Rebuilt 396 V8 and TH-400: 1969 Chevrolet Impala
The fourth generation of the popular Chevy Impala was in production from 1965 to 1970. And was likely the pinnacle of sales for the nameplate as the 1965 edition alone sold more than one million copies. The 1969 model year, with a styling update, was no slouch at more than three-quarters of a million units. The seller has a nice ’69 with a 396 cubic inch V8 and TH-400 that have been rebuilt. The body and paint may be original, or at least the seller has never done any work on them. Kudos to Rocco B. for this discovery!
In 1969, the Impala SS came with a 427 as the Super Sport nameplate was being retired as it pertained to the Impala. Few of them were sold (2,425), but likely a boatload with variations of the 396 “big block”. We don’t know the horsepower rating of this one, nor do we know if it peaked when rebuilt. And no mention is made of numbers-matching, whether or not there is a 396 insignia on the front fenders (can’t tell from the photos).
The body and paint look okay, but the photos don’t help get at the nitty gritty. Nor does the whole car seem to get into many of the shots. The wheel well trim has been removed, perhaps to help it look a bit “meaner” as those Rally wheels add that touch. So, if there’s rust, we don’t know about it. The interior looks fine and is an upgrade to the standard Impala Sport Coupe as bucket seats and a console were selected. Along with woodgrain accents. The seller included a “hideaway” headlight conversion kit, but we understand those were only an option on the Caprice.
This Chevy is available here on craigslist for $16,900 (Canadian or USD?) and can be found in Vancouver, British Columbia. It should be a turnkey car as the seller has driven it all over Canada. The mileage is unknown, but the odometer has likely rolled over. There are boxes and boxes of parts in the trunk, plenty to help you keep this old Impala churning away. The seller will consider a trade if it involves several types of motorcycles, he/she mentions and is also looking for a 1966 Impala Sport Sedan (4-door hardtop).
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Comments
It appears as quarter panels are reproductions. The factory wheel opening mouldings and rocker trim don’t exactly fit on those aftermarket replacements without a little massaging.
From the factory, it was a 396/265 hp 2bbl – nice upgrade
to 4bbl.
Even with the aftermarket items, it still will turn heads.
Nice looking car but I have to wonder if this thing started out as one of the 2-barrel 396’s
Yes GM offered just an ordinary Rochester 2 barrel carb on those 396’s just like they put on my 327 engine in my ’69 Impala convertible.
The formal roofs look much better on this year Impala. My first car was a silver ’69 Caprice coupe with a black vinyl top, and a 396 (2 barrel) engine.
was not a fan of the fastback GM’s compared to these
If it were only air conditioned I’d drive this all day long…
The “396” emblems are clearly visible on the front fenders…not sure which pictures the author was looking at.
Impala was such a good looking car that it becomes hard to believe that it was just bread and butter transportation. Hence the high sales volume. To be the number one volume vehicle year after year meant that there was something for everyone. Customers saw affordable aspiration in this car and it seems like everyone had at least one. The sport coupe was the entry hardtop and this one got a 2bbl big block and maybe buckets from the factory. Kind of a poor man’s SS. A 330 horse 427 would be more impressive.
My 69, rode like junk, handled like junk but, it ran in a straight line OK.
The only 396 available in the full size ‘69 Chevy was the 265 hp 2-bbl. If you wanted to have a big block 4-bbl, you had to order the 427.
this one is a nice car for sure, no matter how it started out. i can also say there is one less black 69 427 ss impala in the world, cuz i saw it totaled by a high school boy that lived to talk about it. the big car saved um
My parent had a garnet red ’69 Impala four door sedan with 327, powerglide, PS no PB, no A/C (not needed here in Washington state).
The 327 ran flawlessly even if it’s GUNKY all over the engine with almost 200,000 miles on it. It’s one of the BEST engine GM ever made! Also body styling, comfort, options, etc… We love those impala from the 60’s
Now that I own a ’69 Impala convertible with factory original 327, powerglide (childhood memories) as well.