CANADIAN BUILT SS CHEVELLE, NICELY BUILT 454 BIG BLOCK, 4 SPEED, FATHOM GREEN

Description

One of the great things about the muscle car era is the interchangeability of parts. Now, for purists, that can be a nightmare, but if you're looking for a nasty big block Chevelle with a 4-speed and an interesting history, this 1969 SS396 has a few invisible upgrades that make it a truly entertaining ride. This is actually a Canadian-built Chevelle, and you numbers junkies will quickly scan the tags and pick out the differences between this car and its domestic siblings. But the one thing that doesn't change is that the A-body makes for a ferocious street car when you stuff a big block under the hood. This is a real-deal SS396/4-speed car and it has been correctly restored in its original code 57 Fathom Green livery. Dark colors always work best on these cars, giving them a grown-up look that isn't too extroverted, and with a white stripe slashing down the side, there's still no question that there's serious horsepower on tap. Finish quality is quite good, with a deep shine on the paint, just a hint of metallic, and no real deviations from stock, including a factory hood and correct 'SS 396' emblems as needed. The chrome bumpers have a nice shine and the stainless wheel well moldings provide a nice contrast against the dark green paint. Chevelle interiors are always well-dressed, and our friends up north did a fine job putting this one together. Bucket seats and a console are important features when you're driving a SS396, and with a big Hurst cue ball in the center, it definitely has a hi-performance vibe. The seat covers are in excellent condition, the carpets were replaced when the car was restored, and the door panels are nicely detailed with correct emblems. Round gauges are part of the SS package and white-faced auxiliary gauges were added under the dash. The only possible demerit is some minor wrinkling of the headliner in the tricky quarter panel area, but if that's all you have to worry about, you've got an excellent car. A modern AM/FM/cassette stereo slots neatly into the dash and has a vintage look augmented by a faux dial that looks like an old AM unit. Neat! The trunk is tidy and clean and there's an ancient bias-ply spare, just in case. Now about that interchangeability I was talking about. Instead of the usual 396 that you'd expect, this car is now powered by a thumping 454 cubic inch V8, and you'd better believe you can feel those extra 58 cubes working hard. Dressed to look fairly stock, it has traditional chrome valve covers, an open-element air cleaner with 396 decals to keep a low profile, and Chevy Orange paint on the block. A big Demon carburetor on top and long-tube headers with a fresh dual exhaust system gives the big engine plenty of punch, and that is, indeed, the original 4-speed manual transmission living behind it. The underside is quite neat, with floors that are the perfect background for the new exhaust system and the heavy-duty 12-bolt rear end. Handsome factory wheels look right and wear 245/60/14 BFGoodrich T/A radials all around. With a quality restoration and documentation from GM of Canada, this is an awesome opportunity to pick up a big block SS with an interesting story to tell. Call today!