We all know what a twenty-footer is. It’s a car that looks great at twenty feet, but not so hot up close. I would give this ’69 Chevrolet Caprice the benefit of the doubt and shorten the viewing range to ten feet. Why you ask? Well, stay tuned and I’ll give you my side of the story. Anyway, this Caprice is located in Santa Ana, California and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $6,100, reserve not yet met. Thanks to Larry D for this find!
Chevrolet had another standout year in ’69 with about 1.16M full-size (B-Body) cars having been assembled. The top dog Caprice trim level comprised about 166K of that total, making appearances as two and four-door hardtops and a station wagon model known as the Kingswood Estate.
This Caprice, right upfront gets my vote because it’s green! And that fathom green paint is swimmingly in its depth. Original? Doubtful, the lacquer that Chevrolet used back in the day just breaks down with age, the darker colors in particular. And the door latch screws have been painted green so a repaint gets my vote. Nice to see is that the fender legs and quarters are not rotted through, a problem that befalls ’69 and ’70 B-Bodies exposed to the proper climatic conditions. While this car is domiciled in California, it was built in Janesville, WI so there’s no telling where it has spent the majority of its half-century life but the available title may give one a clue. The images of the underside show a car that is still solidly together. While hideaway headlights were not standard on the Caprice, they are an attractive styling feature and work well with the one-year-only tubular front bumper. As for the roof, this Chevy could have had a vinyl roof covering, a common Caprice option, or it may have always been a two-tone finish. Whatever the case, it originally had either as denoted by the C-pillar stainless trim.
So what’s wrong? Small stuff, the bumpers are seriously rusted, front and back, the rally wheels are showing rust too, the trim rings are too narrow for those 15×6 inch wheels, and actually, the tires look undersized as well. The body beltline trim, while a vinyl bump strip on the Impala, was a color-keyed piece of stainless trim on the Caprice and it should be painted body color, not left unfinished. There is one noted scuff in the paint on the driver’s side but I’m splitting hairs with that observation.
The biggest disappointment is under the hood in the form of what is known as RPO L66, a one-year-only, low compression, two-barrel carburetor equipped, 265 gross HP, 396 CI V8 engine. Most would think, “A 396? That’s a plus!” but this version isn’t. The 325 HP, high compression, four-barrel carburetor equipped version was dropped from the B-Body after ’68 and the valve cover stickers on this car are not original, or correct. It was the famous auto reviewer, Bud Lindemann’s 1969 test of an Impala, equipped with this engine, that caused him to ponder whether or not it could punch its way through a “wet Kleenex”. The unofficial mileage of this Caprice is listed as only 69K miles, though not documented, and the seller states that “CAR STARTS UP RUNS AND DRIVES WELL“. Here is a video of this Caprice in action (spoiler alert, it’s not as thrilling as Lindemann’s run).
The interior is listed as having rare factory bucket seats and center console, and that is mostly true, Caprices were usually bench seat equipped. Also, 1969 was the last year that the bucket/console combination was offered in a B-Body so it’s a nice inclusion. The interior presents itself well, the black vinyl upholstery has either held up over time or has been reupholstered. I believe that the “buttoned” pattern is correct and you can see where some of the driver’s seat buttons have lost their covers. Another pet-peeve in my ten-footer assessment is the package tray. Apparently, there were speakers installed at one time, now there are just two gaping holes. To quote Last Man Standing’s Chuck Larabee, “Not cool”. One notable observation is that even though this is a top-line Caprice, it’s not air-conditioned.
The seller has done an honest job of providing 100 images of this car and not trying to shield its warts. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice Chevy and with a bit of effort, it could be a standout. While the Lindeman comments about the lump under the hood aren’t encouraging, it is, after all a Chevrolet big-block engine and potential modifications abound. If a big Chevy is something that’s in your wheelhouse, this may be one to consider, right?
Definitely one to consider. Once you get it home yank the stock slug motor (but keep it for the purists), replace it with a nicely tuned LS2, Wilwood brakes, BMR suspension, SuperMatic trans. Not a lot of really big money but enough to make it a fun sleeper for 6 friends on Saturday night to go cruise and hit the local drive in!
Or just leave it as is if you’re in to big, slow cars to restore and drive on Sundays..
Good bones if the initial appearances hold true.
If I had the room, I’d buy this one and work on applying TLC and correcting all the little things noted in Jim’s description. Looks like a good enough start from which to move forward! GLWTA!! :-)
I love it. I bet this car drives like a dream.
I love the clean look with the hidden headlights feature on this. “There should have been a light to tell us we were moving” made me almost spit my coffee out.
