Chevrolet introduced the Caprice as a mid-1965 model year entry as a luxury trim package for its Impala. The car was available with a plethora of options, and if you are looking for a loaded and exceptionally well-preserved example this 1969 Chevrolet Caprice just might be a good car for you. Located in Arlington, Texas it can be found here on Craigslist with a price tag of $27,500. Thanks go out to Pat L. for the tip on this one.
The obvious option that this Caprice left the factory with is the 427 cubic inch 7.0 L Turbo Jet engine, the largest powerplant that was available in this car for 1969. It is paired with a Turbo 400 automatic and a 12 bolt rear end, and the seller says that these are numbers-matching pieces. The car has only traveled 78,000 miles during the course of its life, and the seller tells us it runs and drives very nicely. I can imagine that this combo launches the 119-inches of wheelbase very proficiently! The car has had one re-paint in the same color and is said to be in very original condition. Judging from the photos, it really does look to be an excellent survivor and obviously well cared for and maintained.
Looking inside we find an interior that appears to be in pristine condition, with just a bit of staining on the back seat and minor wear on the steering wheel. Still, it looks pretty amazing to be over 50 years old. The dash, instrument panel, door panels, and carpet are in really clean and great shape. The car is full of luxury options, including a tilt steering column, power windows, a clock, and an aftermarket Panasonic radio with what looks like a CD player. Who says you can’t cruise in luxury when you’re tearing down the road in a 427! Outside the car has a vinyl top, body-side moldings, rally wheels, and the optional hideaway headlights.
We are not shown any photos from the underside of the vehicle, so I would definitely ask the seller to provide a few pictures from underneath. But I suspect with the care that this car has been given that there is nothing to worry about in this department. This car has all the right stuff to make it one very desirable Caprice, and given the originality, mileage, and 427, I think $27,500 is a reasonable price for this luxurious car from the days of yore. What do you think?
I agree a good deal based on its originality and options. Even has cruise control! I lived in Texas as a kid and I can picture this cruising down the highway cruise on, A/C blasting in the triple degree summer. GM was one of the few that knew how to do A/C properly.
Most likely worth the money but it’s been for sale for awhile now around those that don’t see themselves in a big cruiser.
I’d pick this over the money on that red 1968 SS427.
Yep. Optioned out beautifully and apparently in fantastic condition overall. This one definitely falls into the “find one nicer” category.
I don’t believe the steering column and steering wheel are original to the car. I think they would have been color-keyed to the interior on a Caprice, and I’m certain the steering wheel should have a wide woodgrain applique on the spokes. Otherwise, this is a great find with great options.
You’re correct. Should be same color as metal dash. Steering wheel was usually lighter shade, and even turn signal and optional tilt wheel lever ends were color coded.
Rocker moldings are also missing. They are the wide 4″ versions on the Caprice. Impala had the narrow “spears” standard.
Not even a temp gage with a 427?
A replaced steering COLUMN would imply very high miles on the car.
http://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.nZ4MEQrES1ZQS4jORazVPAHaFn?pid=ImgDet&rs=1
I really don’t know why i saw MANY of these ’69s with hidden headlites, but only 1 ’68 with them!
I had a 70 Impala with a tilt column and the knuckle/ ball in it broke. It was a lot easier and cheaper to get a different column than it was to fix the one that broke. I got lucky and found the color that matched. Another reason could have been the keys were lost. Back then it took one to open it and one to start it. Lot’s of different reason it could’ve been changed. JMHO
Shows cruise under the hood, but there’s no button on the turn signal switch to control it. Gives credence to the replaced column theory.
When GM and America ruled the world. Not anymore. GM means General Mess today. A few years ago, the wife and I were out for dinner in New Hope, PA, near the Delaware River. We took our 73 Corvette. Parked across the street was a triple black 68 SS 427 Impala conv with hideaways. What a car. I left a note on the windshield, I would trade the 73 and cash for he car. Never heard back. The owner knew what he had. This is a beauty and very fairly priced. When useless, butt ugly 70s Ford Rust Bucket Broncos sell for $75,000 at auction, this is one slamming deal. Wish I had room for it. Certainly more interesting than every 69 Camaro that shows up on cruise night. And far more comfortable to drive.
Most agree that ONLY the ’68 CAPRICE was avail with hidden headlites. The SS impala you speak of probably either had the front end installed by a dealer or it was salvaged from a wrecked ’68 caprice.
Believe it or not, at a car gathering today, you are more likely to see a ’68 caprice with hidden headlites than a ’69 partially hidden headlite RS camaro with either the 230 or 250 6 cylinder!
Hidden headlights were available in 68 and 69 and they are different in design, with the 68 having a wide piece of chrome trim along the top edge which the 69 does not have, the egg crate patterns are different as well.
78k! Assuming the mileage is accurate, that it hasn’t turned over and is really 178k miles, that’s low mileage for a car over 50 yrs. old. I only hope it’s been driven all that time and has been carefully maintained.
The wrap around bumper and the hideaway headlights make the 1969 Caprice the best looking big Chevy of the 1960s IMHO. The 427 is the cherry on top.
You probably have not seen an inSANEly rare ’68 caprice with hidden headlites. Last time i saw 1 was 53 yrs ago! & that was the ONLY 1 i EVER saw!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtPp70YJNAw
I prefer the ’68’s “jet age” tailites & delicate looking front nose.
The ’69s always looked a bit too nose heavy to me. IMO.
If only the roofline on the passenger windows weren’t vertical … plus it’d be cool if it didn’t weigh 9836 pounds
Mike I think you missed the boat with the first picture you used here. I would have gone with the one that shows the covered headlights.
This car is stunning with that full length grille.
I had one of these. Paid $250 for it many yrs ago the former owner couldn’t get it to run right due to a bad cam lobe. This car is huge, that explains why it was so doggy. It rode like a piece of junk.
Huge? You should drive the bigger & heavier next gen full size GM cars, especially the ’74-76s with the 5 mph bumpers & biggest of all, a station wagon variant. 454 in 1 of those won’t pass a gas station. lol
Great car! I was “that close” to buying one last fall that wasn’t this nice but equipped the same. Needed too many odds and ends.
Nice rubber fuel line ……
Goes well with the wrong air cleaner.
Again, that odometer has been messed with. Why, I couldn’t guess. 78K is a lot of miles, but maybe it was cranked back from 90 K. Don’t know what possible difference that would make though.