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I picked up a 68 442 turnpike off a friend I'm the 3rd owner now 58k miles he's owned since 1983 he painted it years ago and it doesn't have the fender stripes. I was looking through the
folders of info on the car and found the build sheet it says it came with the Y70 paint stripe does that mean it came with the fender stripes.
One thing to keep in mind is the turnpike cruiser option was a sedate version of the 442. The vertical stripes said, I am serious business hear me roar.
Motor Trend originally tested both 68s, A turnpike Cruiser 442 and a regular 442. Below are pros and cons.
"For 1968, the package was moved to the 4-4-2…
Motor Trend tested the Turnpike Cruiser alongside a 4-4-2. With the 2.41 rear gear, it was reportedly running at 2,200 RPM at 65 MPH and the 4-4-2 with 3.08s was turning 3,000 RPM. Average fuel consumption for the TC was 15.7-18.1 MPG and for the 4-4-2 it was 12-15 MPG. The Turnpike Cruiser posted a 0-60 time of 8.7 seconds compared to the 4-4-2’s 7.1, and a quarter-mile E.T. of 16.5 at 85 MPH versus 15.5 at 91 MPH. Passing times 50-70 MPH were 5.8 seconds for the TC and 4.3 seconds for the 4-4-2. Listed weights were 3,850 lbs. for the 4-4-2 and 3,860 lbs. for the Cutlass."
Thanks 69CSHC I can't seem to find many pictures of that stripe. The car has a built 455 with the original 400 trans and a Chevy 12 bolt posi with 3.08's blue interior bucket seats column shift not sure I'm a fan of the wheels I'm going look for a set of center caps before I make a decision on possibly changing them.
OK guys here you go some pictures my friend bought it in 1980 for $400 I found the bill of sale from him showing 58,000 miles. He's a retired mechanical engineer basically project car that he built painted over the years never really drove. He said he probably put 1000 miles on it and about 100 since he built the drivetrain. Unfortunately, he had it in a tent for all those years gravel base, but still the elements got to it a little bit. Those are files with all the paperwork, receipts, spec's for motor etc.
I wonder if the car was ever rear ended. The tail lights aren't 442/S, they're Supreme/F85. I'm guessing it isn't the original engine The oil fill tube isn't the bent A/C one? That's another thing that TC's cruisers had regardless of whether they had AC or not.
Interesting about the taillights are the lenses interchangeable so I could just buy new lenses I'll ask him what he knows, definitely not original motor he built it here's some info on the motor.
Next on the new to me 68 is I dug out some 15x7 gm steel wheels that I've had for years sent them out to get blasted gonna paint them the same color as the body thinking white walls or white letter tires and go with baby moon hubcaps that I picked up year's ago or maybe no hubcaps at all haven't decided. Also on the list was a manual conversion, but kinda getting away from that and considering a floor shift conversion thoughts on finding a blue console or maybe the small hurst olds style, with his & her shifter seeing as the car is not numbers matching and it's gonna be more of a driver. What do you guys think?
You mentioned a Chevy 12 bolt rear, was this a Canadian car? Or is it the original Type-O (which also has 12 bolts on the cover, but only 10 bolts on the ring gear)? Or swapped?
Regarding a floor shift conversion, if you are planning on long-tube headers, you'll want to get rid of that linkage to the column shift. Otherwise, there's nothing wrong w/ a column shift until you find a console (I think there are a few in the classifieds here).
My friend pulled the 12 bolt out of a chevelle years ago. It's got 3.08's Not planning on headers. Only issue I see is the matching the blue for the console and column be nice to find a blue console.
My friend pulled the 12 bolt out of a chevelle years ago. It's got 3.08's Not planning on headers. Only issue I see is the matching the blue for the console and column be nice to find a blue console.
Understand. The column and console can be painted or dyed to match, so don't limit your choices to blue parts only. To be 100% complete, you'll also need a speedo without the PRNDSL. I'm in the process of a bench-to bucket / column to floor shift conversion myself, thus my interest in your endeavor. However, since mine's just a Cutlass, I'm not worried about "factory correctness / appearance", so I'm probably just going to remove the column shift lever and keep my column and speedo, at least initially.
I did one on a Pontiac a few years ago I removed the collar and ground the nub for the shifter off and patched &painted the collar also removed the linkage it's probably just as much work as replacing the column if you can find one.
Something you could do is locate a black console, column, and wheel. This was done by GM in some divisions. I have a black wheeled and columned blue on blue on blue Chevy. Also has black belts.
The reverse drive linkage, in later years, did a lot. But, in 68, there is no shifter lockout, and I think the neutral switch is down by the transmission anyway? It does the safety start functions and reverse lights.
