One Owner Original! 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
I have to tell you, I’m a complete sucker for a 1969 SS396 Chevelle! I remember when these were new; I used to go by our local in-town Chevrolet dealership (which could hold about four cars in its showroom) to check them out. I had sales brochures at one time but I guess they are lost to the ages. I even took a tour of Chevrolet’s Baltimore Broening Highway assembly plant in March of ’69 when these were flying off of the assembly line as fast as they could be slapped together. It will sound like heresy to some Chevelle fans but I actually favor the ’69 over the vaunted ’70 – hard to explain. Anyway, when I saw this ’69 SS396, located in Westport, Connecticut and available here on eBay for a BIN price of $29,500, I just had to take a closer look.
1969 was the first year that the SS396 model was no longer a separate model and became an option package on the 300 Deluxe or the Malibu model. It is rare to find a 300 Deluxe version but there were some assembled so that means there were three different body styles available, a two-door sedan, a two-door hardtop, and a convertible. All told there were about 86,000 SS396 Chevelles built in ’69, a very substantial number that has helped to maintain their popularity today, 50 years later.
Any way you cut it, the ’69 Chevelle, like most GM “A” bodies of the era have a tendency to rust given typical climatic conditions and that’s one of the first things to look for when you are searching for a viable candidate. That said, this example looks quite clean with no evidence of rust or panel perforation. The seller states that there are some small dents and scratches but that’s it. The garnet red lacquer finish still looks bright and it contrasts nicely with the parchment vinyl top. The seller states that the finish is “mostly original”. There is no visible evidence of body panel misalignment.
The bucket seat (an option over the standard bench seat) parchment interior, with contrasting black carpet, appears to be in good nick too. The seller mentions that the driver’s seat, as expected, has had some repair but the rest of the interior is original. There aren’t any complete images of the entire inside provided but from what can be seen, the upholstery hasn’t started to yellow – it has held up amazingly well. The fact that this Chevelle has only seen 58,000 miles of use in 51 years certainly hasn’t hurt this car’s overall presentation.
What makes an SS396 Chevelle the car it is, is the 396 CI big-block V8 engine. They were offered in three different states of tune, 325, 350 and 375 HP; this example has the standard, commonly found, 325 HP version. The seller claims, “runs and drives perfect, drive anywhere.” Hooked up the back of this Chevelle’s 396 motor is a Muncie four-speed manual transmission – a highly desirable option. Additional equipment includes power steering and brakes; of note is that ’69 was the first year for standard front disc brakes on the SS model, a very needed addition.
One nice aspect of this Chevelle’s past is that the seller bought it from the original owner and it would seem that the original owner took very good care of this SS; clearly it has been maintained and stored well. I have never owned a ’69 Chevelle SS396 though I did have a ’67 many years ago. It’s a similar car but mine was more stripped than this example. While the 325 HP engine is a strong performer it was pretty much in keeping with the power of similar, competitive cars of the time. The 350 HP engine has a notably stronger kick in the pants and the L78 375 HP makes a field day out of the whole endeavor. I look at ‘69’s all of the time and keep saying, “Go ahead and do it”. While I really like this Chevelle and feel good about its provenance, I’m a little hung up on the price; it is a really nice example of a beautiful and popular muscle car, however. I’d like to know, have any of you ever owned a ’69 SS396, and if so, what did you think of it?
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Comments
Nice looking car. I’d keep is it is and drive it.
Steve R
Yep I agree!
Yaaaay !!!!! It’s not GREEN !!!!!!
All the green paint was used on the Corvettes.
Nope. Just the same old generic red.
If one wants a red Chevy there are scores of Luminas and Cavaliers out there. This car was meant to be green.
I have to repeat what I have mentioned here previously- 1969 was the high-point of Chevrolet design. Chevelle, Corvette, Camaro, Impala were the best they ever were and ever would be.
I’ll agree with you on the Chevelle, Corvette, Camaro and even the Nova, But I like the 1968 Impala with the sportsroof better than the 1969 Impala
Ike, hard to disagree with you, 69 was a great year for Chevrolet. I was 17 and in car heaven. The Z28 and the ZL1 had me drooling all over my car mags. The COPO L72 Chevelle 450 HP monster intimidating.
That amazing few years, for me 67 to 69 when styling and engineering came together at Chevrolet, when they threw away the box look were the best.
One of my fellow auto shop, remember that, students had a 67 or 68 SS 396, he scared the living crap out of me on a parts run one spring day, hill topping on 2 lane blacktop. I was never more scared and alive at the same time. He probably saved my life as I quickly became a more conservative driver.
He later went on to become a stunt driver, wish I could remember his name.
Great time, amazing cars, great music. We are blessed.
Absolutely! I was also 17 and we had no idea how sweet life was. There was all kinds of crazy stuff going on in 1969 but we all seemed optimistic back then. Young and stupid I guess.
P.S. My first car that I bought was a 1969 Z-28. Bought in 1971 for $1500 and drove it through Buffalo, NY winters. As stated above- Young and stupid. Actually, very stupid!
Ike
I don’t think we were stupid, if so,blissfully, naive perhaps. I just think it so weird, we hit the sweet spot, we had it all, the cars, music, clean air, HVAC, indoor pplumbing LOL.
Young is as young does, no matter what generation. It’s always been that way but the kids in the sixties dealt with a huge generation gap with the older folks, more than any before or since. I think hot cars were the least of problems considering all the other stuff going on back in the summer of love. I was three, so I’m guessing here.
The price. The price.
The seller may take less but no offer=no car. The worst that the seller can do is say no or make a counter offer.
These do not come along everyday and if it is a “want”…they aren’t going to get cheaper.
Solid, un-molested, why would one not offer and see if it can be had for less?
