I know there are a few of you that hate the dreaded p word, patina. We all seem to have slightly different definitions and feels about it, but no matter where you stand on the use of the word, there’s no denying that this Chevelle has some great patina. The body looks to be rust free and the paint doesn’t look to be worn off, but it has that aged look that you just can’t recreate. The interior has already been restored and it has something a bit interesting under the hood, a 383 V8! You can find this beautiful Chevelle here on eBay in Munroe Falls, Ohio with a current bid of $10,600.
The seller doesn’t say what engine this Chevelle originally had, chances are it was a 327. They do say that the 383 has 330+ horsepower and was recently rebuilt. They don’t say what all has been done to the engine. It should have more than enough power to keep things interesting and if you ever get bored with it, there are plenty of options to squeeze more power out it.
As you can see, the interior looks great. It is an A/C car and while it isn’t currently hooked up, the seller has all the original parts for it. I would want to get it hooked up and working right away, that way I could daily drive it.
I love the way this Chevelle looks, the color and patina are fantastic! I even like the choice of wheels. This car is said to be turnkey and ready for the next owner to enjoy. While it’s always fun to revive a project, there is definitely something nice about buying a classic you just jump in and drive. So would you do any upgrades or leave it as it is?
I like the colors and wheels as well. I’d have to see how much paint is left and if enough, “gently” wet sand and clear it. Fix the A/C then get in and drive.
I am really an old guy…..383 means MOPAR to me……even though I know that is a common Chevrolet modification these days.
Yes, totally. I always thought a 383 was a MOPAR engine. And had not ever heard of a swapping in a Chrysler motor in a Chevy,especially with Chevrolet valve covers. Wouldn’t the normal up-size swap be a 396?
Nonetheless, nice car.
Okay. Now i get it. After a quick web-search, I discovered that stroker kits are readily available which can increase the displacement of a 350 to 383 cid. Did not know that. Still think of a 383 as a MOPAR motor. Seems like it would be less confusing to call it a 382 or 384. Just saying.
My understanding is that a 383 is a small block with the same bore as a 350 and uses a 400 small block crank.
A 383 is a 350 block bored .030 over and running a 400 reciprocating assembly. Without the overbore it is a 377.
Lab3 is correct it’s a 350 chevy small block with a 400 crankshaft!
Thumbs up to both Dave Wright and Bob.
I would give the existing paint a good polishing and wax. Drive as is.
It looks like the current owner decided on using the same width tires front and rear. A little wider out back would have done a lot for a more muscular look.
Maybe some rubbing compound first.
By looking closely at the ad pictures, the marker light on the front fenders says 307…and I am guessing, but it should have come with a powerglide from the factory, as most 307’s did…I am also guessing it has a turbo 350 in it now, as the ad says the trans is rebuilt with a shift kit…a real waste if they put a shift kit in a PG….
It has a powerglide. Even though the TH350 didn’t come out until 1969 you would expect some sort of transmission upgrade since the car now has a 383.
Re-installing the factory AC might not be straightforward since the new engine has a long water pump, all of the pulleys and accessories at the front of the engine will need to be changed.
Steve R
Just because it came with a Powerglide from the factory is no reason to assume it’s still there.
Back in the mid 80’s, I bought a 69 el camino as a parts car for my 71 el camino. It was the saem color as this car. I gave $100 for it. No engine or trans. It looked like a really clean car from the outside.The only issue was it needed a new floor pan. I stripped the doors, tailgate and bed rim off and sold it for $200. A couple of years later I wrecked my elco. I sure wished I still had the 69 front clip…Even though it was the wrong year, it would have been better than having to hunt for two years to find one from a station wagon. From 70-72 the front clip was unique to wagons and elcos, different than chevelles. Prior to that they were the same.
The 69 elco was the second car I bough that initially looked clean. The other was a 62 Impala SS. It was Anniversary gold, 327/ PG PS (gone when I bought the car). PS, PB, A/C front bumper guard, power windows and padded dash(!) Another one I wish I had.I traded it to the body man who did the paint and body on the 71 Elco.
While it might have been a 327 w/ Turbo 350 trans, it is also possible it was a 307 Powerglide. Front fender side marker lamps had the engine size on them, but can’t see these well enough to say. Oddly optioned too; PS, AC, manual brakes.
Edit; I see flmikey beat me to it.
Not really patina, just faded paint in my opinion.
I like the Chevy Pickup sitting in the door, if it is half this car it would be a good addition to my collection.
Nice Car also!!
Not quiet as nice as mine in my opinion!!
Where’s the patina! (Picture the old lady’s voice from the Wendy’s ads, if you are old enough)
Patina. I don’t see no stinking patina, where’s the rust? Must be one of these disreputable seller as I can’t see any rust. Imagine advertising a nice clean looking car as having patina, the guy must have a couple of big ones. Who is going to buy a car with no rust(patina)?
Such a fine line between too much and too little patina…has to be Just Right!
It’s not like you are prejudice or the like :)
Nice looking car ! Love the Cragar’s !
Big Mike, that is one fine ’68!
The silver paint on my 1976 Corvette (With a luggage rack!) had about as much shine to it. Had I only known back then about a future with “patina” I never would have had it painted up all shiny-like. I could have saved money and tacked on another $5000 when I sold it. Dang!
GM’s Silver finish during the mid-70’s to the early 80’s was
sub-standard at best and often was seen going from silver to primer, like it was wind swept off, on most of their vehicles.
I would tend to agree. My 1979 Corvette shined like a new dime. I bought it from the original owner in 2000 and it had 25,000 miles at the time, so I believe it was the original paint. Huge difference.
A clean car still running a 2 speed Power Glide. A 700R4 overdrive would make it really nice or better yet a 5 speed manual!
Great candidate for a SS clone.
It’s the K Mart fog lights that do it for me.
I still have a pair ! :) They were/are yellow instead of amber.
I’d see if the paint will polish out and then clear, if not, repaint….they gotta be shiny.
Just hand-buff the paint, hook up the A/C,.tify everything up, and then take it
to the Old Town cruise in Kissemme,
Florida on Friday nights. I know that
I’d have the best car there because
most of the cars you see there are
trailer queens and not daily drivers
like this one.
Getting back to your description and the word PATINA…
That word doesn’t bother me at all.
The word that drives me absolutely nuts and it seems everyone and their Mother uses is SURREAL.
Man – I cannot stomach that word.
Bet you half the people who use it do not even know the meaning.
Patina is in the eyes of the beholder, and there are as many definitions, as the are BF readers I’m sure. Reality is easier to quantify, and the reality is, this paint will not buff out…might look shinier for a day after buffing…that’s about it. You will most likely hit primer before hitting shine…
I always loved the look of the 1968 and 1969 Chevelles. If only it was a 396, 4-speed with strato buckets.
I’m getting really hung up on how the author and many of you are so focused on the AC. My god, grow a pair and sacrifice a little chode sweat for a sweet ride.
“I’m getting really hung up on how the author and many of you are so focused on the AC. My god, grow a pair and sacrifice a little chode sweat for a sweet ride.”
I’m guessing Rspcharger does not live in the Southwest. :)
Nice car! Perfect candidate for winter upgrades but polish n Drive it now in the summer! Mikes’ is a beauty too!
I’d like to replace the tailpipes with turn down 3″ dumps just behind the wheel well sides. Winter- do some a/c (aftermarket) plus some console and nice buckets. -SS clone… if I came into some money might do big brakes, F. I. but it would always be driven in summers!
Aside from the excess of plastic under the hood and the slushbox, this car is ideal.