A full-size two-door coupe, optioned to the sporty side (excluding the engine). Something completely different compared to today’s offerings. I like these sorts of cars from this era, they had such presence.
Looks cheap – imagine if it was same spec chevelle
Wow…..had the same car but my vinal top was green….and that base 396 had more beans than a 1974 – 454….loved my hideways !
I had a 4-door, my first “decent car.” That 396 was not the car to have during the 70s gas shortage. It cost a fortune to drive especially since I got 2 speeding tickets. It was way too easy to do 85 & not know it.
At least it ran on regular &
I’d rather get a speeding ticket in the ’70s & a nite in jail, than 1 today with all the surcharges & letters in the mail from lawyers. lol
Bud should have test drove a ’69 impala with the straight 6. lol
Would not the 327 & 350 ’69 impala be slower than this 396 as well?
http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-mystery-impala-engineoption-l66.html
Neighbor had a 4 door light green with the 427. He used to leave in a hurry every morning with squealing tires and piss off my mom. Loved it.
This model and body style are the only ones that I would want if I was in the market for a 69 full-sized Chevy. (I prefer the 67 and 70 more.)
This example is kind of a hodgepodge of sorts. It’s the top line model, but doesn’t have A/C. It has bucket seats and a console which should be sporty, but the black interior just looks a bit dour.
A lot of the 69 Impalas and Caprices that I have seen had 350 engines and I had never heard of this version of the 396 until recently…I guess back then folks ordered this engine to get a bit more power but without the need to fuel it with high octane gasoline ?
A decent car, but I would rather have a 69 Plymouth Fury or VIP.
Hi Howard; I am the owner of the car. Trim tag shows 57 57 and 857, so a solid fathom green exterior with dark green interior. Still has the green dash. It will be completely stripped and returned to original, but still kinda liking the contrast of the white painted roof.😎
So did the local tire store!
I donno….I kind of like this car, warts and all.
The low compression 2 BBL 396….not much you can do with that issue….I mean even with headers and a 4 BBL and it’d just be lipstick on a pig.
When I took an auto mechanics class in the early 70’s we’d have large displacement, low power motors like this (all makes) come in all the time, and they truly were dogs, making me personally totally off put for performance anyway, by anything along these lines, and as I said they were everywhere in MANY makes and models.
The two choices here to me are swap the motor for something that justifies it’s thirst for fuel, OR make it just like it was from the factory and “enjoy” what people had to put up with back when.
Oh, and I regarded the lack of AC (on this motor anyway) as a big plus, but I don’t care for AC anyway.
I bet a much lighter 1st gen camaro or nova would be quick with this motor, even with the 2 barrel – same with the small block 2bbl 400.
Rebuild that motor to get 375 hp and leave it looking stock with the 265 hp sticker.
I own this car; still has original 396 now showing 73k miles. Changed intake/carb to Edelbrock Performer and 1406 carb. ALS changed to 4 core radiator with electric fan.
I owned a ’69 loaded Delta Royale Coupe with a 455/2bbl, rated at 310hp. Good power – enjoyed driving it! Thinking this car should have plenty of power.
It’s up to $12,200 with almost 7 days left!
I remember this car quite well. I really liked the Caprice with hidden lights as this one has. But I absolutely never saw a 1969 Chevrolet Caprice 2-door hardtop without a vinyl top. Also, the side rub strip was always color coordinated with the vinyl top. I believe that this one is not correct.
Vinyl tops were optional, but most Caprices would’ve been ordered with one. The side molding matched the car’s PAINT, NOT the vinyl top.
I own this car; trim tag is 57 57; no vinyl top, but someone painted roof white on respray. Interior was originally dark green, but changed to black at some time. Dash is still green.
I am the person who submitted this Caprice to BF. I have to admit part of the reason for that is because I used to own a ’69. It had been the demonstrator for the owner of the local Chevrolet store. And believe me it had it all! Big block, yes but not the anemic 396. It had the 385 HP 427, all the power options including seats and trunk. And Comfortron AC. rosewood steering wheel, tilt, cruise, AM-FM, 8-track tape, light monitor system, fender skirts, Rally wheels, and those beautiful hideaway headlights.
It was Garnet Red with a white vinyl top and black brocade interior. Oh how I loved that car!
Hi Larry; I bought this car three years ago and basically use it as a weekend driver. Trim tag is 57 57, so originally a solid Fathom Green car with dark green buckets; interior was changed to black several years back. Car has rust in the typical area for a B body; cowl wearing around to underneath of rear of front fenders. Currently has 73k miles and just general refreshing; did upgrade the 2bbl setup to Edelbrock 2161 and 1406. My next endeavor is to 4 speed swap, having acquired a ‘69-70 clutch pedal assembly from Canada. When 396 goes, probably fuel injected 502 crate or LS in future.
