How much horsepower did a 1968 Camaro with a 396 have
Executive summary
A 1968 Chevrolet Camaro equipped with the 396 cubic-inch V‑8 was factory-rated in multiple horsepower figures depending on the specific engine option — commonly 325 hp, 350 hp and the high-performance 375 hp — all quoted as SAE gross ratings in period/spec sheets and auction listings [1] [2] [3] [4]. Exact factory output for any particular car requires identifying the engine option code (e.g., L78) or the build sheet because Chevrolet offered several 396 variants and restorations or sales listings may reflect modified engines [5] [6].
1. The headline numbers: three factory ratings for the 396
Period and modern spec compilations list three principal factory horsepower numbers for the 396‑cubic‑inch Camaro in 1968: 325 hp for some 396 installations (commonly convertible or lower‑performance tune) [1], 350 hp for other 396 SS variants [2] [7], and the top L78 performance 396 rated at 375 hp [3] [8] [4].
2. Which engine was which: option codes and the L78 mythos
The L78 big‑block is the commonly cited 375 hp 396 and shows up in sales descriptions, auction catalogs and restoration listings as the factory high‑output option for SS Camaros [3] [6] [4]. Other 396 tunes produced lower advertised outputs — a 350‑hp variant appears in multiple technical listings [2] [7], while 325 hp figures are associated with certain 396 installations and convertible models in spec catalogs [1] [9].
3. Why the variety: packaging, carburetion and factory calibration
Chevrolet offered the 396 in different states of tune and with different carburetors, intakes and cam profiles, which produced distinct factory horsepower ratings; contemporary spec sheets and later restorers list the differing compressed ratios and component specs that underpin the 325/350/375 figures [8] [2]. Auction houses and reputable spec sites consistently refer to these discrete factory ratings rather than a single number [4] [3].
4. How common was the 375‑hp L78?
Enthusiast discussion and forum research suggest the 375‑hp L78 was less common than the lower‑rated 396s, with one forum estimating only a few thousand ’68 SS 396 Camaros equipped with the 375‑hp package, while most carried lesser‑rated 396s [5]. Sales listings and restored‑car descriptions emphasizing a documented L78 build or receipts are typically how surviving examples are validated [6].
5. Real‑world vs. factory: dynos, restorations and auction notes
Auction catalogs and restoration notes often report engines rebuilt or modified to “375 hp specs,” and restored cars sometimes include upgrades that change output from the factory number; RM Sotheby’s, for example, describes a 375‑bhp 396 that was rebuilt and tuned during restoration [4]. Forum posts and seller descriptions caution that without a build sheet or original engine, exact factory rating for a given vehicle can be hard to prove and that dyno readings post‑restoration may differ from SAE gross factory claims [5] [6].
6. Bottom line and reporting limits
For reportage purposes, the 1968 Camaro with a 396 should not be reduced to a single horsepower figure: factory literature and later spec references list 325 hp, 350 hp and 375 hp variants, with the 375‑hp L78 identified as the high‑output option [1] [2] [3]. Determining which of those applied to any specific car requires original documentation such as a build sheet, engine stamping, or period dealer records; the available sources do not allow identification of an individual vehicle’s original rating without that paperwork [5].