Last tagged in 1981, this 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 may have gained this American flag-themed stripe treatment to celebrate the Bicentennial in 1976. Currently this classic awaits a new owner here on Los Angeles, California craigslist with an asking price of $8000. Thanks to reader Pat L. for spotting this patriotic pavement shredder.
The striped American flag looks slightly awkward on the right side. Is that complete rust-through of the C-pillar? Either way, rust clearly disrespected the flag in the case of this once-mighty muscle car.
Yes; that is a red, white, and blue painted Hurst T-handle! The under-dash eight-track player alone is worth the price of admission. Imagine the stories this interior could tell of street-races, good times, and heavy breathing from simpler times gone by.
The rusty pie-plate air-cleaner cover appears to cover a giant hole in the top of the motor that a four-barrel carburetor once filled. The open intake has probably smoothed the passage of more rodents than combustible elements in recent decades. Rocker covers the size of railroad ties indicate the Mark IV “Big Block,” perhaps the original engine, though the 23-word listing offers little to establish provenance. This Chevelle appears to be an original AC car with power brakes. We can probably agree that the $8000 asking price is a fishing expedition. What number would pull on your patriotic heart-strings?
Seems like a decent deal for a matching numbers car.
Seriously!
I have seen much worse, with a much higher ask! If this is a true “matching numbers” car, then it is well worth the price, and the investments in labor and materials to bring it back. Love the ’69 SS cars. If only…..
Amazing. Like a time machine of simple times. Too bad the body is so rough, would be cool to revive it in its period motif.
Man if I wanted this car I would have it made, my wife buys anything with the American flag on it. We have so much of that stuff if she died tomorrow I could open my own patriotic shop fully stocked, she would be all behind me buying this car but I’m not up to the work at my age. I’ll leave this one to the younger GM guys.
The younger guys all follow the same formula:
Lsx engine
20” wheels painted black
Lower it
Wrap it in either flat black or neon chrome.
Low compression oval port 396 only engine, as car has A/C. Torque but little HP, out run by almost any other muscle car of the day, well except any 390 equiped Ford… Crack pipe price considering the restoration cost just to safely drive.
Spoken from experience?
I owned one of those, the ’69 396/325 with buckets and the console shift TH400.
It was VERY Good at taking down supposedly faster/more powerful contemporaries. The main advantage was a hole-shot which was unmatched on the street. That car simply launched significantly better than any it was ever lined up against.
For various reasons, I installed a bit of a hotter cam, bored to 0.30 with forged pistons, and for a while had an Edelbrock Torquer manifold with a 750 Holley providing the mix. But even with the stock intake and Quadrajet, it was no slouch. The night I first saw the car and met the owner, I rode along as it wasted a hopped up ’65/4-speed, and at the time it only had glass-packs/was otherwise stock.
I had one but small block,4 speed,3:89 gears with only power brakes. I agree with you , unmatched off the line and about 50/50 to get the win. I don’t see the S/S hood on this one, optional??
I am with you on that Chevelle. Had one with a 4-speed and it took down a lot of so called performers.
MB. Crack pipe price? I started driving in 1970 and I don’t remember anybody saying low horsepower 396 with 4 speed Chevelle was a dog and got outrun by just about any muscle car of the day. I wanted one along with a few other people. Were you around then and did you ever drive one of these or are you just talking B.S.?
325 HP 396 Base engine ( car not an SS with L34 or L38 ) not the best muscle car around. Would they take down a 289 Mustang? sure. Zero chance against a 383 Road Runner or a same year GTO, The L78 or even the L34 was a different story. Also zero chance against my 70 Z28, the L78 would make it a driver’s skill race. The car shown could be nice, but not worth the investment.
