Everyone here in the powerTV family loves Chevelles, and the 1969 model year holds a special place in our heart. It’s arguably one of the best looking, and it was among the fastest of the breed –making it an instant, highly sought after collectible among enthusiasts and hot-rodders alike.
With the SS396 convertible version on top of the food chain, it was hard for us to ignore this example on everybody’s favorite auction site; eBay. In fact, this isn’t just any SS396 convertible, but it is in fact one of the few packing the L-78 375hp engine option, backed with a TH400 gearbox and a 12-bolt rear end.
The seller claims it is indeed a true SS, complete with the original floor pans, trunk pans, and rocker panels; however they don’t specify if any drivetrain components are original to the car. But they do share the engine block and cylinder head codes with all potential bidders, and the seller also claims that every body panel that was replaced was done so with an original GM piece. The entire interior is original to boot, with the exception of the front seat covers, which were replaced with GM units as well.
He also states that everything is reliable and everything functions as it should, claiming that it’s 100% drivable and is nice enough to be a winning show car with a little detailing. The A-body has a nice list of features, such as power steering, power brakes, tilt wheel, and a power top. If everything checks out with a little one-on-one with the seller, we would say that this is a good buy. But with a 100% positive feedback rating, and the very reasonable Buy-It-Now price of $38k, you can’t go wrong!
In fact, just a few years ago we’ve seen an identical car like this (but with white trim) go for $117k at Barrett-Jackson before the market tanked. If your author was in the position to buy, I would be all over this car in a heartbeat!