I'm considering purchassing a 69 Chevelle. Need help decoding the car. The car has been parked exposed to the weather for quite some time. It has rust in the lower part of the rear quarter panels, rust in the trunk area. It's a complete car with a non-matching motor, 12 bolt, and 400 trans. It has it's original green interior with SS396 emblems,etc. Car needs to be restored. Seller is asking $2000. Please advise if this is a true SS or wise investment. Tag info is as follows:

ST 69 13637 KAN 240310 BDY
TR 796 59 S PNT
01E 00853 L

Vin# 136379K393040

Egine casting: 3935440
Engine Stamp: T0531XG

Thanks for all your help in advance!

None of the tags/numbers will identify a '69 as being a SS. SS was an option not a model. See http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

Welcome to Team Chevelle!!

That is correct, VIN/Cowl tags are not likley to verify SS or not in '69. THe above link is a good read.

Feel free to ask questions to help decern if it is a good buy or not. Posting pictures in the Body Shop forum may be a good idea to tell if it is a good value. Good luck!
graemlins/waving.gif

Welcome. This should get you started:

ST 69 13637 - 69 Malibu 2 door hardtop V8 (possibly SS).
KAN - Kansas City assembly plant.
TR 796 - Green bucket seats.
PNT 59 S - Forest Green with Green vinyl top.
01E - build date, January, 1969, fifth week.

3935440 - my resource indicates 396 CI block used in 1968-69.
T0531XG - Tonowanda Engine Plant, assembly May 31 (year ???). I am unable to locate an XG engine code for a 396 between 1966 and 1969 for any Chevy car model. Could be a truck maybe.

Hope this helps.

T0531XG is a 1968 truck engine.

XG - 396-310 hp TH400 used in 1968 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks