Here’s an awesome project for the bowtie fans! This Hugger Orange Chevelle SS has a 396 V8 and a close-ratio 4-speed. Doesn’t get much better than that! Unfortunately, this one has also seen better days. It’s has been ridden hard and put away wet, so it’s rusted out and run down. Still, the vision of what this could become should be enough to motivate someone to rescue it. Let’s just hope iconic muscle car goes to someone with the resources to do it right. It’s located in Dunellen, New Jersey and is listed here on eBay with no reserve and bidding ending soon!
There’s the heart of this beast! The seller states that the 396 block is from ’68 and that the L78 HI-PO heads and intake are dated ’69. It’s obvious that this car has been messed with and possibly raced, but at least you have the important bits here. Plan on having to rebuild and refinish everything here. This is going to be a big project, so newbies need not apply. We aren’t trying to be mean. We would just hate to see this cool muscle machine sit in someone’s backyard and deteriorate even more.
That shifter is connected to a Muncie M21 transmission and was intended for high performance applications. This car may seem like a smorgasbord of parts, but the transmission and 12 bolt rearend are claimed to be numbers matching. It can be hard to determine what a Chevy originally left the factory with because they didn’t stamp drivetrain details on the trim tag. It contained the info needed for Fisher to paint and trim out the body, so it might take some detective work to determine if this car left the factory with a 396.
The sale includes a less-rusty body and a bunch of spare parts. They also have the factory correct rims, but I hope they keep the 5-spokes as drag racing shoes. It’s going to take a lot of time and money before this thing is going to be hitting the dragstrip though. This serious muscle car is a seriously big project. Hopefully, someone steps up and makes it happen. Do you think you have what it takes?
For me, a ’69 SS396 will always be the car that I wish I still had.
It was awesome, impossible to forget; even across 40+ years.
Hey Alan, I’ve got a 69 SS Nova that came with a 396-4speed . Fired it up the other . Can’t wait to get it on the road . That big block sounds bad!!!
looks like it was beat on relentlessly but not raced as evidenced by that lousy factory Muncie shifter still being installed, most of em ended up in the garbage after a Hurst shifter was installed. lot of work to swap everything over to the other body which looks pretty good BTW. still someone will restore it! IF it is a factory 375/396 car it should fetch good money but with out the original block… also the M-21 was close ratio but the only real HIPO Muncie will always be the M-22. make mine a 300 deluxe 375/396! or a malibu 400 which was not available till 70.
Sorry, I will take a Muncie over a Hurst any day. You can probably tell if this was a factory big block by the fuel line routing when it gets near the engine bay.
Much rather have the Hurst shifter. Muncie made decent 3 and 4 speeds, the shifters not so much…
Do the trans and shifter really matter? Any combo will idle this thing onto a hauler headed for Mecum. It’s a sad day when you know the hobbyist may never get to drive his pride and joy again and another is lost to possible auction queen status.
Lots of “character” with this car. Feel free to substitute other words in ” “.
If I was a Chevy guy I would buy the grandma’s green Malibu from the other day then buy this one and drop this drivetrain in to the Malibu and unload the 307 / auto to someone who wants it.
Red car has some true go fast options. But dang is it rusty.
Yellow car had serious interior fire.
Sorry don’t see one good one combining these two.
Back in ’69 I went looking for my first new car. In the showroom of the Chevy dealership was a bright orange SS 396 complete with 4spd. That had me drooling but there was still a hint of reason in that adolescent mind of mine which told me that I couldn’t afford the insurance. I opted for the 300 2-door with 6 cyl. and 3 spd. manual. I brought that beauty home and was parading down the main drag when I saw a similar set of headlights at the far end. As we approached I realized that I was facing the same car that was in the showroom earlier that day; a local kid was the proud driver. I felt a twinge of envy but I also reminded myself that what I drove home, I bought with my own money. Of course I’ve always had a soft spot for ’69 SS 396’s.
