The Chevy Caprice was conceived in 1965 as a competitor to the new Ford LTD. In essence, it was a luxury version of the Impala as the LTD was of the Galaxie. So, if you didn’t have the budget for a Caddy but wanted some pizzazz in your ride, the Caprice was a good choice. It makes the seller’s car an interesting full-size find in that it’s a luxury automobile with factory-installed performance options – a 427 V8 plus a 4-speed manual transmission. Located in Bonne Terre, Missouri, this decked-out muscle car of sorts is available here on eBay where the bidding is holding at $10,600. There’s a reserve still waiting to be met. Thanks, Larry D, for another of your great tips!
If you wanted a Caprice in 1969, you got it either as a formal coupe (like the seller’s car) or the 4-door sport sedan (aka hardtop). There was a station wagon version, too, but it was called the Kingswood and had wood paneling on the sides. Out of nearly 1.2 million full-size Chevrolets built that year, 166,900 were the Caprice. Unfortunately, there is no breakdown by body style or drivetrain selections. A common powerplant choice was the 327 V8, which was in its last year of production. Any big Chevy could be ordered with just about any engine/tranny combination – and this Caprice was treated to some street racer machinery. You’d think that would have been more likely in an Impala or Bel Air.
The seller mentions that GM executives often liked to drive cars like these, so perhaps John DeLorean or Bill Mitchell sat behind the wheel of this car at one time. But who knows. This Chevy left the factory with the L36 version of the 427 that produced 390 hp. That was the biggest and baddest you could order, although we understand some 500 Chevrolets were had with a version of the 427 that was good for almost one horse for every cube.
As the story goes, this ’69 Caprice had been sitting in the seller’s uncle’s barn since 2005. He worked out a trade for the big car but no longer has the space to keep it. We’re told it runs and drives well and the odometer reading is 16,000 miles (probably 116,000). It received a new burgundy/red paint job about three years ago, but the accumulated dust and dirt since then don’t help show how well it was done or how it’s held up. There is no mention of rust before, then, and now.
We don’t see much of the interior in the photos, but what we do see suggests new upholstery and carpeting is needed. Everything seems to work, except for the right rear window. Unlike most Caprices of the day, this car did not come with factory A/C. The Caprice was not a car that would attract speed demons, so my gut tells me that the number of them built in 1969 with this drivetrain combination may have been low, making this Chevy a fairly rare car today.
I’m thinking John DeLorean would’ve never be seen in a Chevy in 1970, he was a Pontiac man.
John DeLorean was promoted to Chevrolet general manager in early 1969. Then again, he was something of a disruptor, so perhaps he kept driving Pontiacs.
$15,000 and you can’t even put in a bad PVC and rotten hose ? Think I’ll pass….
Is that all that’s keeping you from being a check writer? No, I didn’t think so.
I don’t even remember any PVC components in these cars. PCV valve, maybe?
I owned this car circa 2004. It is a beast! The clutch pedal pressure was high. I sold it because of that (wife hadn’t driven a manual yet) and I had my eye on an Impala convertible. Ha! I sold an Impala convertible to buy this one….
This car is a true 390 horsepower 427 (rebuilt), M20, and 4.10 12 bolt Posi. Power disc brakes, power steering, power windows. Hideaways headlights also. They’re in the up position the pictures.
Remember the Beach Boys lyric “when I get rubber in all 4 gears!”? This car did that. My wife was behind in the chase car when I did a ‘brisk’ acceleration. She said she could see the tires spin when I shifted!
When I started this in the machine shed where it was stored (lived in a condo), those shorty mufflers dumped in front of the rear axle – the whole building would vibrate because of the exhaust resonance – a low and loud rumble!
Alas, the garage is full right now.
I really miss this car…
Yes I had a 67 Nova with a clutch like that. The first thing everyone that drove it would say is dang I can hardly push the clutch! 😂
Did you have the engine open to the elements when you had it? Seems a bit daft to leave the valve covers open. What happened to all the chrome? Shame, that’s what gives the Caprice the ultimate bling. But yes, definitely a cool car (hideaways are righteous). Should weigh about 4100lb, which means it ought to go pretty good with 4.10 cogs.
Hello – when I had this Caprice, it had the correct 1969 Caprice – only bodyside molding. It was also in very good condition. The trim around the bottom of the C pillars is also missing. They were there – probably filled in when the new quarters were installed.
Always stored inside with the hood down. Like I said, not driven, or owned by me very long. A gentleman with a 1969 SS427 convertible wanted to buy it. I think he sold it to the current owner’s uncle in 2005.
Here is picture of the Caprice, just before
I got it..notice the left hand Rocker arm cover… and the old master cylinder.
More pictures when I find them.
If your look for something special with a ton of fun, this is the one. I’m surprised it’s so cheap with all the options. This big block is a keeper and should have a full resto.
I m a Blue Oval guy, but that doesn’t matter because I really like this car. Age has a funny way of changing what cars you can actually drive and enjoy. I’ve owned just about everything, but at 6’3″, 350lbs+, having a vehicle with power and room is a necessity. I have had both knee’s replaced, but I would pop a 800mg ibuprofen., and not mind the pain while ripping through the gears and hearing that exhaust resonate. Man, its a bitch getting old.
Cool car. A guy in my HS auto shop class had a 1966 Caprice 2dr HT 327, buckets and floor shifter automatic. I like the earlier body style a little better. If this was a ’66 Caprice I’d be very tempted.
Why can’t people, at the very least, turn on a hose and wash a car before they put it on EBay? Maybe vacuum it out too? Gets me every time 😔
Other than that, cool car!
Like to have the 427/390 , I just came across a ad for a same L-36 427 at another car site and it was for sale for $6500.00 Engine only with low miles .
$13,300 now, and not a reserve in sight, so if looks like it will be sold.
This would be tons of fun for a full-sized car.
Note: I know Big_Fun liked the car, but really folks… Terminating an exhaust system under the car just plain is not safe. Carbon Monoxide is a killer, and can creep into a passenger compartment and damage brain cells. Yes, even while the car is rolling down the road. Get the ends of the pipes out from under the body!
Point taken! I didn’t have this car very long. I did a few maintenance items, and then it was sold. I would’ve added the tailpipes, cleaned the interior, etc. if I kept it. The car arrived on a snowy day., and it was gone by summers end (I think I remember it that way). I didn’t drive it much at all. Less than 100 miles in my ownership. Mostly in storage. The interior hasn’t been touched! I did change out that disc brake master cylinder. It was leaking so bad when I got it, the steering coupler (rag joint) was coming apart! No reproductions at the time, so I remember turning a wrench on a low mile, rear ended ’70 Impala 400. I was stoked to find one!
I believe those are new quarter panels on this car. It is also a brighter/lighter shade than before.
Maybe I can find pictures when it was in my possession.
John DeLorean ran Chevy after he left Pontiac. Next stop would have been GM president if he stayed.