The Impala would be Chevrolet’s best-selling car throughout the 1960s, including 777,000 copies in 1969 alone. While a small-block V8 was the most common powerplant, you could order a 396 engine in any full-size Chevy, including the seller’s ’69 Impala Custom Coupe. Stored in a dry barn for three decades, it’s a numbers-matching auto that’s awaiting a restoration. Located near Greensboro, North Carolina, the asking price here on craigslist is $10,500. Thanks, Larry D, for digging this one up for us!
Fourth-generation Impalas (and the rest of the full-size Chevies) were built between 1965-70. It would become one of the highest-selling automobile platforms in history, only outsold by the VW Beetle, Ford Model T, and Lady Riva. For 1969, they received new slab-sided bodies with new front bumpers that wrapped around the grille. The cars continued to ride on the 119-inch from previous models. The fastback Sport Coupe of 1967-68 was replaced by a notchback roofline from the Caprice which would be called the Custom Coupe on the Impala.
For whatever reason, the seller’s ’69 Impala has been cast aside in the barn where it resides since the early 1990s. Besides still having its original engine and transmission, the other big news is that it’s a 396 cubic-inch V8 with the TH-400 automatic transmission. This would likely be the 265 hp version with a 2-barrel carburetor which was also good for 400 lb.-ft of torque. There is no indication that this car is an SS, so we will assume it’s not. The seller was intending to use the drivetrain in another project until discovering its numbers-matching status.
We can’t tell much about the condition of the car because the photos are either not very good or extreme closeups. The seller says it has good floor and trunk pans but doesn’t mention if rust is a factor in any of the sheet metal. It has the usual power accessories, factory A/C (probably not working), and a factory-ordered 8-track tape player (who admits to still have a few of those? I do, but no player!). The odometer reading is 50,000 which may or may not be original. As a side note, variable-ratio power steering was a new option for 1969 and helped improve the “feel” of the road through the steering wheel.
I am always learning something new here on Barn Finds…I never knew that Chevy made a 2 barrel 396…but they did…keep ’em coming, BF!
The only 396 available in a ’69, full size Chevy.
I wonder if that little wedge shaped piece of trim between the right side of the tape player and the dash is a factory piece put there to fill the gap in the full size Chevs.
Asking for a friend.
Yes, it is a factory piece. For the full-sized Chevies for ’69 only. In ’70, the 8 track was integrated into the radio from the factory, but I have seen some installed in a few ’70s. Click on the above attached picture to see it out of a car.
Tell your friend he’s got a sharp eye! That’s piece appears to be specifically factory-provided for use on big Chevy’s built w/o a console.
Bud Lindemann totally eviscerated this car in his famous review.
https://youtu.be/WbGK7lSmP28
Love that video! Thanks for posting. Great comment from Bud Lindemann, “We should have had a dash warning light to tell us we were moving” when testing acceleration on the 396 – 2bbl
Yeah, the car was junk. Slow acceleration, lousy brakes, and lousy handling.
Took those pictures standing on a trampoline
Craigslist…home for trash photos since 1995.
Unfortunately it has become the home of many old garage critters but its going to make someone a nice project
Look like a terrific project.
I’m sick of SS’s.
There was still an Impala Sport Coupe in 1969. The roofline wasn’t as dramatic as the fastback 67-68, but it was less upright than the Custom Coupe.
I don’t get Chevy’s thinking on the rooflines of the Impala. Should jave just made the Impala fastbacks and the Caprice formal roofline.