We’ve seen quite a few Chevelle SS 396 project cars over the years here at Barn Finds, and the vast majority of them are in need of some significant rust repairs. Well, this one is a bit of a breath of fresh air, because it appears to have little more than some surface corrosion for the next owner to tackle. As an added bonus, the engine bay is still home to the original 396, making this a pretty tempting proposition. I really wouldn’t be that surprised if someone snapped this one up pretty quickly. If you think that you could be that person, then you will find the 1969 Chevelle located in Smock, Pennsylvania, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set the sale price for the promising project at $16,000 OBO. A big thank you has to go out to Barn Finder Adam F for bringing this beauty to our attention. By the way, you’ve got a pretty great name there, sir.

When it rolled off the production line, this Chevelle would have been a nice looking car. It wore Glacier Blue paint with a Dark Blue vinyl top. It would appear that someone has commenced a restoration on the vehicle at some point, but given the fact that the car has been sitting since 1986, I suspect that the restoration stalled a long time ago. When you look at the panels, they look pretty straight, but more importantly, they also appear to be rust-free. Further evidence of the Chevelle’s solid credentials can be found in this photo. The floors look really clean, and photos of the vehicle’s underside reveal little more than a coating of surface corrosion. The owner also provides a couple of good photos of the trunk, and once again, the news is all good. It looks like the next owner is not going to be breaking out the grinder and welder with this one because I can’t see anything in the way of steel that will require replacement.

There’s nothing quite like popping the hood on a car like this to find the original motor is still in residence. This 396ci beast would have produced 325hp at its peak, but it isn’t producing anything at present. There are a few parts that aren’t visible in the photos, including the carburetor and air cleaner, and the owner doesn’t indicate whether these are actually present. It also isn’t clear whether the engine currently turns freely. The transmission is a 4-speed, but it isn’t original. What we get is a CTO-Code Muncie M20 that was fitted as a warranty replacement in 1970. Applying the power to the bitumen falls to a 12-bolt, 3.55 Posi rear end, but it isn’t clear whether this is original to the car. Adding to the driving pleasure is power steering and power brakes. There is a set of aftermarket headers bolted to the engine, so if the next owner is going to attempt to return the Chevelle to its original guise, they will need to try to source the correct exhaust manifolds.

The “Blue” theme continues inside the Chevelle, with the interior trim being finished in Dark Blue. Bucket seats and a console make for a great driving environment, while the car also features the correct Special Instrumentation option (#646904) for an SS equipped with the 325hp version of the 396. Apart from the carpet, the interior does look to be largely complete. The only aftermarket addition that I can see is what I believe to be a radio/8-track player. Otherwise, it all looks to be completely stock and is just waiting for someone to weave their magic on it.

If you are either a regular reader or a true enthusiast, I don’t need to tell you just how popular the Chevelle SS 396 is, or just how coveted nice examples are. Today, it is a virtual impossibility to find a reasonable example for less than $30,000, while values can easily push well beyond $50,000 for really nice, original cars. A pristine example? Try $70,000 or more. Given how solid and complete this car is, there is no reason why, if properly restored, those sorts of lofty figures shouldn’t be a possibility. It will take a real eye for detail, but it is definitely possible. From my perspective, this Chevelle seems to be one of the most promising that I’ve seen for a while. I suspect that the owner isn’t going to have a lot of trouble selling this classic.