[sam72]

ran into a guy last night at our weekly small town car show. He owns a 1969 ss 396 that he purchased new off the showroom floor at our local Chevrolet dealer in 1969. I talked with him for quite awhile about the car, I noticed that above the glovebox the emblem said Malibu and not ss396. I of course didn't say anything as I am not the type of guy to point that stuff out. The owner had the original invoice and buildsheet on display at the show, also the car had the "L" on the trim tag. Did the Leeds plant substitute Malibu emblems at some point, did they run out? I can ask him when the car was built when I see him again if that helps. I was just curious, he swears it's been there since day one. Any thoughts?

 

[von]

Could've been a factory mistake or they were out of SS396 inserts that day. Or the orig SS396 emblem or insert could've been replaced for whatever reason since new. Normally any '69 Chevelle 2 dr V8 with the Z25 SS396 option would've had an SS396 emblem above the glovebox.

 

[NickeyChevelle]

Lots of things can happen to a car over 40 years. Consider the totality of the car as a possible real factory SS396, not just that one part.

 

[Dean]

I've kinda wondered about that myself.
I seriously doubt that the Leeds plant would use a non SS emblem if they ran out of the SS emblems but who knows.
My KAN 69 had one for a 68 when I got it and I know it's an SS because of the original stamped 396 motor.
One of my fellow club member's car had a 69 emblem on a 68, so we traded.

 

[sam72]

I suppose anything was possible back then when quality control wasn't very high. Like I said; this gentleman bought the car new and has owned it since day one. The rest of the car has the correct badging, fenders, door panels etc. I just thought maybe it was something Leeds plant specific during a certain month of production.

 

[Woj]

I can see from the factory standpoint that if they were out of SS396 emblems, they might throw the Malibu emblem on. Once the glovebox is in (if non-ac car), it would not be an easy fix.

Woj

 

[65 Skylark]

All kinds of things like that happened back when those cars were built so I'd guess that it's most likely the car came with the Malibu emblem. If the assembly line worker reached into the box that had SS emblems and found it was empty, since he couldn't very well hold up the entire line because of it he just put what he had available on the car.

I restored a `70 Buick GSX factory 4 speed car several years ago with bucket seats but no consolette, the plate that went aorund the shifter. The owner bought the car from the original owner and it was an 82,000 mile competely original car including the paint. The original carpeting even had a 1970 date on the backside of it and it had never had a consolette on the carpet nor were there ever any holes drilled in the floor for one, yet when he took it to the Buick GS Nationals he was docked points for not having it. They told him all the 4 speed GSX cars came with them. And of course, any of you who have ever had your car judged all know that these judges know everything

 

[Bill Pritchard]

And of course, any of you who have ever had your car judged all know that these judges know everything

l Ain't it the truth.

If the owner says it's been on there since day one, I'd believe him. Seems like it would be an easy mistake to make in the interior trim area of the Fisher Body plant.

 

[Postsedan]

It`s a Mistake.....I also bet it`s a Friday Car :yes:

Dan

 

[Steve R]

Like someone said, the assembly line would not be stopped if they ran out of the right emblem. If the owner noticed it in a timely manner I'm sure the dealership would have fixed it, it's not inconceivable he never knew it was wrong.

Steve R