There will probably never be another automotive era like the 1960s. It delivered to an expectant world a range of pony and personal luxury cars, although it would be valid to state that the decade was defined by the rise of the muscle car. Classics like this 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 perfectly encapsulate the philosophy adopted by manufacturers, combining purposeful looks with impressive engine power. This SS is ready to find a new home, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Scott for spotting it listed here on Craigslist in Boring, Oregon. The Chevlle could be yours once you have handed the seller $57,500.
Chevrolet’s Second Generation Chevelle range hit showroom floors for the 1968 model year. It marked a significant change in design philosophy, with the company abandoning the more “hard-edged” appearance of its predecessor for a more “rounded” and sculptured look. It struck a chord with buyers because sales volumes remained strong until the production run ended in 1972. This Chevelle is a 1969 model, and as an SS 396, it is among the most desirable available that year. Faulting its presentation is challenging, from its sparkling Garnet Red paint to its arrow-straight panels. The seller’s description is lacking information, but the absence of visible problems leads me to believe that it may have undergone some form of restoration. There is no evidence or mention of rust, and the stripes look crisp and free from checking. The paint shade isn’t dark, but is perfectly contrasted by the sparkling trim. The glass is clear, and the SS sits on a set of 15″ Rally wheels wrapped in period-correct Firestone Wide Oval tires.
One aspect of this Chevelle where we receive sufficient information is its interior. The seller states that it received a retrim in Black vinyl, and the condition suggests it hasn’t seen much action since. There is no wear, evidence of abuse, or other problems that could spoil the ownership experience. There are a couple of aftermarket additions, including a column-mounted tachometer and a retro-style stereo. However, removing these items would be easy if the buyer wishes to present the car in its factory form.
This Chevelle is more than a pretty face, with its mechanical specifications guaranteeing a rapid and enjoyable motoring experience. It features a 396ci V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, a Posi rear end, and power-assisted steering and brakes. As the L35 version of Chevrolet’s big-block, the driver will have 325hp and 410 ft/lbs of torque at their disposal. That will allow it to hold its own at any “Traffic Light Grand Prix,” but the exceptional low-end torque delivery will provide effortless acceleration without needing to put the pedal to the metal. The seller falls short on a couple of aspects of their description, not confirming whether the SS is numbers-matching. There is also no information regarding how the Chevelle runs or drives, but the spotless state of the engine bay suggests that the news should be good.
This 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 might be located in a community called Boring, but the car is anything but boring. It is guaranteed to provide excitement whenever the driver hits the “loud” pedal, while its presentation will draw equal levels of admiration and respect from all who see it. The seller’s price appears realistic, and with values continuing to climb, the SS could represent a pretty respectable long-term investment prospect. Hmm, driving joy and a return on investment? That sounds like a winning combination to me.
Coming from Wisconsin, I have no right to make fun of cities names, we have some doozys as well. There could be an element of innocence with a city named Boring. The author did a spot on job, can’t add much. Unless you were there, it’s tough to describe. So unlike today where everything is well defined, and cars are pretty much alike. This car represents, as said, the epitome of the muscle car. Just the facts here, this was a total chick car, no question. Guys HAD to have a 4 speed, it was written, but gals wanted to go fast too. With this setup, it did 0-60 in an impressive 5.8 seconds, and the 1/4 mile 14.41 @97 mph, with simple mods, 13s easy. I bet she dusted a lot of Mustangs and 383 Darts. I read, a base ’69 Chevelle was about $3200, but the 396 added almost $350 alone. A slew of options put this way over $4grand, getting into Corvette territory. Corvettes will come and go, but a 396 Chevelle will go down infamy, as the hottest stick for the street in 1969 with one glaring exception, gonna cost ya’, when we got these things for chump change in the 70s. A shame today only the very rich will experience the thrill of a ’69 Chevelle. They can never revisit what 1969 was really like, Woodstock, moon landing, riots, Vietnam, and the ’69 Chevelle was part of it.
Boring is just outside Portland on highway 8 on the way to Beaverton. Blink and you’d miss it.
Uh, no, Boring is east/ southeast of Portland. There’s an awesome Army surplus store there.
Back in 78/79 my brother had one in blue when I was 16 in Grand Lake CO. I took really good care of his baby and in turn he loaned me the keys. Well long story short, got in all kinds of trouble with the local town sheriff. He and I would go round and round, almost comical. Finally got busted for drag racing but got off on a technicality with a careless offense whew. He sold it to finance his college education. I pleaded with my Dad to let me buy it, my Dad was a smart man he said I’ll get you a vehicle to drive. In rolled a 1960 willys jeep that needed all kinds of work, top speed 55 mph. That vehicle kept me out of trouble for years and I learned alot about mechanican. I still yearn for owning a chevelle SS but just out of reach $$. Nothing but good ol fashioned memories wrapped around that chevelle.
Thanks Barnfinds for stimulating many fond memories of my past.
A friend of mine has been looking for a Chevelle like this. He’s sent me several ads for them and each one of them is clearly a scam. One was for $20,000 (as pictured, no less than $60K was realistic). Another was for a more realistic $50K, but “the father who owned it had passed away recently and the son was out of the country and a broker was to handle the sale and they would ship it anywhere in the country for free and after you paid money to the broker you would have 10 days after delivery to determine if you wanted to keep it”. My advice to my friend was to find a reputable auctioneer or classic car dealer. I don’t know about this ad in Craigslist, but the seller offers a phone number to call with no texting. May be real. A lot of dangerous characters hovering around the edges of our hobby.
I’d tell your friend to stay away from dealers. He’s going to pay a significant mark up with any dealer. Yes, there are some shady people looking to rip people off, but there are also many legit and honest private sellers out there. You just need to do your diligence and trust your gut. Fly in or get someone to go inspect the vehicle. I’ve purchased cars from out of state and each time the transactions went smoothly and the cars were actually nicer than promised. Not sure if your buddy is on some of the classic car forums on the net, but they are a great place to look for cars that are usually well sorted out and cared for. Plus, there are a lot of good people in those forums that will help with things like inspections. That’s how I bought my current Olds. Though, at the end of the day, your friend has to do whatever they feel comfortable with, I just have a personal animus against dealers knowing how much they add on top of the price for profit. Either way, I wish your friend success.
Thanks, Mike. All good suggestions. I suggested that he fly wherever the car is to meet the owner, check it out, and negotiate. Don’t laugh, but he’s my financial advisor. Knows stocks, bonds, options, and loves cars, but knows little to nothing about them. He has owned some very nice cars including a 67 Firebird convertible. He now has some hugely powerful Mustang. He’s now conversing with the owner of a 66 GTO Restomod in Western PA and has an agency that will check over the car for him.
Anyone ever heard of ‘The Lemon Squad’ and if so, what’s their rep?
I love garnet red and it looks perfect on this car.
The GTO may have been the first, but the 68-72 Chevelle SS was the King.
The SS wheels were 14 x 7 not 15 inch, unless these are aftermarket….
Very nice Chevelle SS 396.Good price but it’s not what’s being described about it. It’s what’s not being described about it. I think sellers should be up front about their cars either way this gorgeous car will sell so what have you got to lose? The price is already right.
Love it !
I will bet that there are more 68-72 SS Chevelles on the road now than GM ever made. Gotta check the VIN and even then, be very careful.
From the limited photos, looks like the gauge package wasn’t included, hence the tach on the steering column. I don’t remember the 396/325 having the chrome “open” air cleaner and chrome valve covers.