Hey guys. I found a 69 chevelle in a guys carport today. So, of course I stopped and took a look at it. It looks like an older clone, but Im not quit sure. It has SS grill, emblems on all door panels and interior parts. It also has a 12 bolt, power disc brakes and an SS double bulge hood with good chrome still on the vents. . I rifled through a lot of the papers inside and found an old registration.

Here is the VIN# 136379A302775.

The car will need both rear lower quarters patched, but otherwise its not in to bad of shape. It was originally a really nice dark blue, which it looks as though someone painted over it with latex house paint. Unfortunate but not something that can't be worked around. I offered the guy $2000 at first and he said $2500 , so of course I tried to dicker with him, no chance. So it looks as though $2500 will be the price I can pick up for if you guys think its worth it.


I will post pictures later. Thanks.

Check the steering rag joint and look at the front running lights and see if they have the thin stainless steel trim around them. Sounds like a good deal...

Yes, the front running lights have a stainless trim ring around them if I remember correctly. I will get some better pictures in a day or so, my camera phone pictures turned out like crap.

Big block or small block under the hood?

Unfortunately the VIN doesn't verify any 1969 as an SS. It only verifies it to be a 2 door malibu coupe with a V8 and built in Atlanta.

Unfortunately, someone took out the big block that was there, it has a later model small block in it.( blue painted block, blocked off emissions clues) I spent all night thinking about it. I think it may be a real SS. There is just too many clues for it to be a clone. I read Dale's info last night about three times. I know the first thing I will do is pull the fuel tank, carpet, back seat and door panels. I will go over it with a fine tooth comb and hopefully find a build sheet.

Hey guys. I found a 69 chevelle in a guys carport today. It looks like an older clone, but Im not quit sure. It has SS grill, emblems on all door panels and interior parts. It also has a 12 bolt, power disc brakes and an SS double bulge hood with good chrome still on the vents...... I offered the guy $2000 at first and he said $2500, so of course I tried to dicker with him, no chance. So it looks as though $2500 will be the price I can pick up for if you guys think its worth it.

http://manheimgold.com/............Sounds pretty reasonable.....Don.

If its in good condition. 2500 is a good deal no matter if its an SS or not.

Also one of the least changed items on a clone is the dash emblem over the glovebox. Should be "SS396" instead of "Malibu".

I was always under the assumption that a VIN starting with "136" on a 69 designated an SS car. Also on the body trim tag an L stamped under the paint code designated an SS car as well. Am I misinformed?

138 on 68 is SS but in 69+ they did away with that.

LK

Also one of the least changed items on a clone is the dash emblem over the glovebox. Should be "SS396" instead of "Malibu".

I really think it is an SS, It has been sitting since the early 90's under this carport. It has been sitting since before the "big" cloning rage. Like stated before. There is just too much there with SS emblems on it to be a clone. SS hood, door panels, dash, fender emblems, grill, running lights, etc.

I am picking it up next week. It looks as though, I will be selling my 70 malibu project to have more money to put into the 69. If I am going to put money into restoring something, I would rather put it in the SS than a malibu.

138 on 68 is SS but in 69+ they did away with that.

LK

Thanks for the clarification

Ok, well I took a picture of the rag joint. It is a big block rag joint from what everyone has told me. It has power disc brakes also. I finally got a chance to feel around behing the wheels. Here are some pics.

appears to be a decent find, depending on rust issues really. but if it's not just everywhere, you did well. IMO, one of the best tell-tale signs of a real SS car (on non-recently restored cars) is an UNCUT 3/8ths fuel line. pay particular attention in the area where it goes over the frame in the rear wheel area.

imho its a great find but remeber if your thinking after a good frame off rest. you will get big bucks 30,000 and up , you better find the built sheet if you dont 20k to 30 k in todays market with out some doc. good luck

i wish i could find something like that.

707 has a good point about the build sheet. if there are plans to do extensive restoration, you are probably better off buying one already done. even if this car was given to you, it's likely a losing propostion. but if you want a car done your way, your colors, trans, engine, etc... then it's not a bad bet.

Are the rag joints differnt for BB cars of all years? I am helping a friend to verify his & have hit a dead end.

Well guys. I just went and payed for the car. It is officially mine. WHOO HOOO. Now I will have a real SS. It is my first one, Im pretty stoked. I will be bringing it home tomorrow and washing it to check it out in more detail. Many pictures soon to come. Now I need to sell my 70 project. It is in the classifieds if anyone wants to check it out.

Ok, brought the car home. Here is the cowl tag. Any info would be very gratefully appreciated.

ST 69 13637ATL111733 BDY
TR 755 69 B PNT
O9D

I am tickled pink. I picked up the car on a car trailer, brought it home and decided to see if it ran. Put a battery in it, influenced it with a little bit of starting fluid. The thing fired up and purred like a kitten. Took it around the block and everything works great. Since the transmission is going to be rebuilt I did a 3k slam into low to see if it had posi. It has posi :) I think I am the happiest I have been in my life other than the days my kids were born.

