Stored for roughly 20 year or so, this SS 396 Chevelle is a solid looking project that is thought to have its numbers matching engine. In need of a total restoration, this Chevelle project is a worthwhile start being an SS 396 Stick shift car. With bidding still in a reasonable range, this SS is currently sitting at $7,595.00. Check it out here on eBay out of Nampa, Idaho.
Having sat for a quite a long time, the radiator hose nearly looks petrified, but the engine as a whole appears reasonably clean. While this is advertised as a numbers matching factory SS 396 4 speed car, the 4 speed is long gone as someone decided to install an automatic. Despite this fact if the engine is correct there is still value in this old gal.
Sun beaten and dry rotted the interior is rough and will need a total make over for a restoration. The tachometer gauge clusters was stolen out of the car during its time spent sitting. I am curious about the condition of the floors as the carpet is very well disintegrated on the driver side. That may simply be coincidence, or it could mean that there floor is a soft spot in the floor.
Weather worn and beaten like only the sun can accomplish, the exterior is well aged but appears straight and rot free. There is some minor surface rust on the roof, otherwise this Chevelle looks great. The rockers and quarters look fabulous, and the body looks quite straight. I am curious about the hood and the passenger door as they appear to be replacement parts. The hood looks like a brand new reproduction hood, and the passenger door looks like it was borrowed from another car. Definitely a great start to a restoration, what do you think this Chevelle SS will sell for?
I have small classic cars collection. Regarding the GM A bodies from 68 to 72 I recently bought 72 Buick Skylark sport coupe emerald green exterior color with black vinyl interior. ALL original 55K miles with all documentation and manuals. I paid $16,000 for it. And No it’s not for sale! Here is link to original AD by seller https://www.connorsmotorcar.com/vehicles/445/1972-buick-skylark
Hi Alan from Lebanon!
Without the VIN off of the block there is no way to tell if this is an SS. The trim tag won’t tell you. If the seller wanted to make the most money he could, he should have taken the 30 seconds to clean off the pad behind the alternator and taken a picture of the engine stamping. He said it’s “matching numbers” so one would assume he’s looked. Unfortunately we’ve reached the point where potential buyers can’t give a random seller the benefit of the doubt on matters like this.
Steve R
You lost me at converted to automatic… Ewww
Agreed!!
The body actually looks to be in pretty good shape. I definitely frown on someone converting it to an automatic; the 4sp. manual would be highly desired. I tend to be a little skeptical about a ‘Numbers Matching’ claim. I heard a couple of announcers talking at the Barrett Jackson auction a few years ago. A ‘Numbers Matching’ SS went over the block and the chassis camera showed a TH 350 transmission where there should’ve been a 400. The one announcer said that there were considerably more (he had the actual numbers) ‘Numbers Matching’ ’69 SS 396s currently registered than were originally built. However I would love to have a ’69 Chevelle and even though I’d prefer something akin to the 300 six-cylinder that I owned back in the day, I’d be willing to take on any original project….
Is that the new definition of “numbers matching”? The numbers that are there match?
Actually better looking, at least on the outside, than the ’68 Chevelle I used to rattle around in back in the mid-eighties, pissing off the old folks and scaring people half to death with the very loud forty over 396 cursing away. Blah-biddy-Blah hairy sounding idle would turn into a raucous wall of noise pollution under full throttle, man those were the days. Radio? What radio!
As far as the automatic goes, this happened to more than a few stick cars, especially for bracket racing where consistency played an important key in the whole winning-losing thing.
Cool find.
I prefer a manual, but these came with that sexy cool D handle console that would make me reconsider. Nothing sexy with this interior.
To answer your question she is sitting about 1500 off what she is worth as she is now. Everything said and done to make her 100% love ( barring any unforeseen costs) best case scenario 15/20 grand plus the 8500 to get her. And you got a 50/60 grand car when done ( with the 4 speed of course!!)
Not a surprise the 4 speed was replaced by an automatic. Those muncie transmissions would come apart if you even looked at them funny. Back in the day I knew of several GM cars that had the 4 speeds pitched and automatics put in there place because of constant breakage and those 396 engines were not much better. They were fast right out of the factory but wouldn’t take much abuse before they would come apart. God I seen a pile of them with exploded rods through the side of there blocks. Very few SS396 cars still have there born with engines.
if the motor is original alot of value lies in which one it is/was with a squrare port 375 horse motor probalbly being worth an additional 50%. so which is it?
No sale at high bid of $9,099.
Converted to automatic? Dash was stolen? Too many coincidences. I really question a lot on this car.
Even looks like aftermarket hood. Looks like a mock-up car to me.
Not only does it look like an aftermarket hood, it fits like one too.
I have had the good fortune to have bought and sold five 1969 Chevelle’s, I was spoiled by my first one, I bought it on a whim, it had a house paint white job, ” brushed on”, green and white shag carpet, it was a big block four speed, new shiny cragars that needed adapter’s to match the bolt pattern, I paid $1200 cash, only had one header muffler, I just wanted that car, I was immediately in love with it, well after breaking it down, checking the VIN, and the casting #, oh I forgot, it was badged a SS396, it had the SS hood also, I was of no illusion it was a real SS, it screamed a fake, ok,my baby turned out to be a fully loaded L-78 396/375hp, Muncie M-22 rock crusher, 4.10 dana, optional power disc brakes front, interior completely be correct, power steering, rebuilt her, hung hooker shorty black header muffler’s red heart, w/o support so she would at every thump of the 11.5 compressor ratio, 3/4 race crane roller Cam, 750 Holley double pumper at idle the car rocked back and forth, I can’t go on, heart is breaking