1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

Description

If I didn't know better, I'd call this handsome 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS a sleeper. Clearly built for combat, the badges say 396, but that's actually a stout 454 under the hood. Backed by a 4-speed and a driver-oriented interior, this is a car that likes to prowl the streets at night, looking for its next victim.

Restored a few years ago and just treated to a professional buff job, it still looks intimidating the way only big block Chevelles can. Workmanship is good and while time always takes a toll, this car looks great motoring down the road. The black paint is low-key enough to keep this car off the radar (unless you're exploring all that horsepower, of course) and a stock hood with chrome inserts adds just the right OEM touch of aggression. White SS stripes replicate the factory look and should almost be expected on any performance-oriented Chevy product, simply because they always look great. The sheetmetal is quite straight, which is job one on a black car, and it's obvious someone spent a lot of time getting everything in order before the paint was sprayed. As I said, there are SS396 badges on this car, and perhaps they were correct long ago, but really, why advertise that this car is more than meets the eye? Let the unwary find out the hard way.

Chevelle interiors are first class all the way, and the black cloth bench seats inside this heavy cruiser are in outstanding shape. Most of the soft parts are replacements, including the seat covers, carpets, headrests, dash pad, and headliner, and the cloth seats are a lot more comfortable than the original vinyl. Other upgrades include the fat wood-rimmed steering wheel, Auto Meter monster tach with shift light, and a pair of additional dials all strapped to the steering column. You'll note a T-handle Hurst shifter lever for the 4-speed manual gearbox underneath, and it seems to connect you directly to the transmission for effortless shifts, even in the heat of combat. There's also an AM/FM/cassette stereo in the center of the dash, but it's not working and you won't miss it after you listen to the engine for a while. The trunk has been stripped bare, perhaps in an effort to trim some weight, but the floor is in great condition with no nasty surprises.

More than living up to its billing, the 454 cubic inch big block V8 under the hood is a thunderous statement on the street. At a glance, it looks fairly stock, what with Chevy Orange paint on the block and chrome valve covers, but closer inspection reveals a whole host of upgrades. There's a Holley carb on top of an Edelbrock intake manifold, and a substantial cam inside, so it bucks and rumbles at idle like it wants to hurt someone and pulls like a freight train when you crack the throttle. Chrome dress-up items will make you proud to open the hood once you've dispatched the other guy, and it does have power steering and brakes for ease of handling and safety. Long-tube headers feed an abbreviated Flowmaster exhaust system with turn-downs, so it definitely has a high performance sound, and the underside, while not all shiny, is in good condition for going out on Friday nights and having some fun. Proper Rally wheels are fitted with staggered white letter tires, so it has just the right attitude and stance to go with its performance.

Fast, inexpensive big block fun, this is the Chevelle for the guy who knows that hardware wins races. Call today!