertible but it's not verified so it's not listed.

And, just because one code was used at one or even two of the three plants doesn't mean the same code was or was not used at all plants for the same model and seat type.

 

Makes one wonder if Baltimore, Kansas City, and Fremont were the only plants affected? Or maybe any orders for black interior Chevelles from Atlanta or Framingham were routed to one of these 3 plants.

 

Note the bulletin says that Chevy II and Chevelle interior trim colors should return to normal around April 15 and the Concours options will be withdrawn. It is apparent this never happened. It's known these substitute interiors continued well into June. The three Concours options are shown to be available in March - why cancel them in April? I'd question this since production reports indicate 10,612 of the three Concours options were sold and a known Concours Malibu sport coupe from Kansas City with body date of 06B has been found.

 

1968 Buick

1968 Buick GS400 178 interior

 

1968 Pontiac

 

1968 Oldsmobile

 

If anyone knows of any 1968 Oldsmobile charts like the Buick and Pontiac above, I'd appreciate appropriate images. Maybe the above came from a dealer's book?

From what I've been able to gather on 3 known Oldsmobile codes, 910 is found in F85 Club Coupe, 970 & 980 are found in the Cutlass S and Cutlass Supreme Club Coupe, Sport Coupe, and Convertible. Examples of which I have.

 

Although these are samples of the Cutlass Supreme & 442's 940-style bucket and 950-style bench, none of these have yet to turn up in a Chevelle. It's possible these were not substituted.

 

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