1969 CHEVELLE SS NO 57
This very rare L78 396/375 HP SS convertible
Full nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration
Best in Show and Best in Class, scoring 987 of 1000 points at the MUSIC CITY CHEVY MEET.
2nd place COBBLE BEACH CONCOURS 2013 American Muscle Class
Date-code correct L78 396 CI engine and retains the original 4-speed M22 gearbox.
F41 suspension and a 12-bolt Posi-traction
Optional extras include power steering and brakes, Sport stripes, tilt steering, dual exhaust, AM/FM radio with 8-track, SS instruments and Firestone Wide Ovals on SS wheels. Documentation includes the original build sheet and window sticker.
The 1969 Chevelle SS
Billed as North America’s “most popular mid-sized car,” the Chevelle showed only minor changes for 1969, led by a revised front end featuring a single chrome horizontal bar connected quad headlights with a revised front grille, now cast in ABS plastic, and a slotted bumper held parking lights. Taillight lenses were larger and more vertical, flowing into the quarter panels. Front vent windows (hardtop and convertible only) began to fade away now that Astro-Ventilation (first introduced on the 1966 Buick Riviera and used in 1967 on the Camaro and Caprice) was now sending fresh air into these new Chevelle models.
New instrument pods replaced the former linear layout. All 1969 Chevelles had a new locking steering column, one year ahead of the Federal requirement and head rests for all cars sold in the North America after January 1, 1969. Along with the specific emblems on the grille, front fenders and the blacked out tail lamp panel, the SS package also featured a domed hood and front disk brakes.
The Super Sport option came with a base 325 horsepower 396 cid V8 engine. The more potent edition of the 396 cid (6.5L)V8, like this one shown in the Lang Collection, was available with the legendary L78 V8 producing 375 hp. The L-78 was produced from 1965-69 with an 800 cfm Holley carburetor, 11:1 compression, forged pop-top pistons, aluminum high-rise manifold, steel crankcase, solid lifter cam (same as the L-72), rectangular (square) port closed chamber heads, and four-bolt main caps. It produced 375 hp (280kW) in mid-sized cars and 425 hp (317 kW) in Corvettes.
At the time, the RPO Z25 option for the L 78 was not even found on the Chevelle brochures or the normal dealer option sheets. At $252.80 it was an expensive option for the times. This was on top of the convertibles price of $3,148. Because of the price and it not being listed anywhere on Chevy’s advertising materials, not many were ordered and so to this day it remains a very rare example of muscle car muscle. In fact it is estimated that of the original limited 1969 production run of 9,486 Chevelles of all models and colours, less than six red drop-top SS 396 Chevelles with the L78 option remain to this day. The Lang Collection is privileged to count one of those rare six among our collection.