1967 Impala SS427 wagon

When I read your brochure, all three transmissions listed are optional. The only clue given as to a standard unit was the sentence mentioning that the optional 3-speed was synchronized in all gears was. Taken at face value, one can assume that a number of these rolled off the line with surplus 1956 Chevy units which weren't or that the manufacturer of the new gearbox purposely omitted a synchronizer for the first gear, if the authors of these brochures didn't take care to be specific

 

You have to go to the 'regular' full-size '67 Chevy brochure to get the details on the actual standard, standard 3-speed. Unfortunately, it doesn't provide the actual ratios like the SS brochure does with the 'Special' 3-speed. It does mention that you have to upgrade to the 'Special' unit with certain TurboFire V8's....

 

Mostly right. In '67 the Saginaw three speed was the standard transmission. The heavy duty manual three speed was the Borg Warner M13 (mentioned in the SS 427 brochure posted) which are very hard to find. I don't think the heavy duty Muncie three speed came out until a couple of years later and they were available with a couple of different ratios. That is the trans we have in our '67 Biscayne.

Funny thinking back about that. I recall vividly just going to the junkyard with my dad on a Saturday morning and sorting through a stack of manual transmissions until we found the right Muncie three speed with the ratios we wanted. We did the same thing to find a 621 bellhousing earlier. I can't imagine going to a junkyard these days and doing the same thing. The parts just aren't there anymore.

 

When reading the brochure somewhat carefully, the stars in the boxes where the standard transmissions are listed have only been printed in for both big blocks. Scrolling just under to where those three symbols are defined, the star applying only to both big block types only tell you that the extra-cost 3-speed has to be specified. In other words, if I was to decide, I would interpret the brochure as telling me that I can go ahead and get the big blocks coupled to a Saginaw, at no extra price. But, if I didn't follow what the brochure instructed, the manufacturer would accept no liability, once the transmission gets destroyed. Another possibility of interpreting this brochure would be to read the paragraph relating to the three speeds which specifically states that the Borg Warner has to be ordered for both big blocks. What's not clear is why a customer has to order it. Wouldn't the vehicle get assembled with a transmission whatsoever, if nobody ordered anything?
Another way to interpret it would be to notice where certain transmissions aren't available, the boxes are simply left empty. One could perceive those stars added into the otherwise empty boxes where the standard transmissions are listed for both big blocks as a filler for both boxes which automatically render the Borg Warners as standard equipment, afterall, which to me, is the most sensible way to look at it. But, somewhat confusing, at first. Not that I would have spent any time at all considering coupling a 3-speed to a big block

 

Took a closer look at the brochure, boils down to this:
- Five engines in the full-size Chevy lineup for 1967. Here's how they could be ordered, and what transmissions you could get with them.
It's noted that 3-speed manuals were basically 'standard' across the range (although they charged you extra for the 'Special' 3-speeds required for the 396 and 427). Automatic transmissions weren't 'standard' on ANYTHING - even the luxury Caprice. As to engines, the Caprice models got the 283 V8 standard. All the rest got the 250 -6.

'S' = Standard 'R/E' = Required, extra cost 'A' = Available, at extra cost

Engine....................... 'Regular' 3-speed manual.........'Special' 3-speed manual........4-speed manual........Powerglide..........Turbo Hydramatic

155 hp 250 6 cyl.......................S.................................................................................................A
195 hp Turbothrift 283 V8...........S.........................................................................A.......................A
275 hp Turbofire 327 V8.............S.........................................................................A.......................A....................A (Impala SS & Caprice only)
325 hp TurboJet 396 V8..............................................R/E.....................................A........................A....................A
385 hp TurboJet 427 V8.............................................R/E......................................A.............................................A

So Poison - If you ordered say a 396 V8 in your new Chevy, and for some reason didn't specify any transmission, they would probably call you back and ask you how much more you want to pay - for a manual, or an automatic. I guess it's like a 'package deal'.

 

If I didn't want to pay anything more, what would they bolt up, behind my big block, if anything at all. They should have entered two more rows of boxes for the big blocks and have printed in the standard standard transmission which weren't optional and then left the boxes with the stars blank. Another missprint, or rather, omitprint is to be found above the Turbo Hydramatic row. Nothing is filled in, while the box over the 4-speed and Powerglide row includes the optional transmissions clause, leading one to think that the THDs were standard with ordering both big blocks.
Fifty one years later, someone is finally proofreading their brochures for them