Cool opening for a Corvette ad! Actually for a Camaro or a Chevelle too. A Caprice? Well, not so likely but it’s a great find from Matt R. We featured a similar-looking Caprice earlier this year but this is an entirely different car, and one made that much more so, by its four-speed manual transmission. Let’s dig in and see what this one is all about. Found in Canoga Park, California, this big 1969 Chevrolet Caprice is listed here on craigslist for $29,500.

It is said that one of the first orders of business that John DeLorean undertook when arriving as the General Manager of Chevrolet in February of 1969 was to compress the total number of permutations available in constructing a Chevy. He thought the process had become needlessly complicated so he mandated eliminations and excess combinations. One of those was the discontinuance of a four-speed manual transmission in a B-body (Caprice, Impala, BelAir, Biscayne) for the ’70 model year. For that matter, he scotched the bucket seat/center console option too. Heck keep going, the Biscayne two-door sedan got the bums rush and other puntables were the “liquid chain” traction sprayer and the fiber optic “light monitoring system”. How much of this slimming was directly related to DeLorean’s edicts vs. changes in marketing desirability will probably never be known, but it stands to reason that he had a hand in it.

Now a 427 engine is not just a 427 cubic engine as Chevrolet made multiple versions during the motor’s short life span (’66-’69). This example looks like RPO LS1 which was a one-year-only 335 gross HP version. It could also be an L36 which was a 390 gross HP edition but the smallish air cleaner makes me think it’s the former. They are really externally identical but the LS1 is a lot more common. There was a 425 HP “L72” variant as well but they’re rare, having only appeared in about 546 copies and they’re immediately recognizable by their “Winters” aluminum intake manifold and open-element air cleaner. It’s not stated how this Caprice coupe motivates just the statement, “that gets thumbs up everywhere“. The four-speed manual transmission is a surprise in a Caprice. By ’69 they just weren’t that common on the big car and when they did turn up it was usually in the Impala, especially in the SS427 model. But those were scarce with only 2,455 assembled that year and even some of those had automatic transmissions.

One of the more spectacular aspects of this Chevy is its seemingly rust-free condition and the seller claims “absolutely no rust!” It’s amazing because this model year and its very similar ’70 follow-on are notorious for front fender rust-through. I had a ’69 Impala and by the time it was eight years old it could all but whistle Dixie at highway speed on account of all of the body perforations. This Caprice’s Frost Green hue was a popular selection in ’69 and it still shows amazing well with no sign of fade that is a common trait in old lacquer finishes. Being a Caprice meant only one two-door body style and that’s the squared-off formal roof line look. This more buttoned-down look was available as an Impala Custom and the other two-door versions were the slanted roofline “Sports Coupe” and the convertible but they were Impala only styles. One big difference between the Caprice and the Impala is the hideaway headlight option such as those adorning the front of this Caprice. They weren’t available on the Impala but I have read of ’69 Oshawa, Ontario built Impalas so equipped – a Canadian exception perhaps? Finally, the rally wheels were a ’69 option but not in this size; 15″x6″ with a zero offset would be correct – it’s a minor matter but noticeable nonetheless.

My first surprise inside was to see the original Muncie four-speed shifter still in place. Notorious for “balking”, these frequently got deep-sixed early on but it’s nice to find it still rowing the gears. Beyond that, the Caprice and Impala aren’t that much different – in this case, it’s the pattern of the vinyl upholstery, green of course, to match the exterior. The aftermarket tachometer is an appropriate addition owing to the manual shift. There was an optional factory tachometer, installed in place of the clock, but they seem to be rare this year and not encountered too often.  As with the exterior, there is no claim to originality but regardless, like the exterior, it needs no attention.

So, what’s not to like? You could buy a ’69 SS396 Chevelle, but it would cost you twice the ask on this Caprice and this is a much rarer car. I know which one I’d pick if I were in the market for just such a ride, how about you?