Did you drive these cars when they were new? You could not have driven any of them and make this comment. I owned around a dozen 69 Chevelles; 325, 350, and 375. There is no noticeable difference in the performance of a 325 and a 350 horse car. They both run very respectfully and they would NOT be outrun by almost any other musclecar of the day. It’s all in the gear. They would win just as many street races as they would lose. I am talking stock, original. I have owned and or driven them all (and street raced them all). I still own my 70 LS5 that i bought in 1975 and my son owns the 69 COPO that I owned in the 80’s. I have also owned a few 69 375 cars. I am not trying to argue with you; I am just speaking from experience. And yes I know your stock 70 Z is fast. Have a good day.
I never get tired of these 2nd gen A-body finds!
8k for the car doesnt sound bad until you start replacing parts and doing the rust repair. All adds up even if doing your own work. Would be even better at 3k. Would probably have more in restoration than what you could get for it.
Ricky Bobby: If you ain’t first, you’re last.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0415306/quotes
Great project, but it looks it has serious rust issues under that vinyl top. ’69 was a great time for some, but there was nothing simple about it for most of us. It seems like fast rides like these were the only good thing about those days and a new black on black ’69 sure was a fun diversion.
Like David said, if that roof is that rotten I shudder to think what awaits you in the lower part nasty. By the same token with the correct eng and tranny its probably worth it. Good luck to the new owner, would be great to see it come back!!
Cheers
GPC
Catalog car. You can buy just about every part need for restore. If you pockets are deep enough. I like the car, but problem is so does everybody else. To many and to popular for me.
Big block, four speed muscle! Definately worth the price. I prefer the 66 myself but like these too. Those who scoff at base big block are obviously unaware of the aftermarket thats been around forever. If it needed any sheetmetal its all easily available. Question is, what would you do with it? Restore? Color of your choice? or create an updated better looking play on original theme? Depends on taste and location I suppose. Can be neat to bring back local legends if car is from area and hear the stories roll out. On the other hand, sometimes the local cars are forever tagged as so and so’s car and people may not respect the work you’ve done. Think about some of your local hero type or nemesis cars growing up. You go to car shows or even hang around with friends and hear, I wonder what ever happened to that car….
Another parts car.
Price is silly
Really not a bad paint job for back in the day….
Motorcycles and cars do better in certain markets, For LA, this is a very fair price. In Montana or Idaho not so much. Factor in back east in certain markets these kinda donors simply dont exist or rarely found because of the salt, So even a lot of rust doesnt scare rebuilders like it does elsewhere.
These all rusted in the same spots, Not that big of a deal and patch panels are readily available.
While I prefer a SB, Prices for BB cars trend sharpley upwards. Personally Id preserve/pickle the Orig, Motor and put in a optimized 454 with 396 decals and have fun with it.
Wife has a 69 project Malibu, Small block 350 early 70s high nickel block and all the good parts, Muncie 4 sp she liberated from my stash and selected upgrades. (Brakes-suspension)
Nothing extraordinary but an optimized version of what we both grew up with. Birthdays and Holidays are easy, Chevelle parts for her project! (We are still arguing about the paint, As the artist painting it, I feel its my choice, She says otherwise)
She has a dark Purple picked out with Black rally stripes, I say Cream white Rally stripes with a touch of pearl in the clear.
Low compression?? Not if it’s stock…your thinking post 1970…and unless your gonna pull the 440/426 mopar card then can’t think of much that would beat it…most likely a rec port head 9.5-10.5 comp ratio
10.25 to be exact. Not a bad compression ratio.
Triumph, I like the years 50’s even 54 most attract me 54 Chev truck. Could you have any relation around those vehicles?
Back in ’69 thru ’72 I had a 67 SS 396 Chevelle with the 325 hp motor and close ratio 4 speed in a gold/black vinyl top bench seat car. It was more than fast enough for me, but it couldn’t overpower being boosted in downtown St. Louis where I was stationed in the Army. It was found the next day minus engine, trans, wheels and trunk contents in East St. Louis. I bought back the car from insurance company totaling it and had a freshly rebuilt 327 / 4 speed combo put back in it. The 327 was never the power plant the 396 was. Had the car another couple of years before going into adulthood and getting a Impala sport coupe in the same gold/ black vinyl top combo.