Chris Starr
Broken Arrow, OK
Had one. A trunk big enough to comfortably raise a family in.
After seeing the Ebay ad, I’d be very careful considering this car. Back to the old saying: “If ya wanna sell it, ya gotta show it. Only one pic on Ebay…left side. that means no underside pics, no extensive interior pics. Also, in the BF write up there is a lot of rust on the top of the front gravel pan, between the grill and bumper. If there is rust there, there is rust elsewhere. Also, as stated here on BF, no real documentation on the actual mileage. Other than that, it looks like a great ten-footer. That dark green is beautiful. But, I have no room, money, etc. So…
My first car was a 1969 Chevy Caprice 2 door hardtop with a 396 2 barrel. It had the 396 markers on the front fenders by the headlights. That’s all that mattered, as far as I was concerned. It was champagne metallic with a black vinyl formal roof (standard), and fancy black, button tufted, brocade upholstered bench seats. I purchased it in 1975 from a Chevy dealer. The seats had plastic coverings on them since it was new. Unfortunately they hadn’t undercoated it. When I drove it home the radiator hose had a leak in it. I called the dealer, and they took it back, and replaced all the hoses. In 1976 I realized the floor pan had rusted through on the drivers side. There was no visible rust anywhere else on the car. No air either…just auto, PS, PB, and AM-FM radio. It was a cool car, but traded it in 1977 because of the rust issue.
Love the hideaways. This is when GM ruled the world. Today, useless ugly junk. Would love to have this.
It’s FOR SALE!
Ironically, the hideaways were also protecting sealed beams that didn’t even need protection. While today’s expensive hard to change junk plastic turned yellow/cloudy/fogged up headlite covers need hideaways for sure when the sun beats down.
Back in the day the big 3(not just GM) all had plenty of handsome/kewl cars with hideaways. I saw many ’69 big chevies with them. But the rarest of all BY FAR even back then was the ’68 caprice coupe with the hideaways option.
I only seen one – ever!
Incredibly, if you search youtube for
’68 caprice commercial
you will find 2 different commercials of the car with hideaways.
I always thought the ’69 looked too “nose heavy”, while the ’68 was perfect & more futuristic, with the hideways.
Good luck finding one. I bet Leno doesn’t even have one.
When I came back from overseas in 1974 I bought a 1967 Caprice from the local Chevy dealer. It was a two door hardtop with bucket seats and a console, 283 with 3 speed and overdrive. It was what I thought to be a very unusual Caprice. I drove it for many years before selling it to my Brother.
I like it,I would enjoy cruising it all summer long!
Very interesting reading on the hideaways – for ’68.
scroll down for pics …
http://www.bobgford.com/gillypics/68impalaredad/68impalared427ad.htm
You are right about these being prone to rust. My dad bought a new 69 Impala Custom Coupe and two years later, there were golf ball sized holes at the bottom of both front fenders.
I own this car; it had the typical B body cowl rust you described. Currently in the shop getting that addressed. Eventually will have car stripped down to bare metal and reworked, then reshot with Fathom green top and bottom, as the trim tag indicates with 57 57. Also a 857 interior in dark green, but car was switched to black years ago. Will be returning to original. Main change will be swapped to 4 speed….
Bought a 68 wagon back in 81 or 82 for $275. 427 engine!, old man I bought it from used it to tow a camper. Then bought a 68 Vette conv. for $2500 right out of the local paper. Took 2 nights to swap everything over, then $60 for a machine shop to marry the 2 driveshafts together to make it work. Those were the days.
I had one just like it. Only mine had a black vinyl top, light green body and dark green interior. One of the best cars I ever had. Styling to good to be true. A trunk that never stopped, a 400 Trans and a great 396 2 bbl carb. Mine was no slouch. I often ran it in o stock auto bringing home a trophy most every time. I beat Torinos, Fury’s and Galaxies with ease.. I got great gas mileage on regular gas. I sure wish I had that car back today. I think I pd $ 1.100.00 buck for it and the Chrysler dealership even painted both sides for me… Beam me back Scotty!
I bought a brand new 1969 Impala 327 3 on the tree, Le mans blue with black interior. Beautiful and after taking it to the speed shop it ran great and I loved it.
He has the car listed on C/L, Orange County, Calif. for $27,500.00. Good luck with that.
I bought this car last week for 17K; in transit to Oklahoma.
Outstanding, Chris! Journal it all & keep us all posted with the fun that a car like this brings on.
Good for you Chris, hope you enjoy this car!