Big Block Barn Find: 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
The official production date for this 1969 Chevelle SS was February 14th. That’s Valentine’s Day. So if you have fallen in love with this classic, then you have probably been shot by Cupid’s arrow. The vehicle will need plenty of work, but the buyer looks like they will be commencing this process from a relatively sound base. The Chevelle is located in West Point, Virginia, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at $5,600, and the reserve has been met.
When the Chevelle rolled off the production line on that fateful Valentine’s Day, it was finished in Frost Green with a Midnight Green vinyl top. This was the most popular color for a ’69 Chevelle by a large margin. A total of 81,883 cars wore this shade, with 51,060 vehicles finished in LeMans Blue as the second most popular choice. Time has taken its toll on this classic, but it is by no means the worst Chevelle project car that we’ve seen here at Barn Finds. The owner believes that all of the panels are original, and the exterior rust that you can see would seem to be the worst of it. This has afflicted the rear quarter panels, and both will require replacement. The doors have some spots in the bottom corners, but these should be a repairable proposition. The owner thinks that it would be best to replace both front fenders, and there is some rust in the bottom of the core support that will need to be addressed. Beyond that, the buyer will have little more than some surface corrosion to tackle in the rockers, floors, and trunk pan. The front floor has been cut at some point to fit a 4-speed. This will need to be patched if the original column shifter is to be used. As far as the external trim and chrome are concerned, some items are missing, and some pieces will need to be replaced. It is hard to see the real state of the glass under the layer of dust, but it does look promising.
The Midnight-Green theme of the vinyl top was carried over to the Chevelle’s interior trim, although it looks pretty tired and dirty today. It will require a retrim, but there are a few positive points to consider. The owner states that the headliner has a seam separation, but that it is repairable. The dash pad has a crack, but a good replacement pad is included in the sale. The steering wheel isn’t correct, but the dash is complete, and all of the major trim items are present. The list of parts that will be required will include seat covers, door trims, and a carpet set. There will probably be other pieces require, but the buyer will need to take a look around inside to determine what these are. The vehicle isn’t loaded with luxury features, although the inclusion of factory air conditioning was undoubtedly a welcome one.
The owner states that the SS would originally have been equipped with a 396ci V8, along with a 3-speed automatic transmission. The bad news is that this is no longer a numbers-matching car, although the original 12-bolt rear end is still present. The owner provides no photos, but there are an engine, transmission, and another rear-end included in the sale. The engine is a professionally built 427ci V8 with a forged bottom end and worked square port heads. The engine will require a cam kit, and it will fall to the buyer to decide whether they wish to opt for mild or wild. As you can see, the engine also comes with an intake and Holley Carburetor. I think that there’s a better than even chance that this engine will pump out more than the 350hp that the 396 would have produced. Ready to bolt behind that 427 is a Turbo 400 transmission that is freshly rebuilt. If the open 12-bolt rear end isn’t to your liking, you can always slot in the 3-Series Posi unit that is included in the sale. Once this drivetrain has been installed, this is a classic that should really haul the mail.
The buyer of this 1969 Chevelle SS is going to have some work to do, but at least they will be starting from a sound base. When it is completed, it should be a powerful machine with enough performance to satisfy almost anyone. It is also a car that has the potential to steal more than a few hearts because it should look stunning. But then, what would you expect from a vehicle built on Valentine’s Day?
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Comments
Now this is a true Barn Find, sitting there next to round bales of hey or clover!!!
Awesome barn find in my area a few months back 69 L78 all original How lucky can you get?
Just by looking at the stance the engine block is sitting somewhere else..