Dreaming only results in dream cars.
Life is too short to later say…”I wish I had…”
Another “One Owner Original” being sold by the second owner….
God damn it! If you buy it from someone it isn’t a one owner car!!!!
It’s considered “one owner” if this seller is doing just that, selling it without taking title .
Wrong. If you own it, not getting the title in your name doesn’t mean you’re suddenly not an owner.
That’s title jumping and illegal as far as I know
Flippers ….
Agree not original owner.
Nice 13-15k car 😏 but one can dream.
Check the block numbers….
If the seller’s name isn’t on the title, Pennsylvania will require a ton of paperwork before you can buy it if you plan to title the car.
I Agree
This one was on here a while back I’m pretty sure. Said back then it belonged
To a military officer and has been shipped overseas with him and back. The reason it was supposed to be sitting in front of that upholstery shop was to have the vinyl top replaced or added.
It looks like one to me that was on here a couple of months or so!! Looks like the paints been buffed out but the rest looks the same!!
This would sure beat fixing up a rust bucket, seeing the price this junk is bringing, Look it over good, if you have the coin and wanted a 4 speed car, go for ir. Nobody’s getting any younger here. Art, you hit it right on the head. You have nothing to lose by making an offer, especially if the seller realizes you are serious. Good Luck.
Cheers
GPC
It’s pretty, and it wows me. Just like it wowed me on here back in October.
https://barnfinds.com/unrestored-survivor-1969-chevrolet-chevelle-ss-396/
Flipper, or same seller?
same seller.the pic in the garage the white top was ripped off some time in its life.the owner of the car owns the upholstery shop.i am selling for a buddy of mine.got a deposit on it today.by the
way love this website!!!
Barrett-Jackson-itis from last week. Same car with a higher price.
Thank you! I thought I had remembered this car being here.
It’s all about the front end…the grill, bumper,,the ’69 retains a classic look which blends well with the roofline whereas the ’70 is more adrupt, more aggressive especially with two bold stripes on the hood. Oddly enough I find the ’69 more attractive when it comes to these SS396 Chevelles. Don’t get me wrong,, I really like the ’70 SS 396/454 Chevelles, Jim mentioned something about that in the first paragraph.
Seen this one not too long ago, nothing wrong with that….it’s sweet.
And, it’s gone !
I like the colors on this 69. I like the 69 and 70 but my favorite is the 66. Hard to find an original ss396 like this especially with the original engine. These were highly popular with the teenagers in the 60’s and 70’s. Amazing any survive. I would leave this car just like it is.
Auction is over but I do not think it sold.
So we will see it again soon.
Going to take a couple of grand to straighten out that rear fender.
So price may be a bit high considering that
I think I could straighten most of the quarter out with my body hammers!! It looked like most of the dents were coming out like someone threw something into the trunk!! It would be a two man job but I think it would be better than cutting it out!!
Back in 1971 I bought a 69 SS396 from a co worker L78/4speed 4.10 posi he couldn’t afford the insurance anymore he was single i was married advantage me. owned it for about 5yrs. until no more Sonoco 260 & with 11.25 compression and junk gas i reluctantly sold it and bought a 71 Z/28 with 9.0 compression. To date the Chevelle is still the quickest car ET wise that I’ve ever owned, however my current 2011 camaro has a higher mph, ET not quite there yet 67 & 69 are still my favorite Chevelle’s
Sure would want to talk to the “real” original owner about the mileage claim if I were interested…
My cousin’s fiancé had a ’69 Chevelle SS 396. I was 12 or 13 at the time, so I truly idolized this car! That bad boy could haul ass! It was orange with black racing stripes on the top of the body and a black interior. He still owns it, he disassembled it in 1975ish to “make some modifications”. He confessed years later, he disassembled it because he didn’t want his new wife driving it, because it had way too much power. It is still disassembled and belongs to his daughter. Sadly, her and her husband can’t afford to have it re-assembled, so it sits in a garage, with all original parts and absolutely no rust. Anyway, you need to buy this baby! Those classic cars are falling into disrepair because young guys are just not interested. Whenever you see a classic car on the road, the driver has grey hair. I am legitimately concerned about preservation of these cars, because you need to have some skills to keep it running, AND be part of a network of like-minded enthusiasts so you know a transmission guy, radiator guy, front-end guy, etc. Those guys are dying off and not being replaced.
Elcamino,
I had more than one 1969 Chevelles and 68’s SS 396’s , one I had was a SS 396,4 Speed, 3.42 possi rear ‘with No PS No Pb, had Manual Quick Steering, and Manual Disc Brakes , it had the SS Package heavy duty sway bars big bushings ect. great Handling Suspension, it was, Le’mans Blue, inside and out,well it had about 60’g’s on it, and the 396 was getting where it was using oil ect. loss of power ect. Well I found a “427” 390 Hp Vette Engine for the SS, it came Alive” OMG it >would Smoke the Tires at 70 MPH” < No Fool'n, Really Loved The SS I Wish I had one just like it Back Car Was Killer and Handled Like a Dream at Any Speed Or Curve…
Very nice SS and rare color combo. It would have look good sitting next to my 1 owner 69 SS Blue/Blue 396 4 sp w/ 33 orig. miles. I wish I had seen it early, I would have added it to my collection. The stories on how car guys find them are sometimes interesting, but the value is in the car itself. As they say: “It is what it is” …
Jim, the ’69 is my favorite also. And this is a very nice one.
the car is in the hands of it’s THIRD owner.sold for 28k.i think it was a great price for all parties.the new owner is very happy to have it.
Do you know how to connect me with the Third owner? I might be able to share some of its history.
I may be able to help. How can i contact you?
Contact me [email protected]