Ok, brought the car home. Here is the cowl tag. Any info would be very gratefully appreciated.

ST 69 13637ATL111733 BDY
TR 755 69 B PNT
O9D

ST 69= Style 1969
13637= Malibu V8 2 Dr Sport coupe
ATL= Atlanta
111733= Production sequence
TR= Trim 755 Black vinyl bench seat
69B PNT= you probably have 59 which is Frost Green. B= Black vinyl top
09D= Sept., 4th week

Way to go dude Im jealous for ya. I think you should leave it all original like that dont restore it just fix all the broken stuff and show it. Those cars that are all original even the dust and dirt get my attention more than the others I just went to a car show and everyone was gawking around an all original 70 SS ls6, I mean it looked like he just pulled it out of the barn and cleaned it and drove it to the show. Just my 2 cents and once again great find

Nope. I just double checked it. It says 69 B PNT

metallic silver I think

Don't be to unhappy if you do not find a build sheet. I have four 69 SS's and I think I was the first into three of them and have not found a build sheet in any of them. Three of the cars were built in Atlanta and one in Baltimore , I think. Have checked most of a ll the known places and think the rats got at least one. Also, ALL regular production line produced 69 SS cars were blacked out at the front and rear. This meant the headlite bezel and grill were black lined. On the rear, if you pull the upper and lower moulding strips that cross below the trunk, they taped off all the way across the holes and painted about a two and a half -three inch black stripe between the tail lights. Some repainters did not do that on repaints. Enjoy your new toy.......I still enjoy mine.........J

Congrats on a good find. In your photos I noticed no emblems on the fenders, and the trim tag says vinyl top. So its ben painted and the top removed at one point. If it has ben cloned bondo was used most often to fill the malibu trim holes. One area that was often over looked was the quarter panel in front of the rear tire. If you take the vent off in the door jamb and run your hand down to the body line there were two holes holding the trim on a malibu, no trim on a SS there. Its a great price on a car that is getting very hard to find. Either way clone or SS you didn't get hurt...

Nope. I just double checked it. It says 69 B PNT

I must have been sleeping when I typed the previous message.
I am awake this morning and am sure
69 B is Cortez Silver with Black Vinyl top.

I went out this morning trying to find a few more clues on the car. I cannot find the stamp on the rear end for the life of me. I did figure out that it is a 4.10 posi unit. I jacked the car up and marked the wheel and driveline, rotated the wheel and counted the revolutions on the driveline. While I was under there, I did measure the fuel line going over the axle, it does have 3/8 fuel line with a smaller return line.

Is the stamp on the axle shafts on the top of the axle tube? I sanded both side as much as I could around the bottoms and didn't see any stamps.

The axle code is stamped on the passenger side axle tube. it is usually on the most forward part of the tube, about 6" from the joint where the axle tube enters the pumpkin. you can't just crawl under the car and expect it to jump out at you. you'll need a light source and a wire brush. start scrubbing the suspicious area with the brush and then use the light to inspect closely. It would be very unlikely that the entire stamp is rusted away, its usually well preserved under a layer of grease and oil. However the stamp is pretty shallow and some of the letters are not always stamped in completely. Just look close and maybe rub it with your finger or spray with WD-40 and wipe with a rag.

Here are the codes if you find the #'s. I saved this from a previous post.
Rear Numerical Codes
Code Positraction Ratio
CA 3.08
CB 3.36
CC 3.73
CD X 3.07
CE X 3.08
CF X 3.31
CG X 3.36
CH X 2.73
CI X 3.73
CJ 3.08
CP 2.73
CR X 3.70
CU X 3.73
CU X 3.73
CV 3.70
CW 3.31
CX 3.07
CX 2.73
CY 3.07
F1 X 2.73
FH 2.73
FK X 3.08
FL 3.36
FM X 3.36
FN 3.55
FO X 3.55
FO X 3.7
FP 3.70
K2 3.55
K3 X 3.55
K4 3.73
K5 X 3.73
K6 X 4.1
K7 X 4.56
K8 X 4.88
KA 3.55
KB X 3.55
KC X 2.73
KD 2.73
KF X 3.55
KJ 3.55
KK X 4.1
KM X 4.56
KO X 4.88
KW 2.73
KX X 3.07
KY X 3.31
KZ 3.31
Good Luck...

thats exciting!! I also just got an old barn find car. 1969 Chevelle, th400 and 12 bolt rear but no motor. gave $2000 for it. Still looking for clues to originality. There are still a few of the old good ones out there!! A guy that lives near me has a junk yard of old muscle cars. I bet he has 50 1960-70's muscle cars out there. He'll sell them, but few people know about the place. He has a real 1967-68 427 SS Impala out there. I need to go see if he has a good 1969 Chevelle bumper. My 69 has a perfect 68 bumper on it.

I need to find out where , in Alabama , you live shooter!

Yea hook us up when your done dude!!!!

No Problem. Come on over and we'll go to the muscle car salvage yard. I see one of you guys are in GA. I just took some pics of my car. email me and tell me what you think of it....