One of the great things about the muscle car era is that there's almost an infinite variety of cars, colors, options, and styles. Now, for purists, that can be a bit of a nightmare, but occasionally you'll come across a supercool muscle car like this Frost Lime 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 decked out with all the right goodies: 78k believed actual miles, a numbers-matching 396 big block V8 tied to a 700R4 transmission, and a gorgeous restoration that really puts it over the top. Dialed-in and ready to show-or-go, this Chevelle SS is cut from a slightly different cloth than its contemporaries, and those killer good looks and desirable features are exactly why it stands out from the crowd.



There were about a half-dozen different engines, two dozen colors, and a wide variety of interiors available in the 1969 Chevelle, ensuring that you could get one pretty much any way you wanted it. But the one thing that doesn't change is that the A-body makes for a ferocious muscle car when you stuff a big block under the hood. According to the original dealer invoice, this is a real-deal SS 396 car (all the physical evidence is there as well) and it has been neatly restored back to its original Frost Lime Green livery, which gives it a bright disposition that we like a lot. Bright colors always work well on these cars, giving them a grown-up look that isn't too extroverted, and with a black vinyl tape stripe slashing down the side, and SS stripes on the hood and deck lid, there's still no question that there's serious horsepower on tap. This Chevelle was purchased from the original owner, and then shortly after in 2002, it was fully restored from top-to-bottom, with a requirement of maintaining the original, stock appearance while upgrading functionality. And the results speak for themselves, with a high-end finish quality that's very, very good, highlighted by a blistering shine from the miles-deep paint and no real deviations from stock, including a factory dual-cowl hood, black vinyl roof, and correct 'SS 396' emblems everywhere they're supposed to be. The chrome bumpers fore and aft have a brilliant shine and the stainless wheel well moldings and window surrounds provide a nice contrast against the soft green paint. The more you look, the better this car gets, so whether you're ready to collect a few trophies or just turn some heads on Main Street, this '69 is a winner.



Chevelle interiors are always well-dressed when left to their original devices, and the professionals who restored this car did a fine job putting it together back to factory specs with all-new and restored pieces. Midnight Green bucket seats and a center console are important features when you're driving a SS396, and with that cool horseshoe shifter in the center, it definitely has a high-performance vibe. The seat covers are in excellent condition, the matching plush carpets were also replaced when the car was restored, as was the headliner up top and the crisp SS door panels that are neatly detailed with correct emblems. Round gauges are part of the SS package and this car includes a full complement that was installed during the restoration, including a tachometer in the center of the auxiliary pod on the right, and a sporty 3-spoke steering wheel was also added to great effect. The factory A/C system was upgraded with modern components and refrigerant, and the entire stereo system was reworked with a new retro-style AM/FM/AUX unit in the dash, high-end speakers in the cabin, and an amplifier and subwoofer stashed away out of sight to give the car some extra BOOM. The rear bench seat has likely never been used, and out back the trunk is tidy and clean with a reproduction mat and full-sized bias-ply spare tire and jack set that could easily be the car's original unit.



The powerplant driving this beauty is a numbers-matching 396 L35 V8 big block motor that was completely overhauled during the restoration, and it delivers the big hit of torque for which big block Chevys are famous. Dressed to look fairly stock, it has traditional chrome valve covers, an open-element air cleaner with 396 decals, and Chevy Orange paint on the block. Edelbrock aluminum heads, a HR-107 Thumper camshaft, an MSD ignition, custom long-tube headers, and a big Holley carburetor on top of an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold all give the big engine plenty of punch, and it sounds excellent thanks to the Flowmaster dual exhaust below. The 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission shrugs off the power churning through it and is always happy to drop down a gear when you need it, yet it's ready to cruise on the highway at ease as well, spinning the heavy-duty 12-bolt rear end out back. The underside is incredibly solid and clean, with satin-black dusted floors that are the perfect background to the completely rebuilt suspension and new components underneath. Handsome SS Mag wheels look right and wear white-lett

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