Back in the ’70s, it was an oft-told tale. Lots of used SS396 Chevrolet Chevelles for sale but quite a few were now 396-less. The big engines just got pushed a little too hard and kablooey ensues. Slap in a cheap replacement and send it on down the line was often their fate. Here’s just such an example in the form of a 1969 Chevelle, let’s see what’s here. This Chevrolet Chevelle is located in Winter Garden, Florida and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $23,250, reserve not yet met.
The first question usually asks, “Is this a for-real SS396 Chevelle?” It’s the right question to ask and, this example certainly looks like one. The VIN, unfortunately, is of no help – the build-sheet is the best form of identification. There are other defining traits but this vintage Chevelle has been cloned to death so even the best sleuth can get fooled.
The seller states, “The Original 396 V8 Engine was removed, we are working to track it down however car is being sold with 350 Small Block that is in the car. Car does run and drive…“. Well, good luck tracking that original motor down, and better luck that it’s still serviceable if found. Having inadvertently blown up a rat, I know from experience that what remains is often scrap fodder. There is no description regarding the 350 engine but a four-speed manual transmission, connected to the SSs twelve-bolt differential, is still in place.
While hardly impervious to rust, this Chevelle presents pretty well – the body’s usual hotspots aren’t indicative of a problem. The body is pretty straight too with no obvious indication of crash damage. The primered roof and C-pillars would lead one to believe that this Chevelle may have been vinyl topped at one time and the primer is now protecting whatever turned up underneath. The images of the trunk pan aren’t indicative of rot-through so hopefully, the floors and underside are in similar shape. Chevrolet’s version of a Magnum 500 wheel can be found holding up all four corners – there’s was a nice take on a popular model.
The bucket seat/center console interior looks tired but all-in-all, it’s not in bad condition – and the fact that it’s red is a nice relief from today’s mundane black and gray only. Nice to see is the full instrumentation option and a non-split dash pad. This Chevelle is equipped with “Astro Ventilation” which offered two sets of pulls per kick pad, one opens/closes the circular lower dash vent ball while the other actuates the kick pad vent. It’s hardly air conditioning, but it was a functional design that efficiently circulated air through the passenger cabin.
So, valuable? Sure, this Chevelle is a solid basis but it will never reach its full potential without its 396 CI engine. Unless the seller has Sherlock Holmes skills, it would probably be easier to find a date correct or an appropriate big-block engine as opposed to tracking down the original, wouldn’t you agree?
There is a lot to like here, and the final bidding will probably reflect that.
It’s most likely a legit SS396. It’s a Kansas built Chevelle. In ’69, KAN Trim Tags had the “L” code below the Paint and Top codes. While not 100% confirmed, this appears to designate SS trim. This Tag has the “L” code. Other tell tale signs are there as well – SS trim pieces, power booster/master cylinder/front disc brakes. 5500 rpm redline indicates 325 or 350 HP 396.
Good colors, bucket seats, 4 speed – will make a nice restored SS396!
Looks like a real SS to me, and a great color combo. But I was really hoping that the transplanted engine was a 350 “big block” :)
It was less “kablooey” and more high gas prices/poor gas mileage issues. I saw lots of big block cars at used car lots for pennies on the dollar because no one wanted them in 1980.
The period I was referencing was the mid-’70s, say ’73 to ’77. I saw lots of SS396 Chevelles that stood nose high because they now harbored a small block 283, 327, or 350 to replace the 396 that got wound out and blew up – spun bearings and other hijinx often the case.
The high gas price/poor gas mileage wasn’t an incentive to swap a big block for a small block. People did as you suggested, they tried to get rid of a car that often wasn’t wanted anymore.
JO
News flash…they all got cruddy mileage. No one swapped for a small block so they could conserve .02 miles per gallon, lol.
Correct. I have a ’69 Chevelle SS396. Gas mileage is around 11-12 mpg (not much worse than today’s SUVs frankly). A small block might get 12-14 on a good day. The vehicle weight and the fact they were carburated engines mostly influence the MPG, not the displacement. With that, if you had a High Horse Power Small Block or Big Block, they both consume gas at incredible rates. My ’69 Z, with a DZ 302 and 4:10’s gets about 6-8 mpg…
Michael Berkemeier; Your comment hits the nail right on the head!! I went from a 66SS with an L78 motor with 456 rear gears to a 68 Chevelle with a 250hp 327 with smog controls and got half the milage as the L78. What a waste that was, but a new home and children caused me to make the mistake!!!
Nobody even mentioned missing a gear, didn’t have rev limiters back then and more than one engine was a basket case after that fiasco.
Been there done that…ruined what would have been a fairly valuable. nowadays, “360”hp 396 chevelle motor…I believe it was only a 66 maybe 67 yr option
We bought a brand new ‘69 SS Chevelle 396,4-speed. Paid an extra $33 for the Pontiac green. Had to replace the engine block somewhere down the line due to coolant in the oil. Turned out to be a thin casting causing a small crack in one cylinder.
I was a Chevy dealership heavy engine technician in 70 & 71. “Rat” engines had nasty habit of breaking valve springs & swallowing valves. Much carnage usually followed.
Butch Chastain: Your right, big blocks ate valve springs like M&M’s. Friend of mine had a C3 Corvette with a 390hp 427 that did that. It got to the point that we carried extra springs, valve cover gaskets and all the necessary tools to change springs on the road. We’d limp into a gas station, flip the owner $5.00 to use his air compressor and change the broken spring. Stopped the problem by upgrading the springs!
Finished at $23,250, Reserve Not Met.