1969 Chevrolet Restored Numbers Matching Chevelle SS396

Gorgeous.

Is there any other way to describe this black-on-red, matching numbers Chevelle SS396? Restored to breathtaking condition with an acceptable patina from a few years of show and cruise duty, this might be the most handsome Chevelle we've ever featured. Exceptionally well-detailed throughout, and every bit as fast as it is beautiful, this one looks like an awful lot of car for the money. Best of all, the original cowl tag tells us it's the ever popular Black (code 10) with a matching vinyl top (code B) and red sport stripe. The red continues throughout the interior with newly replaced, yet period correct, vinyl bucket seats and door covers (code 788 Medium Red).

First of all, if you paint it black, it had better be straight, everybody knows that. The guys who restored this one probably had a phrase like that on a 10-foot-high sign in their shop, because there are no ripples, no waves, and no dimples, nothing that detracts from all that gorgeous black paint. The reflections in the photo booth don't lie, and you can see that not only are the panels straight, but that the body has been well aligned. From end to end, this Chevelle is very, very nice, and the red stripe bisecting it like a laser only enhances that feeling of accuracy in the bodywork. Look a little closer and you'll see that the paint has been color sanded and buffed by the guys here at RK Motors Charlotte, leaving a slick, smooth surface.

With a black car as nice as this, you don't just hang used chrome on it. Instead, you restored the original stuff to show condition, or you find excellent reproduction items, which is the case here. Bumpers and grille are excellent, and all the emblems are sharp and crisp, and they really pop against the black paint. The black vinyl top is expertly installed, with no bubbles or wrinkles, and the materials are an exact match for OEM. And like the emblems, the plastic bits like lenses and trim pieces are correct reproduction items that look right.

You could be forgiven for thinking that most 1969 Chevelles were SS396s like this one, because that seems to be all you see these days on the market. But no, most were 6 cylinder commuter cars, and there were many more small-block powered Chevelles than big blocks. But with GM’s lack of clues in the VIN or on the body tag, it's awfully easy to take a garden-variety Chevelle and make a smashing SS396. Fortunately, with this black cruiser, it is 100% numbers matching, which means no stories, no excuses, and no questions about whether it's real. The original engine has been fully rebuilt to stock specs and nestled back into the highly detailed engine bay. Bright Chevy Orange paint covers the block and heads, correct chrome valve covers and matching air cleaner with reproduction ‘396 Turbo Jet 325 HP’ decals on top. Hoses, wires and clamps are authentic, and overall the engine compartment shows very well. A correct Delco battery has just been installed by RK Motors Charlotte for that finishing touch.

Underneath, it's solid and clean, and there are no indications that there has been any significant sheet metal surgery. Clean floor pans and trunk floor are painted black, as they came from the factory. The engine is backed by the original Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission, and out back there's a stout 12-bolt rear with 3.36 gears. The dual exhaust sounds awesome, both at idle and at full throttle, and there is no mistaking that big block rumble. Brakes and suspension were restored with the rest of the car and remain in proper working order today. And nothing looks better on an early Chevelle than those SS wheels wearing modern BF Goodrich rubber.

This cars other exceptional feature, aside from the beautiful black bodywork, is the simply jaw-dropping red bucket seat interior. Personally, a black car with a red interior is by far my favorite combination, and I suspect that I'm not alone. Matching the body stripe, the interior in this car is positively stunning. All-new at the time of restoration, it uses well-made reproduction seat covers and door panels to re-create 1969, although I wonder if cars off the assembly line ever looked this good. New carpets and headliner make it look crisp and clean throughout, and the center console is nicely restored. Topping the 4-speed is a Hurst cue ball shifter, just a short reach from the correct SS steering wheel. The gauges have all been rebuilt, including the speedometer with the optional Speed Minder warning system. In back, the trunk has been finished with the correct spatter paint, a new trunk mat, as well as a spare tire cover and jack assembly.

Documentation includes a stack of receipts for recent parts and work on the car.

We've had quite a few Chevelles come through here lately, but this one of the most handsome ones I've seen in a long, long time. Not only is the color combination killer, but it has been executed to a very high standard and extremely well maintained since it was restored. Add in the fact that it's a real 396 with a matching numbers drive-train (which includes a 4-speed), and you have one spectacular A-body. If you're one of the 20 guys who waited too long to pull the trigger on the numbers matching LS5 4 speed we sold last week, here's a chance to redeem yourself. This Chevelle is the perfect car for a guy who wants a car he can drive, which will also hold its value over time. You just can't go wrong with a numbers matching big block Chevelle. Call now!