1969 Chevrolet El Camino

Numbers matching 396

Turbo 400

Clear

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1COUNTER-CULTURE COOL Real numbers matching 1969 Chevy SS 396 El Camino A truly fine example of one of General Motors’ most iconic vehicles. Well equipped with a rebuilt, numbers matching motor, power steering, power disc brakes, factory air conditioning, SS wheels, vinyl roof, and bench seat. In fantastic shape with very nice interior and great paint over what appears to be original sheetmetal: nice enough to drive to any black tie event –- if you have the cojones to flout the conventional. I went to check this car out on a whim and found it to be in such amazing condition that I couldn’t say “no” – even though El Caminos are not my thing (I like Pontiacs.) Driving this car, I have gotten “thumbs up” from the oddest sources; old men, teenage boys, hot massage therapists, and even my wife – who usually hates all my old cars on principle. For over 100 pictures of the car, including the engine VIN and body VIN, and extensive pictures of the undercarriage and trunk, look here: http://s1074.photobucket.com/albums/w408/chrismalish/1969%20El%20Camino%20SS/?albumview=slideshow To hear it idle, there’s a video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eybLNtPNNfk&feature=em-share_video_user and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4q_iVC-pM0&feature=em-share_video_user my son took a video while driving here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSCF8uuTFj4&feature=em-share_video_user Engine: Chevy’s legendary big block 396, original to the car: VIN stamped on block down by oil filter housing matches VIN on dash. This is also how you prove the car is a true SS. The stamped code on the block in front of the passenger cylinder head is: T031JK. The JK signifies the L-35 325hp 396 with hydraulic lifters, Rochester Quadrajet 4bbl carb, and Turbo Hydromatic 400 auto trans for use in Chevelle/El Camino applications. I don't know if you could have gotten a hotter 396 and still got air conditioning. It appears to have been rebuilt with a healthy cam. New Edelbrock aluminum manifold and Demon carb. Expensive coated Sanderson shorty headers. Accel HEI distributor. It runs strong and cool, has good oil pressure at cruise, and is very responsive with absolutely gobs of torque. VERY fast. When you nail it and it kicks down, it’ll scare you. Comes with the original Quadrajet carb, intake, and exhaust manifolds. Don’t have original distributor. Transmission: GM’s legendary and bulletproof Turbo 400. I don’t know if it is numbers matching, and couldn’t see up in there where the VIN is supposed to be because the transmission was so close to the tunnel. Crisp, clean shifts. Mild shift kit. Rear end: 12 bolt; I believe the rear end in the car is a 3:xx. AC cars would have come with something like 3:08 or 3:23 standard, but the prior owner says it is a 3:73. It accelerates like it might well be, but is not turning that many RPMs so I would imagine it is lower. Not a posi, sadly. But the tires on there give such good traction that it’s hard to break ‘em loose anyway. Exhaust: Coated Sanderson Headers (no leaks). 2.5 inch aluminized exhaust with Flowmasters for that “all business” sound. Chrome tips exiting back sides. Interior: Very good condition. Carpet, door panels, seat covers, dash pad, headliner, all in very good condition. All gauges function. Column shift automatic. All seat belts intact, including shoulder belts. Ignition key warning buzzer still working. AC works but blows tepid, will need a can of Freeze 12 in the spring. Radio has been replaced with aftermarket Chevy cassette deck designed to look stock; dash was not cut to accept new radio. Speakers not connected though. Body: Very, very nice body and paint. Originally a South Texas car. Appears to be all original sheetmetal. No rust, except for one dime sized bubble down low behind passenger rear tire: this is evidence the panel is original. Cannot be seen unless you are down by the ground; has been stable for some years. Solid trunk, floor pans, quarters, fenders, hood, decklid. When I was under it, the floor pans looks so new that I assumed that they had been replaced, but closer inspection (looking where the body meets the frame) shows that bottom side was just blasted and painted – in the nooks where you can’t get paint without body off the car, original condition of sheetmetal was visible: dusty, but dry and sound. Paint is older but mostly still looks really good. When first refinished, would have been show quality. However, it now has some chips here and there, probably incurred during reassembly -- but on the doors, there a couple of places with what look to be adhesion problems. These should be addressed, and I have lowered the price because of this. Front bumper and grille nearly perfect. Rear bumper very nice. Area between rear window and bed very nice. Frame straight and solid, with no signs of repair or rust. Vinyl top looks great; there was no rust on roof. Comes with a pint of the paint used in the repaint in case you want pull the top and need to re-touch the area where the vinyl top trim goes. Rhino-type spray in bedliner in the back. Nice. Some pictures show tailgate without SS stripe and badging on it; prior owner decided he preferred all one color. I recently put this back the way the factory had it. Suspension: new springs and shocks (now uses regular shocks, not air shocks). Slight drop spindles. Factory sway bar. Nice, solid, tight ride. Very pleasant to drive on the highway. Wheels and tires: some pictures show the car with Custom RT5 Chrome Rims, 17's front with low profile Goodyear Eagle F1 235/45ZR17. Rear 18's with Goodyear Eagle F1 265/40ZR18. THESE WHEELS AND TIRES ARE GONE. Car now has new Wheel Vintiques 15x7 and 15x8 repro SS wheels with new BFGs, 235/60/15 front, 275/60/15 rear. Also comes with stock 14 inch SS wheels and roller tires. Overall impression and miscellaneous thoughts: All in all, a very, very nice car that you can be proud to own. Beautiful inside and out. Fast, but not king of the dragstrip fast. An excellent and comfortable about-town and highway cruiser, with enough torque to snap your neck and “chirp” on the upshifts. Tight, solid, straight, and true down the highway. When I buy one of these old cars, I always ask “can I drive it home?” With this one, you probably could. Your gas mileage won’t be great though. I also ask “why are you selling?” In this case, it’s to make room for another car. I think you’ll like this car, and I want you to be happy having purchased it, because it deserves to be loved and taken care of for many years to come. Also, life is too short and complicated as it is for me to have to deal with an unhappy buyer. So if the car is not as described upon inspection at my premises, there’s no risk; keep your money and keep looking for the car that is perfect for you. But I also want room in the garage, and closure, so there are no guarantees of any kind with the car, and once it leaves my premises, there can be no returns. If, after reading all this, and looking at all the pictures on photobucket, you still have questions, call me between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Central time at 512-426-2809. Thanks, and happy hunting. Chris.