I was at a show and shine about a month ago with my 69 SS396. It's a 396/325 car originally but now has a built 427/ aluminum heads etc. Anyway, an older gentleman ( about 60 ) starts talking to me about a 69 Chevelle he has had since new. When asked what it had for a drivetrain etc. he replied it had the original aluminum head 427/425 h.p./4-speed that it came with when he bought it in 1969! Now normally I would call B.S. but he did not seem to make a big deal of it or think he had anything that special other than being proud of having the car all these years. He lives in a small town about an hour from my place, and I asked a few people I know from there about the car. I got the same answer from all of them. The man bought the car new, it has a 427/4-speed, blue with white vinyl roof, drives it rarely, won't sell it etc. I was also told it has SS427 emblems. Now I know there were 427 COPO's, Yenko's, etc., but this car was apparently ordered new from a dealer in central Canada as an SS427 Chevelle. I have not seen the car as he very rarely drives it, but the people who have seen it say it is the real deal. Now here is my question, was it possible to order an 1969 SS427 Chevelle? My buddy who lives in the same town is going to call me if he sees the car so I can rush there and take a look for myself, but it may take a while. I also told him to get some pictures. I don't want to bother the man or snoop around trying to see the car.

Being it is a Canadian car it should be an easy car to find out about. If you could get a chance to see the car, record the VIN and check with GM of Canada, as they could verify how the car came from the factory. I am no expert but from what I have seen and heard/read, there were no SS427 cars from the factory. It sure would interesting to see if one slipped through. My bet is it is a COPO that got emblems by the owner or by the dealer or to be overly cynical it is a dressed up Malibu.

I was somewhat dubious myself, but the history of the car I got from people in his hometown makes me think it is genuine, whatever it is. This is small town Canada where people are not constantly trying to rip each other off, like in the larger Canadian/ American centres. The dressed up Malibu theory is not possible, as I have spoken with guys that remember when he bought the car. It was quite a big deal in a town with 2,000 people. The COPO with SS427 badges is more possible, although unlikely, as he says the car is the same as when he bought it. Also I don't think COPO's came with vinyl roofs. The fact that he is not trying to sell/ won't sell is another plus. And he seems to be a genuinely nice, truthfull fellow with no reason to B.S. The town has an annual show and shine that I missed this year, but hopefully he has it out next year so I can see this thing. Chance of seeing him drive it are remote as guys who have lived there all their lives have seen it a handfull of times.

Don't take this as me trying to be rude, but until the car is verified this remains a "story" no matter how many people remember how it was at purchase. Small town or not, people's memories are the least factual thing I would trust on automotive history :D . If it is such a small town, I would buzz right on over to his house ans ask to see it. Nothing like looking at a possible piece of automotive history :cool: Good Luck :)

No, 1969 427 Chevelles I know of came with the SS package. Not even Yenko's. I have seen SS on the steering wheel of some Yenko's.
The COPO with SS427 badges is very possible, and yes some COPO's came with vinyl roofs.
If you could get the VIN it would be easy to check out.

NO badging at all..including the air cleaner...Malibu trim inside as well.

ALbert

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think any 69 Chevelles came from the factory with a aluminum head 427. There were 396s with aluminum heads, L 89s.
James

Possibly A Baldwin-Motion car? Don't know if they sold to other dealers like Yenko did,but it could be possible and would make it a lot more believable

When our car was brand new I had the Chevelle SS emblems and the Corvette 427 emblems to the side of the fenders. My two buddies had the Corvette 427 emblems added to the sides of the hood bulges. One of the cars had the SS steering wheel emblem from the factory. Ours had the blue bow tie. If the car was sold new in Canada, then the GM information is available. As of now, all of the known COPO Chevelles were built in Baltimore except for one. This would be the first with aluminum heads. It seems doubtful that GM would tool up SS427 emblems and put them on one car. Most of us would be interested to find out more about the car. I was under the impression, from a GM source, that 13 cars came into Canada. An acquaintance claims to have the information on 29 of 30 that came here. Still lots of questions to be answered. I'm interested.
One other thing, The COPO cars were all Malibus with the COPO package added. SS cars were either Malibus or 300 Deluxe with the SS396 package added. SS396 was an option, not a model.

Could also have been a dealer installed 427 shortblock on a Aluminum head 396. In '69 you could almost get anything you wanted if you knew the right guy at a dealership and had the bucks.

Could also have been a dealer installed 427 shortblock on a Aluminum head 396. In '69 you could almost get anything you wanted if you knew the right guy at a dealership and had the bucks.

And the owner might not know it wasn't "factory"... If the owner told the salesguy he wanted a 427, aluminum head powered Chevelle SS, and it wasn't avaiable, the salesguy might have "built" it in the dealership with the shortblock, etc, to satisfy a good customer...

and the owner might not know, he might just know thats the way it was "delivered" to him...