I would love to have that engine ! I have a lemans blue black bucket seat interior original L78 car cx 400 turbo trans and rear end original to the car engine long gone in the 70s
What year is your Lemans? I doubt it would have a big block Chevy in it from new. Back then Pontiac put their own engines in their cars. You would of had a 350 or 400 most likely.
The COLOR is Lemans blue
George means he had a Chevelle that was lemans blue. That was the name of the color sir
Maybe a parts car if there is enough of it left……Rust bucket…..!
There’s nothing left now. Car was pulled.
I just looked at it and te E-bay ad was still going with a bid of $ +/- $5000, which in my opinion was at least $4K more than it was worth on a good day, assuming a dreamer was the bidder.
For an eternal optomist
Like the 442, the Cobra Jet Torino era, this was the “standard issue” muscle car for 1969. This example only bolsters my thoughts on how these cars were passed from one person to the next, each having their fun, but looking more haggered every time, until, this is what’s left. ’69 Chevelle’s aren’t exactly rare ( Hemmings has 60 alone) and nice ones can be had for $25-$30g’s. I know it’s hard to say goodbye to one of the most iconic cars ever, but I hear taps playing on this one.
Rust? Here is what some enthusiastic hobbyist in my car club are doing.
New floor.
Panels installed.
Back on the frame. There are people willing to save them.
Now that’s real love to bring a 66 back with that much metal replacement!
Well done and keep it going.
JW454 big thumbs up. While its a lot of work, with the right tools and a bit of experience such surgery is not a problem at all. I used to know a lot of guys who thought nothing of such repairs, While I try to encourage others to do so, it sure seems theres a lot of people allergic to work out there.
Nice to see people still dedicated.
I’m always leery of a 69 SS. 69’S didn’t have a separate Vin number, so any of them can magically become SS’s. I can’t see any one coming out well on this car. I had a big block 69 el Camino for 20 years. They can be huge fun, parts are certainly available, but wow, I see 50k going this car. Like all Malibu’s they made a zillion of these. I’m waiting for a small block 66 Chevelle convert 4 speed
Not a good sign when the parts car has more photos. But you’ve got to love those old BFG white letter tires.
Back in the early 80’s I had a friend who had a 68 with a 396 4 spd , basically the same car as this 69 .The car was a rocket .I remember when he knocked on the guys door and bought it .He really didn’t have to do much to it to get it road worthy .He then proceded to beat the hail out of it for the summer ,He raced everyone and anyone and beat them .That car literally spewed oil out the tail pipes and onto whatever was unlucky enough to be in back of it when he mashed the petal to the floor .Over the winter he yanked the 396 and had it rebuilt by some guy who built race motors.After he put it back together it was still fast as ever he drove it for another summer then sold it.I haven’t seen him in a while but I know he wishes that it was him still mashin that pedal and power shiftin that 4 gear.
N.J. salt belt .No thanks.That’s why I moved to East T.N. I will pass. Bruce. F.
Looks good for a 48 year old NJ car. Fifteen years ago I would have taken on this project in a heartbeat! The 69 SS was my favorite of the Chevelles. They don’t bring the money of the 1970’s, but with the extra body, and if the bidding stay’s under $7k this could be a good project.
Not VIN specific on SS cars 69 and up!! Without a build sheet to prove it’s real!! Worth fixing if you do your own welding or have holly pockets! Looks to have correct Holley carb and Aluminum intake!
Drivers side valve cover is incorrect for power brakes!!
Having a 69 SS Convertible, L34 350HP backed by a Super Turbine 400, spinning 3:55 positraction, with the matching numbers on the build sheet!!
I’m sceptical about most SS potrayed car, especially L78`s! Seems everyone has one now???
I say rework it if you have the funds!
You can build it from most catalogs!
And there’s a way to tell if it came with that manual floor shift too!
Good luck to whoever gets it!!!