Chevrolet introduced the Caprice in mid-1965 to compete with Ford’s surprisingly popular LTD. Just as the LTD was a gussied-up Galaxie 500, the Caprice was an Impala under all the glitter. It, too, became a big seller and would be around for ages. This 1969 edition has hidden headlights and a 427 cubic inch V8 that was usually associated with the Corvette sports car. Located in Fredericksburg, Maryland, this luxury cruiser turned muscle car is available here on craigslist for $34,000 OBO. Barn Finder “Zappenduster” once again succeeds in bringing us a great tip!
Most Caprice buyers were sold on the car’s level of creature comforts at a price tag well below that of a Cadillac DeVille. As such, we’re betting that most 1969 Caprices were delivered with a sufficient V8, such as a 350. But, according to the seller, just 1.5% of the cars (526 copies) were fitted with the Corvette’s L36 motor, a 427 that produced 390 hp. Even with 4,000 lbs. riding over all four wheels, 427 cars like this had to be surprisingly potent (14 seconds in the quarter mile!).
This ’69 Caprice is said to be a well-documented machine, right down to the build sheet and 56 years of history. The seller even indicates that the Chevy spent some time hawking Caprice wares on NBC’s hit TV show “Bonanza.” The car has new paint (LeMans Blue?) and the vinyl top and cloth interior seem nice and tidy. Surely the odometer reading of 17,000 miles indicates that the counter is on its second time around.
Options on this badass Caprice include hidden headlights, power windows, and factory A/C, which may have been hard to come by with the 427. This car is one of 27 the seller is parting company with because it’s “time for a change”. So, trades will be considered, and the seller may be willing to facilitate delivery for the right buyer (another car guy?).
What an American icon of its time. $34,000 seems reasonable for what it’s said to be.
Many years ago saw one of these, black over orange, parked in Carson City in front of a CPA’s office. Awhile afterwards it had a “For Sale” sign with “427” prominently displayed.
I know-shoulda, woulda, coulda…
GLWTS.
Two big block air conditioned Caprices on the same day! Very nice.
Think this was the 1st time I seen a Caprice with hide away headlights and never knew that they were a option. Never been a fan of the big block cars unless you needed the power to pull a big boat or a camper. My dad had a 66 Caprice Classic with a 396 and he was in the boat business so was a necessity over the 327 of the day. Just so neat seeing these old cars of yesteryear where every years offering were so different then the prior years.
One of the one’s I bought when I hadmy SS427 Impala was a Caprice with a 396 2 barrel and the hideaways. There were thoughts of putting the hideways on the 427 convert but they both went their ways, Still that 2 barrel 396 would surprize you…..both of mine had A/C….here’s a pic of the convert…..looking for the hideaways….
Gorgeous, very rare, nicely optioned, if the mileage is correct it’s almost too good to be true, but damn, that’s a lot of money for it!
Large and in charge. My favorite Impala/Caprice years are ’69/’70 and this Caprice ticks all of the boxes. I am generally not a big block guy, like Keith above, except when a big block is in the right car. This one 100% qualifies.
Back in the day, my Chevy rep friend had a company car just like this one.
Bonanza??? Bewitched maybe
Bonanza was sponsored by Chevrolet for years. The commercials during the episodes were many times Chevrolet and some of those commercials featured members of the Cartwright clan.
Very nice documented and well optioned Chevy here.
The total production of 1969 L36-equipped full-size Chevy’s was 5,582, not 526. What may have been mis-read in bad research is that production of Chevy’s special hi-performance L72 was quoted in lieu of the L36 total, wherein THAT no. was 546. In ’69 (3) 427’s were produced i.e. The 335hp LS1, the 390hp L36, & the 425hp L72.
Clicked on the link and… Posting expired? and was listed in Austin Tx? Hmmm… doesn’t seem like it was legit.
I had a solid blue Impala like this as a kid. Had white interior with buckets and auto on the floor. It had the 390 horse 427 in it. It would run on top end but was a pig coming out of the hole, 2.73 12 bolt posi under the rear end. Had some options such as steering, brakes and air with AM/FM radio and rear window defogger. Front and rear sway bars. Nice ride, wish I still had it, got married when we had that one, long time ago.
looks like it sold already. not surprised looks to be a very nice caprice with hideaways and a b/b. good color too. 1 of my favorite year chevies
I never saw Hoss driving this Hoss in Bonanza…..see what i did there??
My mom had one of this year, although it was an automatic with a 350. It was big and it could cruise. It was white so we naturally called it The Galactica.
Like JC I clicked on the link and it says that the posting has been deleted by the author who apparently lives in Austin Texas. I am a native Marylander and I have never heard of Fredericksburg. We have a town called Fredrick. Virginia has a Fredricksburg. Did you include the correct link, Russ?
Fredricksburg Texas is not to far from Austin so it would it would be listed in the Austin area Craigslist.
I thought the big block ones of these had a special hood? Maybe only the “high performance” ones??
I may be wrong, but I believe those with the differing hood were marked SS427; not Caprice nor Impala…
Someone here knows for certain.
This car is not an SS 427 Impala, it is a 427 Caprice. The ’67 SS 427 Impala had a special hood, but I don’t know for sure if the ’68 did.
My 69 with the 390 hp 427 just had the normal hood. It was just an Impala. I think your right, only one I have seen with the special hood was the SS427.
Its been at least 20 years since I last went thru there but there was one of these sitting at a little town about 30 miles north of me. I am sure it is gone now but it might be time to take a little road trip to go see if it is still there. It was a darker red color and it looked a little sad.
“Even with 4,000 lbs. riding over all four wheels, 427 cars like this had to be surprisingly potent (14 seconds in the quarter mile!).”
Not that potent. Actual Car Life road test of a ’69 427/390 Caprice (auto) showed it ran 0-60 in 7.7 with a standing quarter of 15.5 seconds at 89.5 mph. Test weight was 4,830 pounds.
Just for comparison, my daughters 2019 Toyota Rav4 can lay down a 15.5 sec, 1/4 mile. Funny, in my youth, I used to think a 14 sec 1/4 was really fast.