To bad we don't have time machines, huh. Imagine walking in to the dealer and ordering exactly what you wanted...

To bad we don't have time machines, huh. Imagine walking in to the dealer and ordering exactly what you wanted...


Yeah, what happens if you order this guys car, the ss427 69, then this post wouldn't have happend therefore you wouldnt have posted To bad we don't have time machines, huh. Imagine walking in to the dealer and ordering exactly what you wanted... then i wouldn't have asked Yeah, what happens if you order this guys car, the ss427 69, then this post wouldn't have happend therefore you wouldnt have posted To bad we don't have time machines, huh. Imagine walking in to the dealer and ordering exactly what you wanted...

my brain hurts thinking about it...

SS427 Rick: If you don't mind me asking, where in Saskatchewan do you live? My folks live over in Unity and when I come home on leave I fly into Saskatoon. I've got an old friend there that used to be a salesman at Saskatoon Motor Products back in the late 60's. He has mentioned on a couple of occasions the COPO Camaros that came through that dealership. I'll email him if you want and find out if anything like you have mentioned was ordered or possibly assembled @ SMP back in '69. I know they were heavily involved in the performance scene. Did you make it to the Super Run this year? You wouldn't happen to know Billy Bishop by any chance? He operates locomotives for CP out of North Battleford.

Off topic, but this is cool...a TC Member from Abu Dhabi, UAE :waving: Welcome, Zapper. You probably won't run across any other TC members there!!

Bill: Thanks, it's great to be "on board". I have been watching this site for a while now and although I sold my 70 SS 4 years ago (big mistake) I thought I'd join in. I have been a participant on the Camaro.net and the Chevytalk.com sites because of my Z28 and L72 Biscayne. I hope that I can contribute a fraction of what I've learned here.
You're right, I would be surprised if there are any other TC members in the UAE. That said, a guy I work with imported a 57 Chev 2 door post car into the country last year and it certainly turns heads. Oh yeah, the same guy imported a dragster but he's not allowed to run it because he'll win!! Go figure. The dragster is up in Bahrain now for sale.

And the owner might not know it wasn't "factory"... If the owner told the salesguy he wanted a 427, aluminum head powered Chevelle SS, and it wasn't avaiable, the salesguy might have "built" it in the dealership with the shortblock, etc, to satisfy a good customer...

and the owner might not know, he might just know thats the way it was "delivered" to him...

I recently attended the annual Canadian Super Run with my 68 Z28 Camaro. On the 2nd day an older couple walk by the car and quizz me about the cowl plenum air cleaner. After a short conversation about my car, the gentleman says he too has a 68 Camaro that he bought new. He said it was a big block 4 speed car and shortly after he bought it, he started racing. Turns out the 396 wasn't enough for him so he goes down to the dealer and orders an L88 short block, a set of aluminum heads and an M22 from the General. Here we are 37 years later and the car has been in storage for the last 30 years.

This is the same kind of car you could have purchased from Motion at the time. However, this one was assembled at his home in the garage, obviously without warranty. The best part is the car was never chopped up, the guy has kept all the original pieces and plans to get the car back on the road. I asked him about the L88 with the alloy heads, he laughed and said,"not for sale". Goes to show you what was done back then and what's still hidden away.

Welcome Zapper,talking about cars that are "tucked" away,Im sure there is more then a person can imagine,I live up in Northern Idaho and have a friend that has been collecting chevys since way back,some of the cars he has collected were 65 66 67 bb vettes from back when you couldnt give them away because of the gas crunch.He has about 20 to 25 vettes,a couple 62 impalas(409 CARS)various chevelles and camaros,but only bbs.his prizes cars are a 65 396 425 hp low milage vette with ncrs top flight and is a benchmark right down to every last bolt,his other is a 67 427/435 hp vette with the same credentials.these cars havnt seen pavment for a long time.If you meet the guy in a store you would think he is lower middle class,driving an old elcamino that needs work.Some of his ok cars are a 1970 ls6 elcamino(very rare) with tank sticker,62 409 4 speed conv.,67 375 hp chevelle coupe and lots of other cars that slip my mind.Went to a car show last weekend but before I went I gave hime a call to see if he would show up,well he did in a 69 camaro pacecar,he pulls up ,parks,gets out and he is wearing in old t shirt and bluejeans with a hole in one pantleg.The Wife and I were laughing!I guess my point is there are still alot of cars out there that the general public does not know about yet,and it will be neat to see them pop up from time to time,didnt mean to takover/change the topic of the thread,Darryl http://tinypic.com/dnyjo3.gif