Vehicle Description
One of the great things about the muscle car era is that there's
almost an infinite variety of cars, colors, options, and styles.
There are plenty of pretenders and over-restored restomods on the
market right now, but if you're looking for a correct, clean,
real-deal big block Chevelle SS that drives well, looks great, and
has a reasonable price, this 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 is a
perfect match, and with a few choice upgrades that make it a truly
entertaining ride.
There were about a half-dozen different engines, two dozen colors,
and a wide variety of interiors available in the Chevelle, ensuring
that you could get one any way you wanted it. But the one thing
that doesn't change is that the A-body makes for a ferocious street
car when you stuff a big block under the hood. This car is an
actual a real SS 396 (all the physical evidence is there, and this
car was painted Daytona Yellow - a factory color only available on
real Super Sports in 1969) car and it has been neatly restored in
back to its original Daytona Yellow livery, which gives it a bright
disposition that we like a lot. Bright colors always work well on
these cars, giving them a grown-up look that isn't too extroverted,
and with a black stripe slashing down the side, there's still no
question that there's serious horsepower on tap. Finish quality is
quite good, with a deep shine on the paint and no real deviations
from stock, including a factory hood and correct 'SS 396' emblems
as needed. The chrome bumpers have a nice shine and the stainless
wheel well moldings provide a nice contrast against the soft yellow
paint. And that black vinyl top works beautifully to ensure that
this pastel Chevelle isn't too soft-looking.
Chevelle interiors are always well-dressed, and the fellows who
restored this car did a fine job putting it together. Black bucket
seats and a console are important features when you're driving a
SS396, and with that cool horseshoe shifter in the center, it
definitely has a hi-performance vibe. The seat covers are in
excellent condition, the carpets were replaced when the car was
restored, and the door panels are beautifully detailed with correct
emblems. Round gauges are part of the SS package and this car
includes a full complement, including a factory tach. The headliner
is taut and matches the great condition of the rest of the
interior, and when you see that the builders got the little details
like that right, then you know you're looking at a very
high-quality build. A modern Retrosound stereo slots neatly into
the dash and has a vintage look augmented by factory-style dials
that makes the whole unit look like an old AM unit. Neat! The trunk
is tidy and clean with a reproduction mat and there's full-sized,
correct bias-ply redline spare, just in case.
The powerplant is a 1969 dated vintage CE 396 warranty block that
still delivers the big hit of torque for which big block Chevys are
famous. About as close to numbers matching as you're ever going to
get. Dressed to look stock, it has traditional chrome valve covers,
an open-element air cleaner with correct 396 decals, and fresh
Chevy Orange paint on the block. A big 4-barrel carburetor on top
of a factory intake manifold, newer wires, hoses and belts, and
long-tube headers with a fresh Dynomax dual exhaust system gives
the big engine plenty of punch. The TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission shrugs off the power churning through it and is always
happy to drop down a gear when you need it. The underside is
super-clean, with floors that are the perfect background for the
new exhaust system and gas tank and the heavy-duty 12-bolt rear
end, which houses a newer diff cover. Staggered and slick American
Racing Torque Thrust wheels look extra aggressive and wear
235/45/17 front and 255/45/18 blackwall radials all around.
A true Chevelle SS with a big block punch and handsome good looks,
this is an awesome opportunity to pick up a very clean muscle car
with a great pedigree, wonderful restoration, and a reasonable
price. Call today!