1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396

Description

1969 Chevelle SS 396 Big Block--Full Restoration After a year as a separate model, the SS 396 was made a $348 option package for '69. That widened its availability from the Malibu sport coupe and convertible, to the Chevelle 300-series hardtop and pillared coupe (it also was offered on the open-bed El Camino). All Chevelles got minor styling changes, including new taillamps. SS 396s looked cleaner than ever. The power-bulge hood was still just for show, but more-prominent "SS 396" badging inside and out and standard five-spoke mag wheels burnished the image. Decidedly not for show was the L78 version of the 396-cid V-8. Costing $253 more than the base 325-bhp 396 and $132 over the 350-bhp L34, the solid-lifter L78 was again rated at 375 bhp, but its punch down low and big lungs at high rpm made it feel stronger. Car and Driver's Patrick Bedard sang the L78's praises in his 1990 "warrior's list" of muscle cars: "There was no single genius part, no hemi head or tunnel port that you could point to and say, 'Yep, that's what makes this the baddest motor in town.' All the pieces just worked together as if they were on commission." Muscle was entering its heyday and Chevy not only sold a record 86307 SS 396s in '69, but more than 9000, an all-time high, were ordered with the L78. An estimated 400 buyers shelled out an additional $395 for the L89 option, which fit the L78 with weight-saving aluminum heads. The three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic was now the only automatic available on <b>...</b>

Keywords

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